Brandreth
715m (2346ft)
The Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Brandreth & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Brandreth and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Brandreth and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
   |
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5.75ml (9km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 2,340ft (731m) |
| Time: | 4½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6.25mls (10km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 2,756ft (840m) |
| Time: | 5.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Bell Crags - Hopper Quarry - Honister Quarries - Honister Crag (Black Star) - Burnt Scarth - Fleetwith Pike - Dubs Hut - Dubs Quarry - Warnscale Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Blackbeck Tarn - Innominate Tarn - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Loft Beck - Coast to Coast Walk - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Hause.
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5ml (12km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 3,289ft (1,002m) |
| Time: | 6 hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 4,260ft (1,298m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Black Beck - Blackbeck Tarn - Innominate Tarn - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Scarth Gap - Ennerdale - River Liza - Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) - Black Sail Path - Kirk Fell - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Beckhead Tarn - Beck Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Windy Gap - Green Gable - Gillercomb Head - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Hause.
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 3,965ft (1,208m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Blackmoor Pols - Base Brown - Mitchell Cove - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.5ml (17km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 4,693ft (1,430m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Seatoller - Strands Bridge - Borrowdale - The Combe - Thornythwaite Fell - Comb Head - Glaramara - Looking Steads (Glaramara) - Red Beck - Red Beck Top - Allen Gill - High House Tarn - High House Tarn Top - Allen Crags - Esk Hause - Ruddy Gill - Sprinkling Tarn - Sty Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Windy Gap - Green Gable - Gillercomb Head - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Hause - Honister Pass - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Seatoller
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 18.75ml (30km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 7,309ft (2,408m) |
| Time: | 14.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Bowness Knott Car Park Ennerdale - Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre - High Gillerthwaite Yourth Hostel - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Great Round How - Brandreth - Gillercomb Head - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - High Beck - Low Beck - Ennerdale.
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Brandreth
James Hughes walked up on August 10th, 2025 [from/via/route] c417 Base Brown, Great Gable & Kirk Fell from Honister [weather] Warmish, sometimes overcast, sometimes sunny. - Stomp up to Grey Knotts from Honister - didn't feel too bad as started at decent height. Easy yomp over to Brandreth before hitting the path to descend to Base Brown. Good views then steepish ascent back to Green Gable. Good vista of Great Gable & Moses Trod below. Hard trek up Great Gable on rocky terrain. Topped & then overshot after the memorial to return to path down to Kirk Fell. Took one of the false boulder paths cited by Wainwright which ended in scree Sunday. The error of my ways became more apparent looking back as the scree looks quite severe. Had actually ascended Great Gable before from Kirk Fell col which was easier, although easy to understand how it would be hard in the mist. Another there & back on Kirk Fell - big flat top. Return via Moses Trod back to tramway track. Pint of Wainwright Amber Ale at Borrowdale Hotel. Average.
Paul Roddam climbed it on July 19th, 2025 [with] Barb, Bri [weather] Muggy
Andrew Gayne bagged it on May 15th, 2025 [from/via/route] From Honister Pass, Tin Slate Mine [with] Becky Gayne [weather] Really sunny & hot day. - Overnight stay at Ravenstone Manor near Bassenthwaite having walked Howtown to Glenridding the previous day, went up Grey Knotts then Brandreth before going up Green Gable & finally Grey Gable. Steepish scramble up & down Grey Gable. Visited Westmorland Cairn for amazing views
Geoff Hand hiked it on April 9th, 2025 [from/via/route] Climbed up from Honister slate mine to close this one out. Missed it last year when going for Gt Gable & Kirk fell [with] Solo [weather] Lovely sunny day - Done & dusted
Tim Winn summited on October 27th, 2024 [from/via/route] Honister Slate Mine [with] Barry, Paul and Roger [weather] Dry.
Christine Shepherd conquered it during July, 2003 [from/via/route] Walked from Honister slate mine. [with] Miriam, Andy and Ishmay aged 7 [weather] Sunny - Climbed again on a bright Autumn Day on 30.11.19. Climbed for a third time on 8.6.23 using walk c417, in gorgeous sunshine with a pleasant breeze.
