Grey Friar
773m (2536ft)
The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Grey Friar & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
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See Grey Friar and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
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*Walk & bag all 30 Wainwrights in The Southern Fells area of The Lake District in just 11 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.5ml (15km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,523ft (1,074m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Walna Scar Road (nr Seathwaite (Duddon Valley) - Long Houses - Brown Pike - Dow Crag - Goat's Hawse - The Old Man of Coniston - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Swirl Band - Swirl How - Great Carrs - Grey Friar - Seathwaite Tarn - Walna Scar Road.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12.75ml (20.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,191ft (1,277m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Coniston - Walna Scar Road - Boo Tarn - Torver Beck - Cove Bridge - Goat's Water - Goat's Hawse - Dow Crag - Goat's Hawse - The Old Man of Coniston - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Grey Friar - Great Carrs - Swirl How - Prison Band - Keld Gill Head - Black Sails - Wetherlam - Swirl Hawse - Levers Water - Crowberry Haws - Walna Scar Road - Coniston
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Grey Friar
John Ramsbottom walked up Grey Friar on September 22nd, 2024 [from/via/route] Dow Cragg, The Old Man of Coniston,Brim Fell,Swirl How, Great Carrs & Grey Friar [with] Lola [weather] Mainly warm & Sunny - Good day with & Lola, went to Wilson Inn Tover, for a quick pint
Clare Tait climbed Grey Friar on August 11th, 2024 [from/via/route] Our no:96 Wainwright while staying at The Birks in the Duddon Valley. Lovely walk from the Walna Scar Road & Seathwaite Tarn. [with] Charlie, Beth and Max [weather] Sun 🌞
Tim Winn bagged Grey Friar on July 24th, 2024 [from/via/route] Coniston [with] Simon [weather] Sunny & clear.
Christine Shepherd hiked Grey Friar on July 31st, 2007 [from/via/route] Coniston along the Walna Scar road to Brown pike then back over the Coniston Fells [with] On my own [weather] Glorious! - Climbed this again on my own on 1.10.11 using walk c420. Did the Coniston Seven again on 4.8.23 in wonderful walking weather.
James Hughes summited Grey Friar on March 27th, 2023 [from/via/route] Walna Scar Road, Brown Pike, Dow Crag, Old Man Coniston, Brim Fell, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar [with] Solo [weather] Clear, sun beginning to have some warmth, but cold on tops. Very boggy descent. - Awesome, if not brutal climb. Completed within 5 hoursish. Pint of Keswick Gold Bitter at Newfield Inn.
John Tippins conquered Grey Friar on October 23rd, 2022 [from/via/route] From Seathwaite (c179) [with] Alone [weather] Very low cloud, continual rain & strong winds almost all day.
Richard Marchant scaled Grey Friar on September 15th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked at Wrynose Pass & walked straight up to Great Carrs over Little Carrs & then on to Grey Friar & back the same route. [with] On my Own [weather] Clear day with little or no breeze.
Ian Ashton walked up Grey Friar on July 9th, 2022 [from/via/route] Part of seathwaite Round [with] SOLO
Geoff Hand climbed Grey Friar on April 20th, 2022 [from/via/route] Walk c179 The Seathwaite Round Pt2 Brim Fell, Swirl How, Great Carrs & Grey Friar [with] Alone with Tess [weather] Another glorious sunny & warm day (ridiculous for this time of year!) - Second part of 2 goes at this walk. upto Seathwaite tarn, on to Goat's Hawse then on to Brim Fell, Swirl How, Great Carrs & Grey Friar. Great day out.
Kevin Foster bagged Grey Friar on September 16th, 2021 [from/via/route] Coniston. [with] By myself. [weather] Sunny with some high cloud cover. Perfect conditions really. - I decided to revisit Swirl How & Great Carrs after the low cloud on the previous week's visit blotted out all the views. A brief summary of the route was: Coppermines valley, Levers water, Swirl Hause, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friars, Levers Hause, Brim Fell, Old Man, Goats Hause, Dow crag, Buck Pike, Brown Pike, Walna Scar, White Maiden & return to the Walna Scar road for the long descent back into Coniston. The clear visibility really opened up the views as far as Morecambe Bay, the Isle of Man & possibly Blackpool Tower!? A superb day's walking from start to finish.
