Gragareth
| Gragareth | |
|---|---|
 Gragareth trig point | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 627 m (2,057 ft) |
| Prominence | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Parent peak | Great Coum |
| Listing | Hewitt, county top (debatable) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Lancashire, England |
| Parent range | Yorkshire Dales (but summit is 200m outside border of county and national park) |
| OS grid | SD687793 |
| Topo map | OS OL2 |
Gragareth is a mountain in Lancashire, England. At 626 metres (2,054 ft) it is claimed[1] to be the highest point in Lancashire, although Green Hill (628 metres (2,060 ft)), 2 km north and on the Lancashire-Cumbria border, takes this title in List of English counties by highest point. The summit of Gragareth lies about 200m west of the boundary between Lancashire and North Yorkshire, and thus lies just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park (whose boundary follows the county boundary at this point). The south eastern slopes are known as Leck Fell and the southern slopes form Ireby Fell.
The summit has a trig point and extensive views towards Morecambe Bay, the Lake District fells, the Howgill Fells, Ingleborough, and the Forest of Bowland. The county boundary wall running along the ridge is believed to be "one of the highest dry stone walls in the country."[2] Historically it formed the boundary between Yorkshire and Westmorland. The Three Men of Gragareth are a group of tall cairns on the western side of the hill above Leck Fell House.
The fell contains several caves including Lost John's Cave, Rumbling Hole and Ireby Fell Cavern.
Wainwright includes "The ascent of Gragareth via Leck Fell returning via Ireby Fell" in his Walks in Limestone Country.[3] His route begins at Ireby village, following a lane from Todgill farm on the Leck road to the tarmac road which leads to Leck Fell House, then "a steep scramble" up past the Three Men. His descent route is down a long enclosure formed by the county boundary to the east and the almost-parallel boundary between Leck and Ireby parishes, dropping down Ireby Fell past the opening of Ireby Fell Cavern, to return to Ireby.
References
- ^ The County Tops from "Relative Hills" website
- ^ Wright, Nick (1974). English Mountain Summits. London: Robert Hale. p. 70. ISBN 0-7091-4560-8.
- ^ Wainwright, Alfred (1970). "Walk 4". Walks in limestone country. Kendal: Westmorland Gazette.