Cat Bells is without doubt one of the most well-known peaks within the Lake Districtand a favorite hillwalk for households seeking to introduce kids to the mountains. It’s greater than that although – that is additionally certainly one of England’s finest walks full of views that can reside lengthy in your reminiscence.
Cat Bells is a massively fashionable peak, providing a quick however thrilling outing to the highest. It’s one of many busiest fells within the Lake District in spring and summer time, and are available winter it’s nonetheless not out of bounds to the peculiar walker. Though modest in top at 451m, Cat Bells appears like a real mountain, each when seen from afar and as you’re scrambling up and alongside the ridge to its thrilling and rocky summit.
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Our route begins from the bottom of the height close to Hawes End, first zigzagging up the hillside to Skelgill Bank earlier than the views open up into the Newlands Valley and onwards to the distinctive summit dome of Cat Bells. Leaving the summit along with your celebratory selfies, this walk then drops all the way down to the lake, finishing a satisfying circuit by means of the woodland alongside its shore, leaving longer routes excessive above the Newlands Valley for an additional day.
CLICK HERE to obtain our Cat Bells digital route information in OS Maps
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How exhausting is climbing Cat Bells?
The easy reply is that this walk is not very exhausting in any respect, which is why it is so fashionable with households and walkers of all ages and talents. There are steep sections each going up and down, however it’s a comparatively brief route with solely simply over 400 metres of ascent. If something, it is throughout too shortly.
There are some brief however easy sections of scrambling on rock, which is extra thrilling than threatening, even for folks new to mountaineering. The descent is sort of steep, however the return leg is a mild walk alongside the scenic lakeshore of Derwent Water.
In phrases of navigation, it will be exhausting to lose your approach on Cat Bells, however care ought to be taken on rocky floor in poor visibility.
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How lengthy does the walk take?
Our route covers 8km (5 miles) and round 410 metres of ascent. We estimate skilled hikers ought to be capable of full the route described under in round 3 hours, however that will depend on climate circumstances, your individual health, and the tempo you wish to walk.
You ought to take your time to benefit from the views throughout Derwent Water and the encompassing mountains, as a result of they’re among the finest within the Lake District. On a transparent day you may get nice views into the Newlands Valley, Borrowdale, and throughout to a few of Lakeland’s most iconic mountains together with Skiddaw, Blencathra and Helvellyn.
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Where does the Cat Bells walk begin from?
The route begins proper on the base of the height at grid reference NY246211. There is restricted parking at Gutherscale, or restricted lay-by parking above Brandelhow Park. This is a really busy and fashionable route, so if you’re touring by automotive get there early and be sure to park responsibly – do not mistake the passing factors on the singletrack roads for laybys!
Public transport is maybe one of the simplest ways to succeed in Cat Bells, both on the Honister Rambler 77/77A seasonal bus service or through boat from Keswick. In our opinion, the boat journey throughout Derwent Water is the very best solution to strategy Cat Bells. Get extra particulars from the Keswick Launch Co.
What’s one of the best map for Cat Bells?
This route is roofed by OS Explorer OL4 (1:25,000), plus OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000). You can order printed maps from the Ordnance Survey’s map shop or obtain our digital route information HERE.
Cat Bells | Step-by-step route information
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Section 1
Take the footpath from the bottom of Cat Bells up and round onto the northern tip of the ridge, choosing up the principle path south in the direction of the summit. Take care as you negotiate a couple of scrambly sections, twisting over and between a couple of rocky outcrops.
As you emerge onto the grassy tump (and false summit) of Skelgill Bank, the ‘shapely topknot’ of Cat Bells correct rears up in entrance, searching for all of the world like a real mountain. Yet the highest is a mere half a mile additional on, and some hundred toes up. A transparent path results in a bald and stony summit, the place summiteers are rewarded with a powerful panorama.
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Section 2
From Cat Bells summit proceed south, heading down the ridge for about 700 yards till reaching a crosspath within the col of Hause Gate. Turn left onto a path that zigzags downhill off the fell in the direction of Derwent Water.
As the gradient eases, the trail ultimately merges with the route of the Allerdale Ramble, earlier than rising onto a quiet lane. Optionally, you can flip left onto this bridleway and comply with this greater path again to the beginning.
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Section 3
Turn proper and comply with the lane for 300 yards previous Manesty Holiday Cottages earlier than turning left at a fingerpost by means of a gate in the direction of Manesty Park and Derwent Water. Pass by means of a sequence of gates till reaching the shore and switch left into the park, following the shore path till becoming a member of a monitor, the place there are a couple of cottages scattered round Brandelhow Bay.
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Section 4
Keep to a transparent path by means of the nice woodland of Brandelhow Park, following the shingly shore of Derwent Water previous numerous bays and touchdown phases, and a set of intriguing forest sculptures. When you attain a gate on the finish of the trail, flip proper onto a lane to the Outdoor Centre.
Turn left throughout the centre automotive park and up a financial institution by means of a kissing gate onto a footpath, briefly forking proper by means of the woods as much as a highway. Turn left on the highway over a cattle grid and comply with the highway spherical again to Gutherscale automotive park.
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What walking gear do I would like for this route?
Here’s a collection of one of the best walking gear chosen by LFTO’s testing staff: Walking boots | Hiking footwear | Hiking daypack | Waterproof jacket | Walking trousers | Walking poles | Walking mid-layers | Base layers
Keswick YHA ©LFTO
Where’s one of the best place to remain close to Cat Bells?
If you need to base your self close to the beginning of the walk then Keswick YHA is an effective choice for good and reasonably priced lodging proper within the coronary heart of one of many Lake District’s busiest and most vibrant cities. Expedia and Booking.com are good locations to search for good lodging offers round Keswick.
About the creator
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Oli Reed is the editor of Trail journal and Live for the Outdoors, and has climbed this peak by this route extra instances than can keep in mind.
The first time Oli climbed Cat Bells was on a college journey approach again within the superb previous of the Nineties, and essentially the most recent time was together with his 5-year-old son a few summers in the past. Oli’s Cat Bells declare to fame is doing a solo bivvy on the summit, the place he was woken the next morning by a canine sniffing about in his sleeping bag at 5am (and it wasn’t his canine).
This route initially appeared within the March 2023 problem of Trail journal. CLICK HERE to turn into a Trail journal subscriber and get 50% off an entire yr of digital OS Maps
