From the summit plateau of Pillar

Scoat Fell, remote and presenting a dull side to Wasdale, is seldom climbed as a fell in its own right, despite several exceptional features and a commanding view. This fell is perhaps most commonly traversed as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe, which is probably the finest horseshoe walk in the Western Lake District. I haven't walked the full Horseshoe in one go yet, but I'm going to give it a try over Easter 2006.

As the highest fell west of Pillar, the views from Scoat Fell's summit (which happens to lie on the line of a stone wall) are excellent in all directions, despite the broadness of the plateau. Once you're up high, this is a very easy fell to climb, due to the low prominence and gentle slope extending in all directions. The stone wall, which bears a cairn at the exact highest point (got to admire the precision of the cairn builders!) is actually quite an obstruction; you have to look at the view from one side, then hop over to see the view on the other ... unless you're very tall, of course!

The actual summit area is a rather boring flat grassy plateau, although there is a gentle boulder slope a little way down the fellside. Scoat Fell's best points are its tremendous north face dropping down into Ennerdale (which can only be appreciated from Pillar, Steeple or the High Stile Range), and the gorgeous Scoat Tarn, nestling in a high cwm a little to the south.

Scoat Tarn is passed on the descent route I took from the fell, via the long valley of Nether Beck. This is a wild and remote walk, very boggy in places and seemingly endless after a long day on the tops, but first-class for its sense of solitude. You will rarely see anyone here, and Nether Beck's relative unpopularity is reflected by the rudimentary nature of the path.

All said, Scoat Fell has its disadvantages, but it's one of the highest of the Western Fells and has a lovely view.

Seatallen and Haycock from the summit	Scoat Tarn, a beautiful but remote lake
Across Ennerdale to the High Crag ridge	Looking across the Solway Firth