Name of walk	Brant Fell
Date of walk	2018-09-24

On Monday I drove alongside Windermere turning on to the B5284 that goes to Crook. I take the road to Heathwaite, parking in one of the many spaces near the track to Bowness. I am going to walk up to Brant Fell. Another walk from Wainwright’s ‘Outlying Fells’ book, but without the expense of parking in Bowness and hoards of people.

The signpost that says Bowness 1 mile.

The view after climbing the wall stile.

I spend hardly anytime on the path as I soon head up there to the rocky outcrop.

View back down.

The outcrops of rock ahead.

Brant Fell summit, ten minutes after I left the car! Great views for very little effort. Lake Windermere ahead.

Me and my shadow.

The sea in the distance.

I head down.

To make the walk a bit longer, I walk down towards Bowness. The reverse of Wainwright's route up. This is the lower viewpoint. It has a seat, but the views are mostly obscured by trees.

The good path down. I stop to chat to a gentleman called John, on his way up to Brant Fell with his dog. He lives just down the path. He is 91. When he realised that I lived on Walney, next to the airfield, he told me he was in the Royal Air Force at the end of the war and did part of his cadet training on Walney, flying De Havillands. He later flew Lancaster Bombers. After the war he worked in Intelligence, then for the BBC. We must have talked for over half an hour. He has had a very interesting life! I suggested he talk to the Morecambe Bay Partnership, as they are collecting oral histories from people that remember Walney Airfield as a Training Base, but he was reluctant, saying he doesn't normally like to talk about the war.....except sometimes to tourists!

Part of this walk is on the Dales Way path.

I walk down to the top of the Brant Fell Road that leads down to Bowness. Then turn around and make my way back.

Heading back up the path. When I reach the grassy track going up Brant Fell, I take the footpath that returns me to my car, waving at John in the distance, coming back down with his dog.

My circular walk was only two and a half miles, and even including my long chat with John, took less than two hours. As I still have plenty of time, I go and spend money at Hayes Garden Centre in Ambleside!

Jo.