Ian Ashton scaled on May 13th, 2023 [with] Jph
John Ramsbottom walked up on April 10th, 2023 [from/via/route] walk c442 parked at Honister slate mines [with] Lola [weather] misty/rainy/windy - solo walk with Lola, bad visibilty, glad i had digital mapping
Richard Fulcher climbed it on April 3rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Parked in the NT car park at Honister Slate Mine & walked up the steep path to Grey Knotts. We then traversed over the rock strewn ridge to Brandreth & across Gillercomb Head to Green Gable. Just before reaching the top of GG I diverted left down the fell & across to Base Brown. I then returned by the same route & we carried on up to the summit of GG after having some lunch. After a slippery descent from GG to Windy Gap we then started the rocky ascent to Great Gable. We returned to WG by the same route & then descended down another scree strewn path to join the Moses Trod path before branching off towards the dismantled tramway at Honister. The rocky paths continued pretty much all the way back. [with] Jen [weather] Sunny, blue skies, cold at times when in exposed sections, very good visibility. - Be prepared for some climbing over rocks in certain stretches esp. up Great Gable.
Carl Murphy bagged it on July 20th, 2018 [from/via/route] Honister [weather] Mist
Martyn Atherton hiked it on September 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] c338 Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable, Kirk Fell [with] Martyn and Paul [weather] Cloudy at first then very warm & sunny - Great view of the mines
John Tippins summited on April 12th, 2012 - And again on 11th July 2022, with Afia & Farah.
Caroline Winter conquered it on August 13th, 2018 [from/via/route] Honister slate mine, Brandreth, Fleetwith Pike [with] Becky [weather] Fog, low cloud & poor visibility on tops - walked on a bearing. Cut across slate mine to Black Star. Walked off Fleetwith Pike with another 2 ladies with their dogs. Would have liked to walk the edge off Fleetwith Pike but ladies made for slate mine path. As views none existent today we did same
Paul Macey scaled on June 6th, 2022 [from/via/route] C417 in reverse [with] Luke [weather] Cloudy but cloud above summits
Michael Austin walked up on June 17th, 2021 [from/via/route] C417
Kevin Foster climbed it on May 14th, 2021 [from/via/route] Honister Pass (slate mine) [with] By myself. [weather] Low clouds down on tops gradually lifting - Not really a good day for views! Very confusing place in mist. The iron fence posts which traverse the top are either broken or spaced well apart & of limited use as a navigation aid.
David Butterfield bagged it on May 26th, 2021 [from/via/route] Black Sail YHA - Biked from Bowness Knott.
Darren Wilson hiked it on September 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] Grey Knotts & Brandreth from Honister Slate Mine [with] Mike [weather] Beautiful day
Dave Eyes summited on August 20th, 2019 [from/via/route] Parked at Honister Slate Mine [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Cloudy with a few spots of rain - decent views
Richard Beardsley conquered it on July 29th, 2020 [from/via/route] Route C442 from Honister Pass. [with] Gillian, Lisa, Andy, Abigail (10) and Jessica (7). [weather] Overcast all day with partial sunshine & windy on summits. - Parked at slate mine (£5) & commenced walk at 1100hrs. Followed the route guide throughout & summited Grey Knotts & Brandeth where we had lunch. Continued onto the tops of Green Gable & Great Gable along with other walkers taking advantage of a rain free day. After a careful descent from Great Gable we strolled back to the car park arriving back at 1730hrs. A thoroughly enjoyable day out with tired children.
Richard Marshall scaled on May 31st, 2020 [from/via/route] Great Gable from Seathwaite [with] Bo and Andy Pratt [weather] Sunny low wind & very hot. Middle of Pandemic
Andrew Johnson walked up on November 8th, 2019 [from/via/route] Honister [with] Ted [weather] Cloudy
Richard Marchant climbed it on November 3rd, 1989 [from/via/route] Parked the car at Honiston Hause & took the path to Fleetwith around Brandreth & straight to Great Gable, the return route took me from here on to Green Gable-Brandreth & finally Grey Knotts & back to Honiston Hause. Spent most of the day in the clouds but still a awesome experience & great to be in the Lakes. [with] On my own [weather] A cold damp day with snow & ice on the tops & the cloud level down to the 600m mark - A 3 day trip to the Lakes on my own from Plymouth. I stopped in Windermere at a Navy Pal's Andrew (Ali) Mcgraw Mum & Dad's house.
