Brandreth: 715m Height, Walks and Western Fells Views

Brandreth is a broad, comparatively quiet presence among some of Lakeland’s best-known fells. At 715m, it stands between Grey Knotts and Green Gable, above the head of Ennerdale. Walkers often cross it as part of a longer round rather than make it their sole objective, but its open top and close relationship with the Gables reward a pause rather than a hurried summit tick.

A broad summit beside the Gables

Brandreth’s character is gentler than that of nearby Great Gable. Grass and scattered rock define its upper slopes, and the summit is broad rather than sharply pointed. This is a fell whose interest comes as much from its position as from its own outline: it occupies high ground where the uplands above Borrowdale, Buttermere and Ennerdale meet.

Great Gable and Green Gable are prominent neighbours, giving the outlook a strong sense of the surrounding mountain country. The contrast between Brandreth’s comparatively easy contours and the more forceful shape of Great Gable is part of its appeal. In clear weather, the open ground allows walkers to appreciate how these ridges and valleys fit together, rather than simply looking towards one isolated landmark.

Brandreth in the Western Fells

Brandreth appears in The Western Fells, the seventh book of Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. Its height of 715m, or 2,346ft, places it 79th among the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY214119.

Grey Knotts, Green Gable, Great Gable and Base Brown belong to its immediate fell neighbourhood. These names help explain why Brandreth is so often encountered on a linked walk: it forms part of connected high ground rather than standing apart from the surrounding tops. Grey Knotts lies between Brandreth and Honister Pass, while Green Gable continues the connection towards Great Gable. Base Brown stands on the Borrowdale side of this group. For walkers learning the Western Fells, Brandreth helps make sense of their geography.

Walks from Honister and a summit worth noticing

Honister Pass is a well-established starting point for walks taking in Grey Knotts and Brandreth. Longer outings may include Green Gable or Great Gable, although adding these summits changes the length and demands of the day. Brandreth is therefore best understood both as a destination and as part of a wider network of fell walks.

Its broad upper ground should not be mistaken for a navigationally simple place in poor visibility. Cloud can remove the neighbouring landmarks that make the landscape so readable on a clear day, and a map and compass remain important. Dedicated route guides are the right place to check distance, ascent and terrain. Given clear conditions, though, Brandreth rewards taking time to look around before continuing towards a more celebrated neighbour.

Where Brandreth stands

Summit at grid reference NY214119 · open full map

The real Brandreth

Walking Brandreth

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Grey Knotts and Brandreth circular from Honister (walklakes.co.uk)
• Brandreth (andrewswalks.co.uk)
• Grey Knotts and Brandreth - April 2021 - Hopeless Wanderer (hopelesswanderer.co.uk)

Weather on Brandreth

Conditions estimated at summit height (715 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Brandreth on your wall

A painting of Brandreth can recall the quieter stretches of a Western Fells day: open ground underfoot, changing light and the Gables close by. On the wall, that familiar shape holds its own, much as the fell does among its better-known neighbours.

Own “Sunlit Cairn Below Brandreth Peak” — our painting of Brandreth → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Western Fells

• Grey Knotts 697 m
• Green Gable 800 m
• Great Gable 899 m
• Base Brown 646 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.