Dales 30
Personal Journey

Gragareth

Route Options
Height

627m (2,057ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Great Coum

Height

627m (2,057ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Great Coum

Gallery of Gragareth

Lonely road with Gragareth beyond
Lonely road with Gragareth beyond
Gragareth summit
Gragareth summit
Three Men of Gragareth
Three Men of Gragareth
Great Coum from along ridge
Great Coum from along ridge
Gragareth Tarn on Green Hill
Gragareth Tarn on Green Hill
Leck Beck meets Ease Gill
Leck Beck meets Ease Gill
Dry Valley Ease Gill
Dry Valley Ease Gill
Castle Hill fort above Leck
Castle Hill fort above Leck

Jonathan’s View

"Although one of the Dales 30 mountains Gragareth is the highest point in Lancashire. 200m from the border with Yorkshire but within the Yorkshire Dales National Park it qualifies. It is also a worthy addition, sat on a long 5km ridge of excellent walking. It is such a good path the eyes are drawn to the scenery around, long broad ridges and far reaching views dominate. A fine trig point ordains the summit, as opposed to its neighbour Great Coum where the trig point is not at the highest point but on neighbouring Crag Hill, a km distant,

It is perfectly possible for a quick up and down from the car parking spaces near Leck Fell House but that is a little dull (with the exception of passing the dominant cairns of Three Men of Gragareth). Much better is treat Gragareth as a start and continue a long day over Great Coum, Crag Hill and a return via the Leck Valley. The valley is a centre of caving, drawing experts from across the world. However you do not have to go underground to enjoy the limestone scenery; a mix of scars, lost rivers and exposed bright white rock adds to the areas attractions.

One of Gragareth's attractions is its remoteness, enjoy the long ridge to Great Coum with just the skylarks for company. Champion!"

Routes up Gragareth

There is a choice of routes up Gragareth . They are shown on the map and described below. The GPX file describes my favourite route.

click the image to see a larger version of the mao

My Favourite Route

From the Leck Road

Height to Climb

550m (1,805ft)

O/S Explorer Map
Parking

SD 672778. There are two cleared parking spaces 400m shy of Lech Fell House. Each fits a number of cars.

  1. Follow the road to a gate on your right just before arriving at Lech Fell House. Take the bridleway for the first 1/2km before taking to the mountain slopes. Climb steeply SE to the prominent 3 cairns of Gragareth. From the cairns turn east and on gradual, trackless slopes climb to the summit of Gragareth.
  2. A wall heads NNE and then north for 4km from Gragareth to Great Coum via Green Hill. It can be marshy in places, it wasn’t when I was there but regardless it is a splendid panorama, one of my favourite sections of walking in the Dales. Cross the wall before arriving a Great Coum and as you turn to the west a cairm marks the highest point. A couple of rickety stiles then lead you to the trig point of Crag Hill, a fine viewpoint and nearly 1km from the highest point.
  3. Head SW from the trig point, initially following the wall becoming a fence but where it turns WSW carry straight on. An indistinct path heads towards a 2nd wall, follow this SW towards Bullpot Farm. Do not cross the boundary on your left but continue to the minor road at the foot of the valley. Turn left past the Caving Club centre and join a footpath with the river on your right. On arrival at Leck Beck enjoy the odd rock formation and a disappearing river, pot holes and other classic limestone features. Follow the river bed south to a flat plateau area with some small waterfalls and where the larger Ease Gill meets Leck Beck.
  4. From the low plateau you have to now climb steeply up a rough field to return to the car. The climb is 140m so not overly welcome at the end of the day but makes for the quickest finish. Stick close to the wall on your right hand side
  5. ALTERNATIVE. Add a further 7km by parking near the school and the village of Leck. Walk up the road to the parking place near Leck Fell House and on the return continue alongside Lech Beck on a delightful path back to the village.

 

Gragareth Tarn on Green Hill

Alternative Routes

From Leck Fell House - Up and Down

A 4km and mere 250m climb will ‘tick’ Gragareth but is not worthy of this fine mountain and in particular its excellent summit ridge.

Park at the parking spaces just short of Leck Fell House, join the bridleway for 1/2km before striking uphill towards the Three Men of Gragareth. The summit is a little way beyond. There is little alternative than to return the same way.

The Dales 30 Book

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Each of the 30 mountains includes the following:

A full description of the Best Route

A personal view of the mountain from the author

High quality, colour photography

A sketch map showing the route & alternatives

Facts and anecdotes about the mountain and the nearby area

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