⛰️ Branstree

📖 Key Information

Branstree at 713m (2,339ft) is a broad, featureless summit on the moorland plateau east of Haweswater, giving extensive views east to the Pennines and south across the Shap Fells. Wainwright noted its somewhat bleak character but praised the outstanding view of Haweswater from the approach ridge. The ascent from Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass is straightforward. Often combined with Harter Fell and Selside Pike for a circuit of the southern Haweswater fells. A good viewpoint for the reservoir and the high ridges to the west.

🎯 Bonus Birketts within 3 km

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

🦶 My hikes over Branstree (Strava)

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🅿️ Potential parking

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

🚌 Buses from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

No regular bus serves the start points for this fell — this is one for the car (or a long approach from the nearest served valley). The nearest hubs are Penrith (X4/X5 & 508), Ambleside and Windermere (555, 505, 516).

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

🌦️ 7-day summit forecast

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Other fells in this region

• Baystones (Wansfell)
• Beda Fell (Beda Head)
• Froswick
• Gray Crag
• Grey Crag (Sleddale Fell)
• Harter Fell (Mardale)
• Hartsop Above How (Gill Crag - Hartsop Above How)
• Hartsop Dodd
• High Hartsop Dodd
• High Raise (High Street)
• High Street
• Ill Bell
• Kentmere Pike
• Kidsty Pike
• Little Hart Crag (Little Hart Crag - West Top)
• Loadpot Hill
• Mardale Ill Bell
• Middle Dodd
• Rampsgill Head
• Rest Dodd
• Sallows
• Selside Pike
• Shipman Knotts
• Sour Howes
• Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa - Steel Knotts)
• Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor)
• Tarn Crag (Sleddale)
• The Knott (High Street)
• The Nab
• Thornthwaite Crag
• Troutbeck Tongue
• Wether Hill
• Yoke