Mardale Head – Branstree Summit Trig Point loop from Wood Howe

Hiking trails & Routes

Mardale Head – Branstree Summit Trig Point loop from Wood Howe

Moderate

4.6

(30)

327

hikers

Mardale Head – Branstree Summit Trig Point loop from Wood Howe

03:13

9.33km

480m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 7, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

9 m

View of Haweswater Reservoir

Highlight • Lake

A fantastic long downhill section on the way back!

Tip by

36 m

Mardale Head

Highlight • Historical Site

Mardale Head is an excellent starting point for many grand adventures in the Far Eastern Fells of the Lake District. From here, trails splay out onto the likes of High …

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2.75 km

Branstree Summit Trig Point

Highlight • Summit

Branstree is a 2,339-foot (713 m) Wainwright fell in the Far Eastern Lake District National Park. It sits at the head of three valleys - Mardale, Swindale and Longsleddale. The …

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3.39 km

Selside Pike Summit Shelter

Highlight • Viewpoint

Selside Pike is a 2,149-foot (655 m) Wainwright fell in the Lake District National Park. I've hiked it together with Branstree on two occasions. There is a shelter on the …

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5.84 km

View of Haweswater Reservoir

Highlight • Viewpoint

One of the quieter lakes and only really hiked by those bagging Wainwrights

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6.65 km

Old Corpse Road

Highlight • Viewpoint

be ready to push ad carry bike

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6.74 km

View of Haweswater from the Old Corpse Road

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

This trail is beautiful. We paused numerous times just to listen to the lapping of the water at sunset. What a treat.

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9.33 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.15 km

1.65 km

512 m

Surfaces

4.69 km

4.05 km

586 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (700 m)

Lowest point (260 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

15°C

3°C

58 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 25.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

February 28, 2025,Branstree & Selside Pike from Mardale Head

Park at Mardale Head carpark (donation boxes). Head up the valley toward Branstree a fairly flat summit with not much in the way of a view and then head over to Selside Pike where it opens up and you can enjoy the stunning views over Haweswater. Its a boggy route but not too bad, even in February. The walk down …