Pete George hiked Grey Friar on July 17th, 2021 [with] Roco [weather] Sunny & Hot
Andrew Flynn summited Grey Friar on August 10th, 2021 [from/via/route] Coniston. Walk number 19. The Coniston Fells [with] Nicola [weather] Sunny
Neil Bennett conquered Grey Friar on July 23rd, 2021 [from/via/route] Climbed Great Carrs, Swirl How & Grey Friar from the Wrynose Pass. Our starting point was the Three Shires Stone, taking the path up Wet Side Edge & returning via the same route. [with] Pam Bennett, Oliver Bennett, Thomas Bennett. [weather] Hot & Sunny.
Richard Marshall scaled Grey Friar on June 4th, 2021 [from/via/route] Dow Crag [with] Dave Elsie and Roxy [weather] Cloudy/Sunny warm
Wayne Baxter walked up Grey Friar on April 25th, 2021 [from/via/route] From Wrynose pass, park near three shire stone (be early limited parking) Head to wet side edge follow cairns to Great Carrs. Pass the memorial to the Canadians pilots who crashed in the second world war & follow a well defined path to Grey Friar. You can return by bypassing Great Carr back to the parking area. [with] Sue [weather] Sunny
John Bryers climbed Grey Friar on April 15th, 2021 [from/via/route] Parked at Walna Scar Road top car park (Now pay & display at £4 for 4 hours & £8 for 9 hours). Walked up Walna scar road, took path or right on ridge up Brown Pike, Buck Pike & on to Dow Crag. From Dow Crag down to Goats Hawes & bearing right on lower path under Brim Fell & Swirl How to join climb to top of Grey Friar. [with] With Freya Gray, Jazz and Mya my faithful 13 year old Patterdale Terrier. [weather] Cold start with occasional icy winds but warmed up during climbing!
Jill Dean bagged Grey Friar on September 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] Staying in Coniston. Walk was a bit too far! [with] Grez & dexter [weather] Lovely day - Found a few trackables in geocaches
John Fenwick hiked Grey Friar on September 12th, 2020 [from/via/route] Walked from car park bottom of Walna Scar Road, Seathwaite & Duddon Valley. Followed walk c179 but went clockwise by mistake. [with] Romany [weather] Cloudy, super windy up top - Good circular walk. Easy to follow
Nick Dobson summited Grey Friar on July 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] Wrynosse Pass [with] Margaret and Ralph [weather] Clear day with light showers early part of walk - Eventually completed Grey Friar at the 3rd attempt. First time was after completing Great Carr's & Swirl How, Grey Friar was enveloped in mist so we completed Wetherlam instead. The 2nd attempt ended with a punctured tyre combining down the struggle from Kirkstone Pass, resulting in having to limp to Kendal using the space saver reserve tyre before getting a new one fitted.
Paul Macey conquered Grey Friar on July 11th, 2020 [from/via/route] Onward to great Carr's walked from covey beck [weather] Over caste windy on summit
Andrew Johnson scaled Grey Friar on November 14th, 2019 [from/via/route] Coniston [weather] Some cloud, very windy, snow & ice on tops - Scary descent of Swirl How ridge.
Christina Lander walked up Grey Friar on June 29th, 2019 [from/via/route] Three Shires Stone - Wet Side Edge - Little Carrs - Great Carrs - Grey Friar - Little Carrs - Three Shires Stone [with] Dick & Meg [weather] Warm with sunny spells.
Elaine Evans climbed Grey Friar on February 26th, 2019 [from/via/route] From Cockley Bridge to summit of Grey Friar & return. [with] Sue and Christine [weather] Beautiful sunny day. - Unbelievably hot day for February! Amazing views - well worth the effort.
