Scar Crags

Scar Crags is a mountain summit in the north western part of the Lake District rising to 672 meters (2,205 feet) with steep, rocky southern flanks and more gradual northern slopes. The terrain varies considerably across the peak, creating different hiking routes with varying levels of difficulty.

The northern slopes contained the Lake District's only cobalt mine, established in 1846 by the Keswick Mining Company to extract the valuable ore. Mining operations eventually ceased due to challenging extraction conditions that made the venture economically unviable.

The summit belongs to multiple hiking classifications, including Hewitt, Nuttall, and Wainwright, marking its significance in British mountaineering documentation systems. Climbers use these categories to organize their expeditions and track their achievements within the local hiking community.

Most hikers reach the summit via an old mine road from Stair, following Stoneycroft Gill to Sail Pass rather than attempting steep direct ascents. This established path offers a more manageable approach than tackling the steeper flanks from other directions.

The mountain's geology consists of laminated mudstone and siltstone from the Kirkstile Formation, creating distinctive ridge features along its summit line. This layered structure gives the slopes a visible banded pattern that hikers notice while ascending the peak.