Grange Fell

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Grange Fell
Grange Fell as seen from Rosthwaite in Borrowdale, Kings How is to the left and Brund Fell to the Right
Elevation	415 m (1,363 ft)
Location	Cumbria, England
Range	Lake District
Prominence	75 m
Topo map	OS Explorer OL4
OS grid reference	NY264162
Listing	Wainwright

Derwent Water with Skiddaw in the background as seen from Kings How.

Grange Fell is a small fell in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria, situated in the Borrowdale valley overlooking the villages of Grange in Borrowdale and Rosthwaite. The fell has a summit plateau which consist of many heather-covered hummocks, drystone walls and clumps of trees. Well-known Lake District writer Alfred Wainwright credits Grange Fell as a single fell with three main summits, namely Brunt Fell, Kings How and Ether Knott.^[1] Brunt Fell is the highest point of the fell at 415 metres (1,363 feet) while Kings How is the best viewpoint and has an altitude of 392 metres (1,286 feet), the lesser known Ether Knott has an approximate height of 372 metres (1,220 feet) and is less frequently visited by walkers. On the other hand, another Lakes walking expert Bill Birkett lists Brunt Fell and Kings How as separate fells in his “Complete Lakeland Fells” volume.

Grange Fell is owned by the National Trust and was one of its first acquisitions in the Lake District in 1910; the fell was purchased by public subscription as a memorial to King Edward VII at the bequest of the King’s sister Princess Louise, who then was President of the Trust. The magnificent viewpoint of Kings How was named after the King as a memorial, and a commemorative slate plaque is situated just below the summit. It reads:

“In Loving Memory of King Edward VII, Grange Fell is dedicated by his sister Louise as a sanctuary of rest and peace. Here may all beings gather strength, find in scenes of beautiful nature a cause for gratitude and love to God, giving them courage and vigour to carry on his will.”

Ascents of Grange Fell can be started from Rosthwaite, Grange in Borrowdale or Watendlath. The Rosthwaite to Watendlath bridleway can be utilised to its highest point before striking northerly to the summit of Brunt Fell following a high dry stone wall for much of the way. The climb from Grange goes through the picturesque deciduous woodland at the foot of the fell and skirts round Greatend Crag before reaching Kings How and is ranked as one of the loveliest short walks in the Lake District. The two principal summits of Brunt Fell and Kings How should both be visited by any visitor to the fell and they are linked by an undulating path through the hillocks.

The view from the top of the fell is quite beautiful: Kings How gives a classic view of Derwentwater with Skiddaw in the background, while Borrowdale and the high fells round its head show well in the opposite direction.