Friar's Crag: Difference between revisions

The word ''[[wiktionary:friar|friar]]'' comes from Middle English and Old French from ''[[wiktionary:frere|frere]]'', meaning "brother" (of a religious order) and ''[[wiktionary:crag|crag]]'', from Middle English ''crag'' or ''[[wiktionary:crag|cragge]]'' meaning a rocky outcrop.<ref name="whaley">{{whaley|122}}</ref> In local folklore this little promontory has associations with the quaint village of [[Grange]] at the south end of the lake, which in history was an outlying farm or store owned by the wealthy Cistercian monks of [[Furness Abbey]].<ref>{{whaley|135}}</ref> One of the islands situated in the centre of the lake is [[St HerbertsHerbert's Island]] and was once the home of Anglo-Saxon priest and hermit {{w1|Herbert of Derwentwater}}. His tenure there was in the late 7th century so the history and connection between St. Herbert, the Cistercians and Friar's Crag go back to that period.

The route to Friar's Crag from Keswick is very easy going and mostly level all the way, taking in both paved roads and gravel paths that run parallel with the lake. The route is also accessible for wheelchairs. Dogs are welcome but are requested to be kept on a lead. The easiest way to get there would be to park at Lakeside Car Park, follow Lake Road south past the Theatre on the Lake and the jetties until the road turns into a gravel path. Continuing on this path for a quarter of a mile will bring you out at Friar's Crag and the wide open views of Derwentwater and the surrounding [[fell]]sfells. There is a bench set back from an opening in the trees.

<div class="res-img">[[File:Derwentwater and Cat Bells from Friar's Crag (2305).jpeg]]{{c|'''View from Friar's Crag looking towards [[Cat Bells]] and the Borrowdale Valley'''}}</div>