Brant Fell

Brant Fell is a small, craggy and easily accessible hill above the town of Bowness-on-Windermere. Like Orrest Head and School Knott, it is a viewpoint that is easily reached from the cafes and pubs below, making it a great micro-adventure if you only have an hour or two to spare.

A crown of rock boasting beautiful Windermere views

The sight of the summit’s rocky crown will be familiar to anyone who has walked the Dales Way long-distance trail, which starts at Ilkley in Yorkshire and finishes just a stone’s throw away in Bowness. The official route passes just to the north of Brant Fell on a footpath that eventually joins Brantfell Road on its way into the town centre. From this footpath, the fell’s boulder-strewn summit is just a short diversion to the south, past Brantfell Farm and then steeply up to the top.

Brant Fell is a great objective for family ambles, as it combines accessibility, glorious views and isn’t too much of a commitment. There’s plenty of clambering and easy scrambling fun to be had on the summit’s rock outcrops, a great natural playground for young children. Bear in mind that the ascent can be muddy after periods of rainfall.

Few viewpoints reward with such extensive views for so little effort as the top of Brant Fell. Windermere, England’s longest lake, stretches away to the north and south. In the distance rise the mountains of the Coniston group and beyond them the Scafells, the nation’s highest mountains.