Graystones: 450.4m, Walks and North Western Fell Views

Graystones stands above the Vale of Lorton, at the western end of the ridge extending through Broom Fell to Lord’s Seat. At 450.4 metres, it belongs to the lower, grassier side of the North Western Fells rather than their high, rocky heart. Its appeal is straightforward: open summit ground, views across the western district and the chance to explore a less imposing part of Lakeland.

A grassy fell above Lorton

Graystones is a rounded fell with open, grassy upper slopes and a notably steeper western flank above the Vale of Lorton. Its position gives it more presence from the valley than its modest height might suggest. To the east, the upland continues towards Broom Fell and Lord’s Seat; to the south lies the wooded country around Whinlatter. That meeting of open fell, forestry and farmland is central to its character.

The outlook is part of the attraction. Westwards, the ground falls towards Lorton and the lower country beyond, while the higher North Western Fells give the southern skyline a stronger profile. Grisedale Pike is a distinctive presence in that direction. This is not a summit enclosed by taller neighbours on every side: its position near the western edge of the district brings a sense of space.

Graystones among the Wainwrights

Graystones appears in Alfred Wainwright’s sixth volume, The North Western Fells. Its recorded height is 450.4 metres, or 1,478 feet, and it ranks 189th by height among the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY176266. Those figures place it firmly among the lower fells, but height alone says little about either the outlook or the effort involved in reaching it.

Broom Fell is its immediate neighbour along the ridge to the east. Whinlatter lies to the south-east, while Ling Fell and Sale Fell occupy the lower northern part of this group. Together, these fells show a different face of the North Western region from the sharper ridges around Grisedale Pike and the higher ground farther south. Grass, rounded skylines and woodland margins have a larger part in the landscape here.

Walking context and nearby interest

Graystones can be considered as an individual fell walk or as part of a longer outing involving Broom Fell and Lord’s Seat. The connecting ridge makes that relationship clear on a map, though a combined walk brings additional distance and ascent. Its comparatively low summit should not be mistaken for an entirely gentle approach: the slopes rising from the Lorton side are steep.

Nearby Spout Force, a waterfall south of the fell around Darling How, adds a contrasting feature to the local landscape. Woodland and falling water sit close to the open fell above. For planning, use a dedicated walking guide alongside a current map, checking access, forestry notices and the weather rather than relying on the summit height as a measure of difficulty.

Where Graystones stands

Summit at grid reference NY176266 · open full map

The real Graystones

Walking Graystones

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Lord's Seat (andrewswalks.co.uk)
• Weekend Walk: Graystones and Broom Fell (whitehavennews.co.uk)
• Graystones – The 214 Wainwright fells: without a car (214wainwrights.wordpress.com)

Weather on Graystones

Conditions estimated at summit height (450 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Graystones on your wall

A painting of Graystones can bring a quieter part of the Lakes into a room: the grassy skyline, the wooded margins and the changing light above Lorton. As a print or canvas, it offers a familiar point of connection for anyone who knows these western fells.

Own “Diagonal Shadow Over Graystones Fell” — our painting of Graystones → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The North Western Fells

• Ling Fell 374 m
• Whinlatter 517 m
• Broom Fell 510 m
• Sale Fell 359 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.