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Scarth Gap, Buttermere
Scarth Gap
Scarth Gap Pass
civil parish:-   Buttermere (formerly Cumberland)
civil parish:-   Ennerdale and Kinniside (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   pass
coordinates:-   NY189133
1Km square:-   NY1813
10Km square:-   NY11

photograph
BQL65.jpg (taken 1.5.2009)  
photograph
BNM82.jpg (taken 4.4.2007)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 69 15) 
placename:-  Scarth Gap
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.
image OT01P026, button  goto source
Page 26:-  "... Pedestrians, anxious to explore the inmost recesses of the mountains, may follow the lake [Ennerdale Water] to its head, and ... continue their route four of five miles along the narrow dale, ... and ... turn to the left, by the pass called Scarf Gap, to Buttermere; ..."
"..."
image OT01P126, button  goto source
Page 126:-  "Opposite to the farm of Gatesgarth, which is two miles from the inn at Buttermere, a shepherd's path leads over the mountain, by a pass called Scarf-gap, ... The crags on the left of Scarf-gap are, from their form, called Hay-stacks; and to the right, three adjoining summits are called High-crag, High-stile, and Red-pike."
evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
image
GAR2NY11.jpg
"Scarf Gap"
hill hachuring 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Martineau 1855
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Guide book, A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855; published 1855-76.
image MNU1P161, button  goto source
Page 161:-  "The other exit from Wastdale Head is by the road to Scarf Gap, already referred to as having been found dangerous by inexperienced travellers. A rough foot-road leads through the valley of Mosedale, between Kirkfell and Yewbarrow, till it enters Gillerthwaite, at the head of Ennerdale. Kirkfell and the stream being kept on the right, the track passes between Kirkfell and the Pillar. Coming down into Gillerthwaite, the view is beautiful. Great Gable and Kirkfell close in the dale at its head; High Stile and Red Pike are in front, and Gillerthwaite is below, with its circular green level, dropped over with wood, its farmhouse and stream, and the lake at the other end. Behind, the wild valley of Mosedale winds away between Kirkfell and Yewbarrow, and discloses the great summits of Scawfell and Bowfell. The Pillar is 2,893 feet high, and inaccessible, from its craggy and precipitous character. The path leads along the Pass called Blacksail to a sheepfold on the little river Liza, which falls into Ennerdale Lake: at that fold the stream will be crossed, and an indistinct path will be seen crossing a hollow in the direction of Buttermere. That hollow is Scarf Gap; and the path leads out upon Gatesgarth, at the head of Buttermere. ..."
image MNU1P162, button  goto source
Page 162:-  "... the walk from Wastdale to Gatesgarth is somewhat short of twelve miles. Most of it must be traversed on foot, though a horse may be led, to be occasionally mounted."
evidence:-   outline view:- Martineau 1855
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Print, engraving, outline view, Mountains seen from Lanthwaite Wood Crummock Water, drawn by L Aspland, engraved by W Banks, Edinburgh, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855.
image  click to enlarge
MNU113.jpg
Opposite p.84 in A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau. 
The view is captioned, numbers referring to mountains in the image:-  "1 Whiteless Pike, 2 Honister Crag, 3 Green Gable, 4 Great End, 5 Great Gable / Rannerdale Knott (beneath), 6 Scawfell Pike, 7 Kirkfell / Scarf Gap (below), 8 High Crag, 9 High Stile, 10 Bleaberry Crag, 11 Red Pike, 12 Melbreak."
"MOUNTAINS SEEN FROM LANTHWAITE WOOD CRUMMOCK WATER."
"L Aspland Delt. / W Banks Sc Edinr."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1159.13
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Prior 1865
placename:-  Scarth Gap
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Buttermere, Honister Crag, Scarth Gap, and Haystacks, Cumberland, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Simpkin, Marshall and Co, London, 1865.
image  click to enlarge
PI0103.jpg
Included on page 16 of the guide book, Ascents and Passes in the Lake District of England, by Herman Prior. 
printed at bottom:-  "BUTTER-MERE, HONISTER CRAG, SCARTH GAP, AND HAYSTACKS."
item:-  JandMN : 235.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   outline view:- Black 1856
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Print, lithograph, Outline Views, Buttermere - Mountains as seen from the Knots near the Hotel at Buttermere, and Mountains as seen at the Seat in Lanthwaite Wood, Scale Hill, by J Flintoft, Keswick, Cumberland, engraved by R Mason, Edinburgh, Lothian, about 1900.
image  click to enlarge
BC08E5.jpg
"... Scarf Gap ..."
item:-  JandMN : 37.19
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Sylvan 1847
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Print, engraving, Ennerdale Water from Scarf Gap, showing Scarth Gap, Buttermere, Cumberland, published by John Johnstone, Paternoster Row, London, et al, 1847.
image  click to enlarge
SYL155.jpg
On p.211 of Sylvan's Pictorial Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom:-  "ENNERDALE WATER (from Scarf Gap)."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1201.55
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   outline view:- Black 1841 (3rd edn 1846) 
placename:-  Scarf Gap
source data:-   Print, engraving, outline view, Mountains as seen from The Knots near the Victoria at Buttermere, and Mountains as seen at the Seat in Lanthwaite Wood, Scale Hill, by J Flintoft, Keswick, Cumberland, engraved by R Mason, Edinburgh, Lothian, about 1846.
image  click to enlarge
BC02E7.jpg
"... Scarf Gap ..."
item:-  JandMN : 32.11
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
 Click to enlarge
BNM88.jpg (taken 4.4.2007)  
photograph
BJQ14.jpg  From road to Newlands Hause.
(taken 10.6.2005)  
photograph
BWO37.jpg (taken 16.5.2012)  
photograph
BWO38.jpg  Cairn,
(taken 16.5.2012)  
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