Branstree

Branstree
Branstree seen from Goat Scar to the South. The Gatescarth Pass track is seen in the valley below
Highest point
Elevation	713 m (2,339 ft)
Prominence	137 m (449 ft)
Parent peak	Harter Fell
Listing	Hewitt, Nuttall, Wainwright
Coordinates	54°28′58″N 2°48′31″W / 54.48264°N 2.80873°W / 54.48264; -2.80873Coordinates: 54°28′58″N 2°48′31″W / 54.48264°N 2.80873°W / 54.48264; -2.80873
Naming
Translation	corruption of "Brant Street" (Old English)
Pronunciation	/ˈbrænstriː/
Geography
Branstree Location in Lake District, UK
Location	Cumbria, England
Parent range	Lake District, Far Eastern Fells
OS grid	NY477100
Topo map	OS Explorer OL5, Explorer OL7

Branstree is a fell in the Far Eastern part of the English Lake District. It overlooks the valley of Mardale and Haweswater Reservoir.

A circuit of high fells surrounds the head of Mardale, beginning at High Raise in the north and curving around over High Street and Harter Fell to Branstree and Selside Pike in the south. As the ridge is travelled in this direction, the countryside changes from crag and scree to more rounded fellsides clothed with grass. Branstree is the first fell moving east where grass prevails, and a Pennine character begins to take over from Lakeland. From many directions the fell appears as a smooth domed hill with a wide top.

Branstree has a connection southwestward to Harter Fell: the ridge crosses Gatescarth Pass (1,900 ft) which was the route of pedestrian traffic between Mardale and Longsleddale, its well-graded zig-zags still used by walkers today. The ancient trade between the two valleys ended when the level of Haweswater was raised in the 1940s, submerging the village of Mardale Green beneath the reservoir.

Eastward from Branstree is a wide swathe of rough moorland between the parallel valleys of Mardale and Swindale. This runs for about five miles before petering out at the valley of the River Lowther. Immediately east of Branstree is a second fell of similar height (2,207 ft) and character, which is unnamed on OS maps. At least one guidebook has suggested 'High Howes' as a name, but Wainwright considered this to be a part of Branstree rather than a separate fell. Across Captain Whelter Bog to the north of the unnamed summit is Selside Pike, the final Wainwright in that direction.

South from Branstree a further ridge connects to Tarn Crag, passing between the head of Mosedale and the headwaters of Longsleddale. This depression at 1,650 ft is broad and boggy. Mosedale is the upper hanging valley of Swindale, running westwards from the apparent dalehead. Nestled against the lower slopes of Branstree near the head of Mosedale is Mosedale Cottage. This shepherd's bothy, two miles from the nearest road, is only inhabited occasionally. Its whitewashed walls provide an important navigational reference in deteriorating weather. Behind the cottage are the remains of a large quarry.