Cat Bells (Catbells)
451m (1480ft)
The North Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
Not familiar with this top?
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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.
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 Peak Bagging Maps in PDF format:
NB: Whether you print off a copy or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers' Maps might prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
You can find Cat Bells (Catbells) & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps:
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (pink/magenta covers):
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Cat Bells (Catbells)
Neil Walker walked up on June 1st, 1982 [from/via/route] Car Park. [with] Doddridge & Commercial St URC
Martin Woods climbed it on July 30th, 2025 [from/via/route] Catbells loop over Dalehead with Crush [with] Crush [weather] Mixed with no wind.
Martin Hartshorne bagged it 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 hiked it on January 1st, 2025 [from/via/route] Cat Bells Circular from Grange [with] Fran
Sarah Gunn summited on February 27th, 2024 [from/via/route] From Littletown [with] Martin Gunn, Dan Gunn and Shannon Worton
Claire Kirk conquered it on February 16th, 2025 [from/via/route] Portinscale [with] Gareth [weather] Very cold but windy day. Clear.
Ian Ashton scaled on October 5th, 2024 [with] With JPH
David Higginbottom walked up on April 23rd, 2024 [from/via/route] C405 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
Sarah Moore climbed it 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 bagged it 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.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Cat Bells (Catbells)
Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells) with Latrigg (left) and Blencathra or Saddleback (right) beyond
Wonderful view over Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells) and the walk across the top of the fell
Cat Bells (Catbells) (foreground) with Skiddaw and Blencathra (distance left) and Derwent Water from Maiden Moor
Sunset over Derwent Water with Cat Bells (Catbells) in the background from near Walla Crag
Keswick and The Skiddaw Masiff (distance) and Cat Bells (Catbells) (right) from Blea Crags
*Derwent Water with Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat beyond from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Bassenthwaite Lake, Skiddaw, Keswick and Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Cat Bells (Catbells) from near Barrow Bay on the Eastern shore of Derwent Water
Ullock Pike, Carl Side, Skiddaw and Little Man (Skiddaw) 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, Cat Bells (Catbells), Sail, Causey Pike, Barrow and Grisedale Pike in the background
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)
*Derwent Water, Cat Bells (Catbells) and The Newlands Fells from Castlerigg
Cat Bells (Catbells) from Maiden Moor The Newlands Horseshoe with Keswick and Skiddaw beyond
Cat Bells (Catbells) (foreground) with Derwent Water, Keswick and Skiddaw (centre left) and Blencathra (right) 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
Causey Pike (left), Bassenthwaite Lake, Newlands, Swinside, Cat Bells (Catbells) (centre), Derwent Water, Skiddaw , Blencathra and Walla Crag (far right) from Maiden Moor
*Cat Bells (Catbells) (left), Causey Pike (centre), Grisedale Pike (right) and Braithwaite (foreground) from Doups
Me with friends (Dave, Hannah, