Lake District
Grasmoor
851M
2793FT
About Grasmoor
Grasmoor dominates the North Western Fells with its massive, flat-topped summit and imposing western scree slopes. While the climb from Lorton is a relentless slog, the reward is a vast plateau offering some of the most expansive views over Crummock Water and the Cumbrian coast.
Key Statistics
Rank
33rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Western Fells
Prominence
?
518.2
Nearest Town
Buttermere
Geology
You're walking on the Kirk Stile Formation, composed of mudstone and siltstone layers that have weathered into the gentle slopes of Grasmoor.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.5716°N
Longitude
3.2779°W
Did You Know?
- •The mountain is primarily composed of Skiddaw Slate, which has eroded to create the most extensive and dramatic scree slopes in the North Western Fells on its western face.
- •The name originates from the Old Norse 'gres' and 'mýrr', meaning 'grassy moor', a literal description of the surprisingly lush, level plateau that forms the summit.
- •Unlike many of its neighbors in the Coledale horseshoe, Grasmoor's high slopes were never significantly mined for minerals, leaving its massive bulk largely scarred only by natural erosion.
- •The summit features a large, well-built stone windbreak, essential for hikers because the plateau's height and exposure make it a lightning rod for high winds coming off the Irish Sea.
- •The summit plateau is so unnervingly flat and expansive that in a thick Lakeland mist, you will likely spend more time wandering in circles looking for the actual high point than you did climbing the mountain.