Lockdown, sensible precautions and a stuffed up leg has meant we've been exploring some very different parts of Cumbria recently. To be fair, we started out in January with the intention of "not walking anywhere we've walked before" and that was all going rather well, up until mid March... For a few months we kind of stuck to that theme by exploring all the paths we'd never taken through Eggerslack Woods - just over the road from us - then we gradually explored further afield and were about to hit the big hills again when 'leg-gate' stopped me in my tracks. Literally.
So, low hills and easy toddles have been the order of the day. The thing that we've noticed is that each time we pop out on the top of a local hillside is how surprised we are with the views. I completely understand the draw of the high fells, but there is much joy and beauty to be found in the smaller hills, not to mention a lot more peace and quiet.
The other big plus is that many of the smaller hills have benches - very handy for resting dodgy legs as well as making perfect picnic spots. And on top of all that, there's a lot of limestone in the South Lakes so, even where benches are scarce, there's still somewhere to sit.
Anyway, enough waffle, here are five of our favourite small, local, hills.
Whitbarrow Scar
Scout Scar
While we're on the subject of scars, the next one along from Whitbarrow is Scout Scar. The big plus for us this year has been that Scout Scar requires very little effort for very big views. The car park is an easy walk from the main ridge and many's the time we've stopped off there on the way home from somewhere else to finish our flask of tea on one of the perfectly positioned benches. It's also 'juniper central' with dozens of juniper bushes scattered around the limestone scrub. It's a popular local walk but there are plenty of criss-crossing footpaths and wide open spaces, so plenty of room for everyone.
Hoad Hill
Certainly the most popular of all the hills in this blog, but it's the only one that has a scale replica of a lighthouse on it, so how can I miss it out? The thing with The Hoad is that most folks go up and down the same route at the front, which is all well and good as the views are superb, but they miss out on a very lovely, and gentle, descent around the back. Honestly, it's really easy to spot on an OS map and very easy to follow - it will lead along a lovely enclosed path and past a fabulously detailed infoboard telling you all you need to know about the area. Not that my life revolves around tea and cake, but around the foot of the pepperpot (as it's known locally) there is plenty of seating so you can put your feet up and enjoy the view.
The Helm
Sorry for the rubbish photo, but the weather was very grey that day. The views, however, were still stunning! The Helm is tucked away to the south east of Kendal, just above Oxenholme (look for the station on the map and you'll soon spot The Helm!). There's limited parking along the tiny road alond the base of the hill and plenty of paths leading up to the summit. Once up there the panoramic views will definitely take you by surprise - even on a cloudy day there were perfect moody views of the Langdale Pikes, the Howgills, Hutton Roof Crags and Morecambe Bay. I'd have to mark it down for picnic spots, but with Kendal on your doorstep you'll not be far from tea and cake.
Dixon Heights