Louis Smith bagged it on December 29th, 2018 [weather] mist
Jill Dean hiked it on September 22nd, 2018 [from/via/route] Honister pass [with] Me, Grez & dexter [weather] Fab
Simon Myerscough summited on November 12th, 2006 [from/via/route] C151 [with] Martin - Scramble on Kirk Fell
Tony Rogerson conquered it on February 20th, 2018 [from/via/route] Seathwaite Gillercombe Base Brown Gillercombe Head Brandreth Grey Knotts [with] Floss [weather] Sunny
Christina Lander scaled on January 7th, 2018 [from/via/route] Honister Slate Mine - Moses Trod - Great Geable - Green Gable - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Slate Mine [with] Dick and Meg [weather] Beautiful sunny day
John Almond walked up on September 17th, 2017 [from/via/route] go4awalk c417 from Honister Slate Mine - Grey Knotts - BRANDRETH - Base Brown - Green Gable - Great Gable - Kirk Fell - Wainwright 117 [with] Solo [weather] Good, improving throughout the day. Light cloud on summit of Great Gable. - Horrible direct descent from Great Gable via scree/boulder field to Beck Head Tarn, not recommended! Probably better to descend via NW ridge to Beck Head as described in go4awalk walk c417 route description
Iain Jones climbed it on July 29th, 2017 [from/via/route] Honister Hause (The Wainwright 60 - Day 1 (Ennerdale)) [with] Graeme High
Nick Dobson bagged it on June 24th, 2017 [from/via/route] Honister pass car park [with] Margaret & Ralph [weather] Dry & breezy with cloud cover - A nice easy walk with no difficulty, taking in the ridge to Grey Knotts on way back.
Chris Sheard hiked it on October 14th, 2004 [from/via/route] Across from Grey Knotts [with] George & Baz [weather] Wet, always overcast, fresh breeze, tough walking
David Wand summited on August 10th, 2011 [from/via/route] long walk as was doing as many in two days as poss. thunder storm all around me on the second night. [with] Long walk and camp on the hills.
Chris Bramley conquered it on March 26th, 2017 [from/via/route] honister [with] jacqui, blake and janet [weather] warm sunny skies
Elaine Evans scaled on December 2nd, 2016 [from/via/route] From Honister slate mine to Grey Knotts then Brandreth. [with] Sue [weather] Fine, clear & mild. - Patchy areas of snow - deep in places.
Gillian Atkinson walked up on September 18th, 2016 [from/via/route] from honister [with] tony and alan club weekend
Mark Davidson climbed it on October 17th, 2005 [with] Mike [weather] Quite good for October - some good views
Anthony Scott bagged it on October 10th, 2016 [from/via/route] Honister Hause [with] me [weather] Very sunny
Chris Faulkner hiked it on June 4th, 2016 [from/via/route] From Honister via Grey Knott & on to Green & Great Gable [with] Michelle Chandler [weather] Hot & humid.
Tracey Cowell summited on February 25th, 2016 [from/via/route] Grey knotts/brandreth/green gable/ moses trod [with] Sister [weather] Sun/cloud/snow above 800mfrost in valleys
Victoria Bates conquered it on February 24th, 2016 [from/via/route] C417 [with] Mark [weather] Clear, snow shower, clear
Craig Steeland scaled on September 27th, 2015 [from/via/route] From Honister Hause via Grey Knotts [with] Sue [weather] Sunny & clear
Steve Frank walked up on May 23rd, 2015 [from/via/route] Honister Pass
Claire Lloyd climbed it on August 28th, 2004 [from/via/route] From Grey Knotts [with] Family
David Noble bagged it on November 9th, 2014 [from/via/route] Honister Pass Seatoller [with] Chris [weather] Drizzle - Remembrance Sunday Sunday 11th May 2015 Lakes mega meet
Kevin Parnham hiked it on December 30th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Honister Pass via Grey Knotts [with] Jo [weather] Cold & windy with intermittent cloud
Andy Gibbs summited during 1992 [from/via/route] From Buttermere. Great & Green Gables & back off Fleetwith Pike [with] Dave [weather] Good
Phillip Bulley conquered it on September 8th, 2014 [from/via/route] Base Brown [with] Judith and Toby [weather] Sunny
Clive Ward scaled on July 24th, 2014 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth, Fleetwith Pike, Grey Knotts, Great Gable, Haystacks - see Great Gable [with] Ian J & 6 others [weather] Perfect
Keith Eastman walked up on June 14th, 2014 [from/via/route] c417
Harry Meijer climbed it on August 16th, 2014 [from/via/route] The Ennerdale Horseshoe [with] The Lake District Walker
Charlie Housley bagged it on May 29th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Grey Knotts via the ridge. [with] Solo. [weather] Overcast but dry all day. A nice cooling breeze in places which was much needed as there was a bit of humidity in the air.
