Gragareth

About Gragareth

Standing as the highest point in the historic county of Lancashire, this broad, grassy whaleback ridge overlooks the deep trench of Kingsdale. While often overshadowed by neighbouring Whernside, its summit wall offers a secluded perspective of the Morecambe Bay coastline and the southern Lake District fells.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely stems from the Old Norse 'grár' and 'garðr', meaning 'grey enclosure' or 'grey wall', a nod to the limestone outcrops and the prominent drystone boundary wall that bisects the summit ridge.
• •It is the traditional 'county top' of Lancashire; although modern administrative boundaries have shifted, it remains the highest point within the historic county's borders.
• •On the western flanks sit the 'Three Men of Gragareth', a series of three remarkably large, well-built stone cairns that overlook the Lune Valley and serve as prominent landmarks for those ascending from Leck.
• •The summit provides a unique profile view of the Yorkshire 'Big Three', looking directly across the valley at the steep western face of Whernside and south-east toward the distinctive shape of Ingleborough.
• •It offers one of the finest views of the Three Peaks without actually being one, allowing you to watch the distant, ant-like queues on Whernside while enjoying the silence of your own summit.