Graystones
Graystones at 455m (1,494ft) is a small, heathery fell above Lorton Vale, its summit giving pleasant views of Bassenthwaite Lake and the northern fells. This is the Birkett top; Wainwright's summit is the North Top, 450 m, about 260 m to the north-west.
Summit conditions on Graystones
On the summit on Tuesday 27 October: 13° to 7°C, gusts to 60 mph, 6.7 mm of rain forecast over the whole day, midnight to midnight.
The forecast figures are Open-Meteo’s, worked out for the summit’s height. How we check →
Routes up Graystones
Both start from Spout Force, Whinlatter (free); the last two rows give its parking and bus. Full maps further down.
| Compared | Whinlatter Loop | Kirk Fell and Broom Fell |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | Spout Force, Whinlatter (free) | Spout Force, Whinlatter |
| Distance and climb | 13.56 km, 712 m of climb | 7.55 km, 486 m of climb |
| Time, fast to steady | ~3¾–5¼ h | ~2¼–3¼ h |
| Scrambling | Not mentioned in the route’s notes | Not mentioned in the route’s notes |
| Exposure | Easy | Not assessed |
| Navigation | Moderate | Hard |
| Steepest stretch | Climb of about 48% at 0.4 km (Severe) | Climb of about 48% at 0.4 km (Severe) |
| After the summit | Over Graystones (Graystones North Top), Broom Fell, Lord's Seat, Barf, Whinlatter Top and Whinlatter (Brown How - Whinlatter) | Over Broom Fell |
| Walked or planned | Walked by Lee, May 2025 | Walked in part; km 1.1–2.0, km 4.9–5.7 from the map |
| Car park at the start | Spout Force, Whinlatter (free) | Spout Force, Whinlatter (free) |
| Bus to the start | 77, 2.5 km walk from Lorton Winder Hall (near). Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. | 77, 2.5 km walk from Lorton Winder Hall (near). Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. |
Times run from fast to steady pace (Naismith’s rule). Scrambling quotes each route’s own notes; “not mentioned” means they do not say, not that the ground has none. Each route’s page has its map, stages and GPX.
Distance, climb and the steepest stretch are measured from each route’s GPX track; the other grades are set on the ground, judged from the map or estimated from OpenStreetMap, and each route page says which. How we check →
How hard is Graystones?
The shortest way up we hold is Kirk Fell and Broom Fell — 7.55 km, 486 m of ascent, ~2¼–3¼ h. On our scale its hardest axis is steepness — Severe.
All axes: steepness: Severe · navigation: Hard · length: Easy · terrain: Not assessed · exposure: Not assessed.
These are the route page’s grades, set by the rules on how we grade: length and steepness measured from its GPX track, the others set on the ground, judged from the map or estimated from OpenStreetMap. The route page says which. How we check →
Conditions and 7-day summit forecast
Modelled for the 455 m summit (Open-Meteo). Check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.
Full 7-day forecast
Taken 27 October 2026, 20:59 UTC; the live forecast replaces it when it loads. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab)
Parking & buses for Graystones
Parking
Route starts first, then the car parks nearest the summit, which are not always a way up.
2 more places to park near Graystones
Positions are approximate.
Vehicles are left at their owner’s risk: we list places people park and cannot vouch for any of them. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.
Buses
The 77 stops at Lorton Winder Hall (near). From there it is 2.5 km and 150 m of ascent to the start of Kirk Fell and Broom Fell — a route we rate Severe overall (hardest: steepness) — a walk in before the walk. And the same back: about 12.5 km in all, with the walk. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. It returns on 22 March 2027. Confirmed with the operator: its last day on 29 August 2026, its return on 16 October 2026. As timetabled from 27 October to 1 November. Towards Keswick (77): Tuesday to Sunday 17:56. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before relying on a last bus.
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Hazards on Graystones
Hazard & Incident Information for Graystones
Checked by Lee McCoy, . Draws on published material from Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team. Editorial background, not a live callout feed.
A quiet grassy fell on the ridge between Whinlatter and the Vale of Lorton, with forest on its flanks. Its steep grassy ascent and descent — slippery and muddy when wet — plus boggy ground and forest navigation are the things to watch. Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.
- Steep grassy ascent & descent: The climb (and especially the descent) is steep grass that becomes muddy and slippery after rain. Take the steep sections carefully, particularly coming down when wet, and use poles if you have them.
- Boggy ground & faint paths (navigation): The undulating ridge is boggy in places and the paths can be vague, obscured by bog or following walls; in mist it's easy to lose the line. Carry map and compass and follow walls/fences as handrails.
- Forest tracks & felling: Routes use the Darling How / Whinlatter plantation tracks, which change with felling and may differ from older maps. Follow current signage and keep clear of active forestry.
What to watch for: Slips on the steep, muddy grass, especially descending · Navigation errors on faint, boggy paths in cloud · Confusion where forest tracks differ from the map · Slippery or icy conditions in wet weather or winter
Local Mountain Rescue: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)
Safety: Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
If you need Mountain Rescue
Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
Before you call, have ready: where you are (a grid reference if you can – the OS Locate app shows yours on your phone), what has happened, how many of you there are, and your mobile number.
Then stay where you are until the rescue team contacts you.
If you cannot make a voice call because of a hearing or speech impairment, emergency SMS works only if you have registered first: text “register” to 999.
From Mountain Rescue England and Wales’s guidance on calling them out (opens in new tab) (read 26 October 2026).
Map, GPX and nearby Birketts
Skip mapFree mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).
Parking, toilets and buses: Parking & buses ↑.
Birketts within 3 km of Graystones
These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits. Distances are straight lines: check the ground and access on a map before adding one.
Routes over Graystones
Download GPX Walked in part, May 2025 · km 1.1–2.0, km 4.9–5.7 from the map
Forestry England says (updated 1 Oct 2026) that the Lord's Seat and Barf trails are diverted: follow the diversion signs. This route's GPX has not been checked against the diversion. Forestry England: Whinlatter updates (read 7 Oct 2026)
Download GPX Walked by Lee, May 2025
Every line here is a guide, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate for yourself and carry a map and compass. How to use this guide.
About Graystones
My Strava hikes over Graystones
2 logged hikes pass over this summit:
- A bit wet and windy doing the Whinlater loop (opens in new tab) — 13.3 km · 776 m ascent · 3h 12m moving · 31 May 2025
- Did the wrong sodding Greystones summit! (opens in new tab) — 1.9 km · 310 m ascent · 43 min moving · 24 May 2025
Data from Strava.
Classifications & hill data
Is Graystones a Wainwright?
Graystones is not a Wainwright. It is on the Birkett list, the Synge list and the Fellranger list.
Selected lists
This is the summit’s grid reference. If you call from anywhere else, give your own position, not this one.
Lists, height and summit position from the Database of British and Irish Hills; the feet are converted from its metres and the grid reference from that position. How we check →
Places to stay near this fell
- Croftlands Cottages (opens in new tab) guest houseabout 4.7 km
- Embleton Spa Hotel (opens in new tab) hotelabout 4.8 km
- High Swinside Holiday Cottages (opens in new tab)about 1.4 km
We have not stayed at any of them. We take no bookings or affiliate fees. Distances are straight lines from each route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab).