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Brant Fell above Bowness-on-Windermere

Brant Fell overlooks the little town of Bowness-on-Windermere, which is often referred to as just Bowness or Windermere. The way to the fell is quite steep and can get a bit muddy but on a clear day the views from the top are certainly worth it though. Across the town, to the north, stands the diminutive Orrest Head which a certain Mr Wainwright visited on his first excursion to the Lake District and to the west across Windermere is Grizedale Forest.

The walk starts in the centre of Bowness, the most suitable landmark being the mini-roundabout right in the middle: you can't miss it. You quickly leave the shops and bustle behind, climbing steeply along Brantfell Road to reach the fields and fell above the town. This early part of the walk is part of the Dales Way which starts 81 miles away in Ilkley and finishes here. Turning off after a few hundred metres you visit the little viewpoint of Post Knott(1) before turning your back on the views for a short bit to finish climbing to the top of Brant Fell itself. At the summit is a forlorn gateway with no fence or wall still in existence. The large outcrops of rock here have vertical faces of some 6 to 10 feet high so don't trip over the bits of old metalwork still rusting away. To return you narrowly avoid the outward path and descend back to the shops along Helm Road.

Although we suggest a minimum of an hour, you should allow a couple of hours so as not to hurry on this walk.

Parking in Bowness-on-Windermere is reasonably plentiful with a number of car parks dotted around, however it does get extremely busy at weekends and holidays. It is well served by public transport with the railway station and a number of buses that pass through the Lakes.