Graham Coules hiked it on May 21st, 2014 [from/via/route] Great Gable from Honister [with] Dale [weather] Overcast, some breaks in the cloud which was down to approx 2600ft (mist on tops)
Joanne Mcgawley summited on February 16th, 2014 [with] Rich [weather] Deep snow & Windy
Wayne Baxter conquered it on August 25th, 2013 [from/via/route] Seatoller, Honister hause, Grey Knotts, Brandreth, green Cable, Base Brown & Seatoller [with] Sue [weather] Cloudy & warm
Gill Watson scaled on April 16th, 2003 [with] All on way from GG
Beth Webster walked up on June 6th, 2012 [with] Hannah Phillips
Dale Verrall climbed it on March 14th, 2011 [from/via/route] Honister pass - Walk number C417 [with] Amber [weather] Nice day
Raymond Barnett bagged it on January 1st, 2013 [from/via/route] honister [with] myself [weather] windy snow & rain mist - scary
David Lane hiked it on October 13th, 2001 [with] Kelly
Iain Taylor summited on March 14th, 2010 [from/via/route] Honister Pass Slate Mine (NY 22471 13550)
Darren Mortimer conquered it on September 29th, 2012 [from/via/route] Honister [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] wet & windy with a little bit of sun thrown in from time to time
Tony Aspden scaled on June 14th, 2011 [from/via/route] Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable & Great Gable [with] Andy [weather] Fine & sunny
Christine Knowles walked up on May 22nd, 2012 [from/via/route] From Seatoller via Seathwaite [with] Graham [weather] Lovely. No wind.
Stephen Byrne, Matthew Thomas, Patrick Rogozinski, Andrew Thornton, Melanie Dunn, Jenny Godfrey, David Hallam, Maxine Down, Wendy Sockett, Mr M A Blanchard, David Watson, Jonathan Tobin, Doug Jeffries, Paul Kendell, Jo Dixon, Simon Clark, David Shaw, John Walter, David Laws, Elaine Grayson, Carl Abbott, Louise Sandwith, Patricia Dilley, Simon Duerden, Colin Egan, Michael Nolan, Phil Clark, Paul Booth, Adrian Roberts, Tracey Cordes, Rod Cove, Linda Mckeogh, Trevor Williams, Paul Henderson, John Cuthbert, Derek Parkin, G Philpott, Jacqui Smith, Patrick Buckland, Stephen Millington, Chris Bede, Rob Barklamb, Martyn Rouse, Jeanette Coward, Pete Howes, Ray O'hara, Libby Burns and Rebecca Hardy have all walked, climbed & bagged Brandreth.To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
. . . [see less walk reports]
More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Brandreth
Great view of Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable (the rounded dome), Kirk Fell, Pillar (the highest point), Black Crag and Steeple from Lingcomb Edge just below the summit of Red Pike (Buttermere)
Little Scoat Fell and Pillar (distance) with Brandreth (foreground) from Base Brown
Innominate Tarn with Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable and Kirk Fell forming the backdrop
Brandreth summit cairn with Gillercomb Head leading up to Green Gable with Great Gable looking majestic in the background
Green Gable (left) and Great Gable (centre left) from the summit of Brandreth
The High Stile ridge (left), Buttermere and the Grasmoor massif (right) from Brandreth
360 degree panorama featuring Great Gable, Green Gable, Little Scoat Fell & Pillar (distance), Brandreth, Dale Head (Newlands), High Spy, Glaramara, Esk Pike, Great End and Scafell Pike from Base Brown
The view north from Looking Stead (Pillar) featuring Ennerdale with Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag, Seat, Scarth Gap, Hay Stacks (Haystacks) and Brandreth (far right)
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Brandreth
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Brandreth to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)
You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.
NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.