David Watson bagged Grey Friar on August 29th, 2018 [from/via/route] Coniston [weather] Sunny
Phillip Bulley hiked Grey Friar on September 4th, 2018 [from/via/route] Via Swirl How. [with] Ruby. [weather] Sunny
Caroline Winter summited Grey Friar on April 11th, 2018 [from/via/route] Wrynose pass, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Swirl How, Black sails, Wetherlam [with] Becky [weather] Cloud lifted & great views late morning/afternoon, breezy on ascent to Hell Gill Pike - Busy up here. Some off to Coniston from Swirl Hawse, we some how missed plane debris on Great Carrs! Lost time on descent of Prison Band & detour off path to Black Sails. Also, after rocky scramble decent.....ended up on the minor track to the mines, & boy was it steep & never ending. We were in dismay at another climb to get back over to Wet Side. Late for booked meal, but fantastic circuit
Iain Jones conquered Grey Friar on July 29th, 2015 [from/via/route] Great Langdale National Trust Campsite - 27 August 2017 - The Wainwright 60 - Day 7 (Coniston)
Simon Boddy scaled Grey Friar on June 30th, 2017 [from/via/route] Torver [with] HF Holidays [weather] Breezy & cool with low cloud turning warmer & sunny later.
Chris Sheard walked up Grey Friar on September 4th, 2015 [from/via/route] Ridge from Great Carrs [with] George & Arron [weather] Cool day with light showers - Slower pace than would have liked - felt cold
Mark Davidson climbed Grey Friar on June 11th, 2005 [with] Theresa, Ann & Kevin [weather] Lovely & sunny
Charlie Housley bagged Grey Friar on May 21st, 2016 [from/via/route] Parked up at the Three Shire Stone for a circuit of Grey Friar, Great Carrs, Swirl How, Black Sails & Wetherlam. [with] Candy the dog. [weather] Atrocious; low cloud, driving hale, & 50mph gusts...challenging!
Andrew Martin hiked Grey Friar on October 26th, 2015 [from/via/route] three shire stone [with] harry [weather] fine
Tony Rogerson summited Grey Friar on July 3rd, 2015 [from/via/route] Great Wood Seathwaite Tarn Goat's Hawse Brim Fell Grey Friar & Troutal Fell [with] Darren Floss Robbie & Ruby [weather] Sunny - HOT day
Denis Hoyle conquered Grey Friar on August 23rd, 2015 [from/via/route] Coniston [with] myself [weather] good - nice day
Anthony Scott scaled Grey Friar on September 22nd, 2015 [from/via/route] Coppermines Valley [with] me [weather] Sunny, some white cloud & occasional mist, but 14 degrees & almost perfect
Tracey Cowell walked up Grey Friar on September 4th, 2015 [from/via/route] Three shire stones/grey friar/swirl how/great carrs [with] Solo [weather] Sunny with some cloud
Kevin Parnham climbed Grey Friar on August 21st, 2015 [from/via/route] From Seathwaite,Duddon via Great Carrs [with] Jo and Charlotte [weather] wet & pretty windy almost all day
Wendy John bagged Grey Friar on August 8th, 2015 [from/via/route] Coniston, Brown Pike, Buck Pike, Dow Crags, Great Hawse, Brim Fell, Great Crags, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar [with] Chris Bunce [weather] sunny
David Noble hiked Grey Friar on May 23rd, 2015 [from/via/route] Walna Road [with] Chris [weather] Bright sunny day
Leon Harvey summited Grey Friar on April 5th, 2015 [from/via/route] c179 [with] Solo [weather] Sunny
Colin Egan conquered Grey Friar on March 27th, 2015 [from/via/route] Ascent from Wrynose Pass, via Wet Side Edge [with] My wife Faith [weather] Some sun, dry but cold wind - More snow near the top than expected, patchy but drifts in places, view from summit pretty impressive from Coniston Old Man to the South to the Scafell range to the North.
