Smearsett Scar with Pot Scar beyond (JB)
Until about ten years ago, my knowledge of walking in the Yorkshire Dales was limited to the Yorkshire Three Peaks (Y3P) Challenge route, and the paths to various holes in the ground that my potholing club had visited. However, there is far more to the Yorkshire Dales than just a challenge walk or the fixture list of a caving club, and over the last decade I have got to know the ‘Dales’ much more closely.
Smearsett Scar from near Stainforth (JB)
Approaching Smearsett from Little Stainforth (JB)
It still took me a long time to come across Smearsett, though with a height of a mere 363 metres the hill doesn’t exactly sell itself. There is a surprise view on the Stainforth to Helwith Bridge section of the B6479, though if you are driving it’s probably best to stick to piloting your vehicle. Smearsett is also quite prominent from the bits of the Y3P near to Horton in Ribblesdale – although small, the hill suddenly rears up like a wave breaking on a beach. Thousands must see it every year without having a clue what they are looking at.
The author at Smearsett – 2008
Pot Scar from Smearsett summit
The second trip – snowing again!
My first visit was in 2008, researching a route for Walking World – their database for the Dales is considerable, so finding a gap on the map that indicates a potential walking route is a rarity. Our first outing was just an excuse for a couple of hours walking in the snow – although the hill is small it catches quite a lot of ‘weather’. It looked interesting enough to return to, but the weather on the second trip was almost as wild – these small hills are often full of surprises.
* * *
Steam train on the Settle-Carlisle line near Stainforth (JB)
My photographer mate, John Bamber, has been visiting the Yorkshire Dales as long as I have, so it was good to find that Smearsett was a gap in his forty years experience. As there was little danger of the day becoming a high mountain epic, we were joined by Chris and Miv. Final member of the party was Border Collie ‘Mist’, who appears in this blog so frequently that she is thinking of starting her own. We had barely started out when we came across lurking photographers by the Stainforth railway bridge. Round here that means only one thing – a steam train!
The River Ribble on a quiet day…. (JB)
…. and on a more lively day
With the ‘steamer’ out of the way we carried on over the bridge across the River Ribble. The river was quietly behaving itself, though when the water level rises, the cascades 100 metres downstream become a raging torrent. After that it wasn’t long before we reached the summit of Smearsett. Fortunately things don’t end there – a long limestone ridge continues over the top of Pot Scar, before doubling back under the climber’s crag then finally heading towards the hamlet of Feizor.
The summit of Smearsett Scar, with Pen y Ghent in the distance (JB)
Summit of Pot Scar, with Smearsett behind
The climber’s crag of Pot Scar
On other visits, Feizor has always been quiet. Today the tea room was well busy, but we didn’t linger long, other than to get the ice creams in. Our return route took us on greenways to Stackhouse, and from there along the river path back to Stainforth.
'Elaine’s Tea Room' at Feizor
On the way to Stackhouse
The day was a great outing with good friends and good weather. In fact, we seem to have been blessed by good weather on most of our trips out this summer. To stop us getting too cocky, Chris, dog and I followed up Smearsett with a trip to Langdale a couple of days later – we have just finished drying the gear!
Stickle Tarn in Langdale – what a difference a couple of days can make!
Text and images © Paul Shorrock – Images tagged (JB) © John Bamber
Paul Shorrock - One Man's Mountains AKA One Pillock's Hillocks 
photos of scenery are ok, but a steam engine – now you’re talking! 😉
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I know how to tease and tantalise the readership! Sucker ’em in with trains, then give ’em a dose of boggy moorland 😀
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Hi Paul,
I’ve been aware of, and fascinated by, Smearsett Scar and the rest of those lovely-shaped lumps by Feizor for many years. Many years ago, my Mum and me went for a foray to get to the very end hill (above Austwick) from the village. There certainly wasn’t a tea-shop then! We weren’t sure where to park but it was mid-week so none of the houses were occupied except the farm. We asked the farmer where we should park and he mischievously directed us to more or less the gateway of some of yuppie’s houses (or holiday homes – not sure) and said we’d be fine there. We were really amused by that – he was obviously totally fed up of his neighbours – and we parked where he said 😉
We were going the other was to Smearsett though – I’ll have to dig out my Wainwright and give it a go. Didn’t know about that climbing crag – is that the one you see as you go along the bypass past the Settle entrance? It looks pretty easy – when I start outdoor climbing as opposed to indoor (hopefully next spring), I’ll have to have a look round there.
Carol.
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You can’t see pot scar from the road – If you find Feizor on the map, follow the footpath heading due east and Pot Scar is just to the north of the path, about 700 metres from Feizor. Typical limestone crag, bl**dy vertical!! Start doing pull-ups 😀
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Hmmm – my arms are still very weak indeed as they’ve never done anything at all for years until I took up this wall climbing lark!
I was thinking I should try small crags of every kind of rock though just to get a broad range of experience. Then, after the Cuillin, I’ll probably give up outdoor climbing again!
Carol.
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Are you doing the ‘climbing’ thing to prepare yourself for the ‘In Pinn’ on the Cuillin Ridge? If so, it’s technically easy, nothing like as difficult as ‘problems’ you will climb on a wall or small outdoor crag. The main issue is the feeling of space around you!
From reading your posts, it sounds like you have walking partners who know what they are doing with ropes, climbing gear, etc. The short side of the pinnacle is harder in grade, but the leader can give you a ‘tug’ if you need it – the long side is more awe-inspiring, but much easier to climb, in fact it’s not much more than a hard scramble. If you do the long side, ask your leader to place as many ‘runners’ as can be arranged without causing rope drag – these will give you more feeling of security as you follow.
The way off is to abseil the short side, but if you are terror stricken you could be lowered off from the top.
You’ll love it – take a camera!
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‘ere I am, catchin’ up many years later, and I still can’t find the blog that ‘Mist’ is doin……. hope she gets her act together soon……
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That’s dogs for Ya 🙂
You’ll see the occasional page that the dog has ‘hijacked’, usually around Christmas when I’ve probably had a couple of ‘wets’ too many!
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ha ha ha…… thats the beaty of Christmas… good old Mist…
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beauty !!!!!
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and I haven’t even had 1 ‘wet’ !!!!!!
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😁😅😂🤣
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