Whitbarrow Scar
27th July 2014
Whitbarrow Scar
As you travel north, approaching the Lakes on the M6, you will likely see a grey, craggy cliff face on the lefts side of the road. This is the dominant and sublimely beautiful Whitbarrow Scar.
It is a protrusion of Limestone that rises above the relatively flat surrounding landscape. However, this description belies its true character and beauty. Whitbarrow Scar is a quiet, rugged hill full of the most wonderful and wide collection of wild flowers. These flowers emerge from grassy hillocks, or push through the Clints and Grikes of the limestone pavements that adorn the high ground. Whilst all around this wild landscape is a collection of Juniper, the odd Sycamore and evidence of the last ice age in the form of erratics. Igneous rock sat amongst its sedimentary limestone cousin.
Many of the trees are bent from the savage winds that crash into this broken scar. This is probably due to the fact that Whitbarrow forms an almost headland type position at the northern reach of Morecombe Bay. Every south western wind and storm would hit this exposed hill and all would bend in its path.
However, on a more benign day I noted all the flowers I could see just from my seat near summit cairn. There was:
A profusion of pink and purple Wild thyme
Yellow Tormentel sprinkled liberally across the Fell
Wood Sage growing beside every rock
Large cities of red and yellow Trefoil (Eggs and Bacon)
Diminutive Eyebright hidden amongst the grasses
Rough Hawkbit
And Mouse Ear Hawk Weed (a great opportunity to see the differences)
The delicate white clusters of Wood Bedstraw
Many forms of Heather starting to flower,
Delicate Hare Bells, swaying in the breeze
St Johns Wort brightening the mood
Juniper bushes hugging the limestone surface
Yellow Lady's Bedstraw adding a golden glow to the summit
Early clumps of Meadowsweet offering their honey scent to the hills
The beautiful, but harshly named Scabious
The rare Biting Stonecrop, tucked away, yellow amongst the grey summit cairn
Thistles guarding nooks and crannies
Daisies seemingly lost amongst the background of other flowers
Elder Flower waiting to be turned into homemade champagne.
And it seemed each flower was accompanied by a visiting butterfly or bee.....all from my seated position.
Finally, adding to this overwhelming volume of life was a scattering of Birch, Sycamore and Rowan trees, adding scale and perspective to the wide views into southern lakes and across to the Dales and Howgill Fells.
Since discovering this humble sized hill I have returned again and again. It's position gives it great views, whilst it's ecology makes it an ideal environment for all sorts of animal and plant life. I know I have only just scrapped the surface and will be looking forward to experiencing how life changes as the seasons move on......watch this space ;-)
As you travel north, approaching the Lakes on the M6, you will likely see a grey, craggy cliff face on the lefts side of the road. This is the dominant and sublimely beautiful Whitbarrow Scar.
It is a protrusion of Limestone that rises above the relatively flat surrounding landscape. However, this description belies its true character and beauty. Whitbarrow Scar is a quiet, rugged hill full of the most wonderful and wide collection of wild flowers. These flowers emerge from grassy hillocks, or push through the Clints and Grikes of the limestone pavements that adorn the high ground. Whilst all around this wild landscape is a collection of Juniper, the odd Sycamore and evidence of the last ice age in the form of erratics. Igneous rock sat amongst its sedimentary limestone cousin.
Many of the trees are bent from the savage winds that crash into this broken scar. This is probably due to the fact that Whitbarrow forms an almost headland type position at the northern reach of Morecombe Bay. Every south western wind and storm would hit this exposed hill and all would bend in its path.
However, on a more benign day I noted all the flowers I could see just from my seat near summit cairn. There was:
A profusion of pink and purple Wild thyme
Yellow Tormentel sprinkled liberally across the Fell
Wood Sage growing beside every rock
Large cities of red and yellow Trefoil (Eggs and Bacon)
Diminutive Eyebright hidden amongst the grasses
Rough Hawkbit
And Mouse Ear Hawk Weed (a great opportunity to see the differences)
The delicate white clusters of Wood Bedstraw
Many forms of Heather starting to flower,
Delicate Hare Bells, swaying in the breeze
St Johns Wort brightening the mood
Juniper bushes hugging the limestone surface
Yellow Lady's Bedstraw adding a golden glow to the summit
Early clumps of Meadowsweet offering their honey scent to the hills
The beautiful, but harshly named Scabious
The rare Biting Stonecrop, tucked away, yellow amongst the grey summit cairn
Thistles guarding nooks and crannies
Daisies seemingly lost amongst the background of other flowers
Elder Flower waiting to be turned into homemade champagne.
And it seemed each flower was accompanied by a visiting butterfly or bee.....all from my seated position.
Finally, adding to this overwhelming volume of life was a scattering of Birch, Sycamore and Rowan trees, adding scale and perspective to the wide views into southern lakes and across to the Dales and Howgill Fells.
Since discovering this humble sized hill I have returned again and again. It's position gives it great views, whilst it's ecology makes it an ideal environment for all sorts of animal and plant life. I know I have only just scrapped the surface and will be looking forward to experiencing how life changes as the seasons move on......watch this space ;-)