Grey Friar from Brim Fell
Grey Friar
Sitting somewhat aloof from the high-traffic arterial tracks of the Coniston Fells, Grey Friar is a mountain that rewards the walker looking to escape the crowds. Much like its neighbor Dow Crag, it stands proud and slightly detached from the main spine of the range. But because it lacks a singular, famous geological showpiece to instantly pull the eye, it remains one of the least-frequented summits in the group. It is a real shame, as this fine mountain possesses an immensely satisfying, massive footprint that demands to be explored.
The sheer scale of the fell becomes beautifully apparent from the west, where its long, rough, and crag-broken slopes drop down for several kilometers to form the colossal eastern rampart of the quiet Duddon Valley. Hugging its southern flanks is the deep blue basin of Seathwaite Tarn. Originally a much smaller, natural mountain waterbody, the tarn's exit was dammed and its water level significantly raised early in the twentieth century to engineer a reliable source of clean drinking water for the growing industrial areas of Barrow-in-Furness.
Grey Friar's summit and excellent view to the Scafells
Stepping up onto the plateau reveals a wonderfully stony summit area marked by two separate, cairned rock outcrops. For the precise list-ticker, the southeasterly outcrop stands as the true high point of the mountain. However, it is well worth walking the extra few yards over to the northwesterly cairn, which acts as a spectacular natural balcony. From these stones, the view unlocks a truly majestic, front-row look directly across the valley to the massive, brooding architecture of the Scafell massif, while turning south treats you to a beautiful perspective of the Coniston fells rolling away along the skyline.
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