Brant Fell from Bowness
A short loop from Bowness over Post Knott to the rocky top of Brant Fell, with one of the best views over Windermere, returning on the Dales Way.
- Distance
- 5.6 km
- 3.5 miles
- Ascent
- 175 m
- High point 190 m
- Time
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Easy
- Circular
Take this walk with you
Google Maps does not know most fell paths, so use it to get to the start, then follow the GPX in an app like OS Maps, Komoot or AllTrails. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
Weather on this walk
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Brant Fell is a little rocky hill just behind Bowness, and it gives a view out of all proportion to its size: the whole middle reach of Windermere with its islands, and the fells from the Coniston range round to the Langdale Pikes.
The loop climbs from the village up Brantfell Road and the final section of the Dales Way, visits the viewpoint on Post Knott and the summit of Brant Fell, then curls back by quiet lanes and the Dales Way past Matson Ground. It is an easy outing for a free hour or two in Bowness and a good antidote to the crowds on the waterfront.
The route
- 1
Bowness to Brantfell Road
From the car park walk up into Bowness and find the Royal Oak, then follow Brantfell Road uphill on the line of the Dales Way.
- 2
Post Knott
Go through the iron gate onto the open hillside and follow the sign towards the Post Knott viewpoint, taking the stony lane up to the knoll.
- 3
Brant Fell
From Post Knott a short climb leads to the rocky summit of Brant Fell, with its view along Windermere.
- 4
Round by Matson Ground
Descend north on the track to a minor road, turn left and follow the lane for about 700 metres. Just beyond Matson Ground take the Dales Way through a kissing gate on the left.
- 5
Back to Bowness
Follow the Dales Way back down to Bowness and the Royal Oak, the official end of the long-distance path, then return to the car park.
Questions people ask
How long is the Brant Fell walk?
About 5.5 km as a loop from Bowness, taking an hour and a half or so.
Where does the Dales Way end?
At the Royal Oak in Bowness, which this walk passes at the start and finish.
Is Brant Fell suitable for children?
Yes. It is a short climb with a small rocky top that children enjoy.
More walks nearby
Orrest Head from Windermere station
Easy, 2.5 km, 108 m up, about 30 minutes
A short climb straight from Windermere station through woodland to Orrest Head, a 360 degree viewpoint over Windermere and the central fells.
Carron Crag trail, Grizedale Forest
Moderate, 8.3 km, 257 m up, about 2 hours
Grizedale's purple waymarked trail from the visitor centre to Carron Crag, the forest's highest point, with views to the Coniston fells.
Tarn Hows circular walk
Easy, 3.0 km, 38 m up, about 30 minutes
An easy loop on a good path around Tarn Hows, the wooded tarn between Coniston and Hawkshead with the Langdale and Coniston fells behind.
Food, drink and beds near the start
The Belsfield
Country House, Bowness, £££, dogs welcome
A 4-star heritage hotel above Bowness with sweeping views over Windermere, where the Brasserie serves lunch, dinner and afternoon tea and the Art Deco bar and sunset terrace make the most of the lake.
Windermere Lake Cruises
Boat Trips, Windermere, ££
England's largest lake seen from the water is a different beast entirely. The full-length cruise from Ambleside to Lakeside is magnificent.
Macdonald Old England Hotel
Traditional Hotel, Bowness, £££, dogs welcome
This Victorian grande dame commands prime position right on the shores of Windermere, where you can watch steam launches chug past from your bedroom window. The hotel's traditional elegance suits its lakefront setting perfectly. It's the kind of place where afternoon tea feels obligatory and evening drinks on the terrace watching the sunset over England's largest natural lake become a cherished ritual.
Hylton's Restaurant
British, Bowness, ££
Hyltons Steak House and Grill sits on cobbled Ash Street in the middle of Bowness, serving 40-day aged Aberdeen Angus steaks, tomahawks to share, burgers and proper fish and chips from noon until 9pm daily.
Porto
Mediterranean, Bowness, ££
An independent, family-run restaurant on a cobbled Bowness street, cooking modern British food with an AA rosette, plus a Sunday roast and a strong gin and wine list.
Linthwaite House
Boutique Hotel, Windermere, £££, dogs welcome
A Leeu Collection hotel on a hilltop above Windermere, with 36 individually designed rooms, a private tarn with rowing boats and Simon Rogan's Henrock restaurant serving produce from his own farm.