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)
Sarah Moore walked up 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 climbed 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 bagged Cat Bells (Catbells) on May 8th, 2010 [with] Jane [weather] Sunny
Michael Paul Smith hiked Cat Bells (Catbells) during February, 2022 [from/via/route] Mary Mount Hotel [with] Jude Fitton [weather] Cloud
Christine Shepherd summited Cat Bells (Catbells) on July 14th, 2005 [from/via/route] Walked from Gutherscale Climbed again via Hause Gate from Littletown 07.09.21 Climbed for a third time on 27.10.22 [with] On my own [weather] Bright & sunny
Paul Macey conquered Cat Bells (Catbells) on June 12th, 2023 [from/via/route] Using walk c405 [with] Luke [weather] Sunny & hot 30 degrees very little cloud - Walk abandoned after Cat Bells due to heat
John Ramsbottom scaled Cat Bells (Catbells) on May 1st, 2023 [from/via/route] walk c405 parked at roadside layby [with] Lola [weather] mixture of mist & sunshine - good walk rigghead quarry was interesting
Mr Davison walked up Cat Bells (Catbells) on November 18th, 2017 [from/via/route] Derwent water [with] Jenny davison [weather] sunny,
Geoff Hand climbed Cat Bells (Catbells) on February 23rd, 2023 [from/via/route] From Newlands Valley as part of a recce of the Newlands Memorial Fell race. [with] Richard Macilwaine and Tess [weather] Cold & Sunny all day, beautiful - Race includes Robinson, Hindscarth, Dalehead, High Spy,Maiden Moor & Cat Bells
Angeline Grieveson bagged Cat Bells (Catbells) on February 22nd, 2023 [with] Dotty
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Cat Bells (Catbells)
Cat Bells (Catbells) (foreground) with Skiddaw and Blencathra (distance left) and Derwent Water from Maiden Moor
Early morning valley mist below Dale Head (Newlands) and High Spy, Maiden Moor & Cat Bells (Catbells) with the summit of Castle Crag (front right) lit by a ray of sunshine from Rosthwaite
High Spy (North Top), High Spy, Maiden Moor, Hindscarth (left), Robinson, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Causey Pike, Barrow (Newlands) (centre), Newlands, Bassenthwaite Lake, Swinside, Skiddaw, Derwent Water and Blencathra (right) beyond from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Skiddaw, Blencathra (or Saddleback) and Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Castlerigg Stone Circle with the shoulder of Walla Crag (left), Maiden Moor and Cat Bells (Catbells) in the background
Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Surprise View nr Ashness Bridge
Snow on Derwent Water with Cat Bells (Catbells) (left) and Casuey Pike (centre) and Grisedale Pike (right)
Keswick and The Skiddaw Masiff (distance) and Cat Bells (Catbells) (right) from Blea Crags
Wonderful view over Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells) and the walk across the top of the fell
Me and my mates on top of Cat Bells (Catbells) with Derwent Water in the background
. . . 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)
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