Brandreth

Three ridges meet on Brandreth. One runs south to Green Gable, one north west towards Haystacks and one north east to Grey Knotts, which gives the fell a triangular plan. Its water drains three ways too, and it is the only fell that feeds Ennerdale Water, Derwentwater and Buttermere.

Honister Pass is the easy start. There is parking at the slate mine, including a walkers' car park, and a National Trust car park behind the youth hostel. The seasonal 77 Honister Rambler bus from Keswick stops at the mine. A stony path climbs from near the hostel to Grey Knotts, and from there you follow the fence south west to Brandreth. The fence misses the actual top, so cross to the Gillercomb side by the gate or the step stile. A gentler option follows the old tramway to the Drum House and takes the contouring path towards Great Gable before turning uphill. Many walkers on that path go straight past without visiting the summit.

Longer routes come up Warnscale from Gatesgarth, round the crags of Haystacks, or up Sour Milk Gill from Seathwaite into Gillercomb with a stiff pull to Gillercomb Head. The going is rough stone and grass on faint paths in places, with no scrambling.

The summit is bleak and stony. A cairn and a few old posts mark where the ridge fences once met. The Gables block the view south, but Pillar, the High Stile range and the North Western Fells are well seen. Coming down to the north, a path by Great Round How leads to Dubs Quarry, where the old quarrymen's hut is kept open as a bothy for anyone who needs shelter or somewhere to eat lunch.