Nab Scar and Alcock Tarn

From the Church in Rydal, walk uphill past the entrances to Rydal Hall on your right following the road which above Rydal Mount becomes a concrete driveway to a farm. Bear left towards the farm, signposted "Public footpath" until just before the farm gate is a path on your right leading away from the drive to a kissing gate partially hiding under a tree. Go through and continue on the path beyond.

After about 400m (440 yards) climb over the stile, with dog tunnel beside and climb the zigzags. The path here has obviously had a lot of work in the past. The aqueduct stone mentioned in Wainwright's book is just below a crag on the left hand side of the path as you climb up.

The gradient eventually eases as a dry stone wall appears on your left, the path crosses the wall a little further on at a reasonably dog friendly 'stone steps' stile. Nab Scar summit is the large cairn sat a little to the left of the path.

Continue towards the next peak on the ridge for approx 2-300m where as the path drops down a pile of stones just off the path to your left marks the start of the faint path to Alcock Tarn. If, since you've come this far you wish to visit Lord Crag, do so and return to this spot.

Taking the narrow path, it drops gently traversing the fell side without any difficulties. Alcock Tarn can be seen some way ahead and below you. The path drops to the nearest corner of the tarn to a gap in the wall.

A non-standard stile here may cause a little trouble. Jessie managed to squeeze through between the upper bars, large dogs than a collie might have more trouble, but then may be able to go over the top.

Bear left and cross the tarn outfall. Joing the wide path bear left, go through the gap in the wall. The path then drops down a couple of zigzags, go though the gate and continue descending on the obvious path. Look out for the small stone arch bridge.

There's a couple more gates on the descent, and eventually the path joins a gravel lane above the houses at How Top. About 100m (110 yards) before the tarmac road bear left onto a narrow path rising slightly across the knoll, and then bear left again onto the road. This avoids dropping down to the road turning left and then climbing back up again.

Past the tarn, called variously Skater's Tarn, Wordsworth's Tarn, or White Moss Tarn, the lane becomes a gravel track, which gradually deteriorates to a rough path in places. At Brockstones bear right.

As the path meets a wall, bear left and keep high to avoid having to climb back up to the gate.

Eventually, after 1.5km (0.9 miles), the path goes through a gate into a lane which drops into Rydal beside Rydal Mount. Turn right to head towards the church.