Cat Bells (Catbells)
451m (1480ft)
The North Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Cat Bells (Catbells) & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Cat Bells (Catbells) and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Cat Bells (Catbells) and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
*Walk & bag all 29 Wainwrights in The North Western Fells area of The Lake District in just 7 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 3.75ml (6km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,628ft (496m) |
| Time: | 3 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Keswick - Derwent Water Launch - Nichol End Pier - Hawes End Pier - Newlands Valley - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Hawes End Pier - Derwent Water Launch - Keswick
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.25ml (13km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,512ft (766m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Newlands Valley - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Newlands Valley - Newlands Church - Little Town - Hawes End
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10mls (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,349ft (1,082m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - Narrow Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dale Head Tarn - Rigghead Quarries - The Allerdale Ramble - Castle Crag - River Derwent - Yewdale Knott - Manesty - Manesty Band - Hawes End - Derwent Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.25ml (16.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,585ft (1,093m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Dale Head (Newlands) - Hindscarth - High Crags - Scope End - Low Snab Farm - Newlands Church - Little Town - Newlands Valley - Hawes End - Derwent Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12mls (19km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,152ft (1,266m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dale Head Tarn - Dale Head (Newlands) - Hindscarth Edge - Hindscarth - Littledale Edge - Robinson - High Snab Bank - Newlands Church - Little Town - Hawes End - Derwent Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14.5ml (23km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,409ft (1,648m) |
| Time: | 11 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Dale Head (Newlands) - Hindscarth - Littledale Edge - Robinson - High Snockrigg - Moss Force - Newlands Hause - Knott Rigg - Ard Crags - Birkrigg - Keskerdale Beck - Newlands Church - Newlands Beck - Little Town - Skelgill Farm - Hawes End Derwent Water.
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Cat Bells (Catbells)
Martin Hartshorne walked up Cat Bells (Catbells) on April 25th, 2025 [from/via/route] Chapel bridge [with] finley [weather] Started warm & sunny with a cool breeze then clouded over later
Nick Tippins climbed Cat Bells (Catbells) on January 1st, 2025 [from/via/route] Cat Bells Circular from Grange [with] Fran
Sarah Gunn bagged Cat Bells (Catbells) on February 27th, 2024 [from/via/route] From Littletown [with] Martin Gunn, Dan Gunn and Shannon Worton
Claire Kirk hiked Cat Bells (Catbells) on February 16th, 2025 [from/via/route] Portinscale [with] Gareth [weather] Very cold but windy day. Clear.
Ian Ashton summited Cat Bells (Catbells) on October 5th, 2024 [with] With JPH
David Higginbottom conquered Cat Bells (Catbells) on April 23rd, 2024 [from/via/route] C405 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
Sarah Moore scaled Cat Bells (Catbells) on March 29th, 2024 [from/via/route] c405 Amazing day having driven up early from Derby - & then a glorious Good Friday with clear views all day. Cat Bells - Maiden Moor - High Spy - down the Riggsdale Quarries - along the river back... [with] On my own [weather] Easter warmth - little wind & clear views all the way was incredible. - Over excited parking = parking ticket... And then coming down, & thinking about 2 more days of hiking I managed to twist my knee in a way that caused so much pain it's untrue. Writing this at the end of the weekend, I'm just glad it's ok & led to other things.
Clare Tait walked up Cat Bells (Catbells) on March 24th, 2024 [from/via/route] A 3.45 get up to take advantage of the promised fair weather. Good thing we left the midlands early as we literally grabbed the last of the parking spots at the base of Catbells. Absolutely beautiful walk up & enjoyed the craggy areas. We had the summit to ourselves. Then went onward to Maiden Moor. Sadly, neither of us is fit enough for the half Newlands which we would have done a few years ago. We descended to walk back around the base & enjoyed stunning views. Fabulous view. Well worth the early start [with] Charlie [weather] Perfect walking weather with some blue sky & great visibility.
Claire Rigg climbed Cat Bells (Catbells) on May 8th, 2010 [with] Jane [weather] Sunny
Michael Paul Smith bagged Cat Bells (Catbells) during February, 2022 [from/via/route] Mary Mount Hotel [with] Jude Fitton [weather] Cloud
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Cat Bells (Catbells)
*Derwent Water, Cat Bells (Catbells) and The Newlands Fells from Castlerigg
*Derwent Water with Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat beyond from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Derwent Water with Maiden Moor, Cat Bells (Catbells) and Causey Pike (right) beyond from Friar's Crag
Cat Bells (Catbells), Derwent Water with Bleaberry Fell & High Seat (Ashness Fell) from Scar Crags
Cat Bells (Catbells) with Dale Head (Newlands) & Hindscarth beyond from Latrigg
Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Surprise View nr Ashness Bridge
Ullock Pike, Carl Side, Skiddaw and Little Man (Skiddaw) from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Cat Bells (Catbells) (foreground) with Derwent Water, Keswick and Skiddaw (centre left) and Blencathra (right) from Maiden Moor
Me and my mates on top of Cat Bells (Catbells) with Derwent Water in the background
Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells) with Latrigg (left) and Blencathra or Saddleback (right) beyond
Cat Bells (Catbells) from Maiden Moor The Newlands Horseshoe with Keswick and Skiddaw beyond
Wonderful view over Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells) and the walk across the top of the fell
. . . see all 61 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Cat Bells (Catbells)
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Cat Bells (Catbells)
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Cat Bells (Catbells) to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
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