 Alfred Wainwright gives it a chapter in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, being less than complimentary, saying, "“If all hills were like Brae Fell there would be far fewer fell walkers”".It is best viewed from the low ground to the north where it shows off its full height.Brae Fell was mined in the nineteenth century for Lead, the mine lies on its eastern slopes just above Roughton Gill and there are large spoil tips remaining to this day.