Ann Davis scaled Grey Friar on September 24th, 2014 [from/via/route] dungeon ghyll up wrynose [weather] sunny & clear - fab day
Dave Eyes walked up Grey Friar on August 22nd, 2014 [from/via/route] From Coniston Village via Wetherlam & Swirl How & Great Carrs [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Sunny
Neil Heywood climbed Grey Friar on August 7th, 2014 [from/via/route] Seathwaite
Andy James bagged Grey Friar on August 4th, 2014 [with] Suzie James
Keith Eastman hiked Grey Friar on July 21st, 2014 [from/via/route] c179
Craig Steeland summited Grey Friar on July 15th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Coniston village via Great Carrs [with] On my own [weather] Warm & sunny with low wind. Perfect!
Clive Ward conquered Grey Friar on July 5th, 2014 [from/via/route] Wrynose Pass, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Brim Fell, Swirl How [with] Hazel [weather] Cool start, sunshine & cloud descending once to peaks - Day 2 of Tour de France (in Yorskshire)
Marcus Bradshaw scaled Grey Friar on April 24th, 2014 [from/via/route] Dow Crag , old Man , brim Fell , Swirl How , great Carrs , Grey Friar . [with] Marcus [weather] Sunny - one huge boulder - one amazing view, one happy Marcus
Harry Meijer walked up Grey Friar on June 4th, 2014 [from/via/route] Wetherlam from Little Langdale [with] The Lake District Walker
Christine Knowles climbed Grey Friar on July 20th, 2013 [from/via/route] Coniston via Swirl How & Great Carrs [with] Graham [weather] Very hot lower down, welcome breeze on tops - Great circular walk, visiting the Old Man & Dow Crag on way back
John Nicholson bagged Grey Friar on October 16th, 2010 [from/via/route] walk c179 The Seathwaite Round from Seathwaite, Duddon Valley
Chris Bramley hiked Grey Friar on April 7th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wrynose pass [with] Janet [weather] Warm but snow everywhere
Dale Verrall summited Grey Friar on December 2nd, 2011 [from/via/route] Coniston [with] Amber [weather] Very windy & cold
Iain Taylor conquered Grey Friar on November 8th, 2009 [from/via/route] Coniston (SD 30001 97460)
Darren Mortimer scaled Grey Friar on July 8th, 2012 [from/via/route] Coniston [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Wet & Misty
Linda Walker walked up Grey Friar on May 19th, 2012 [from/via/route] From Seathwaite, round to Dow Crag - camped at Turner Hall camp site - excellent
Stephen Byrne, Dawn Roberts, David Hallam, Katherine Bonner, Patrick Rogozinski, Jenny Godfrey, Clare Houlihan, Tracy Corbett, Wendy Sockett, Melanie Dunn, David Kelley, Leon Potts, Louise Sandwith, Trevor Longman, Jo Dixon, David Shaw, John Walter, David Laws, Claire Rigg, Edward Wells, David Butterfield, Louis Smith, Jonathan Tobin, Patricia Dilley, Simon Duerden, Michael Nolan, Paul Booth, Peter Clark, David Hickin, Gordon Lee, Jan Dixon, Lee Maddison, Paul Henderson, Linda Mckeogh, Trevor Williams, John Kendall, John Cuthbert, Matthew Thomas, Les Bennett, Patrick Buckland, David Kelley, John Southward, Stephen Millington, Rob Barklamb, Andy Nicholls, Paul Warren, Jeanette Coward, Adam Shewry and Ray O'hara have all walked, climbed & bagged Grey Friar.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Grey Friar
The S for Sugar Aircraft Crash Memorial between Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar
Grey Friar (left), Dow Crag, Brown Pike and The Old Man of Coniston (right) from White Maiden
White Maiden summit cairn with Grey Friar (left), Dow Crag, Brown Pike and The Old Man of Coniston (right) in the background
*Loft Crag (foreground far left), Lingmoor, Blea Tarn, Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco), Cold Pike and Crinkle Crags (featuring Crinkle Crags (South Top), Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Gunson Knott) (mid-distance left to right) and Wetherlam, Great Carrs and Grey Friar (far-distance centre to right) from the summit of Pike of Stickle (Langdale Pikes)
From left to right: Slight Side and Sca Fell, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End, Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Cold Pike, Little Stand and finally the shoulder of Grey Friar from the summit of Hard Knott
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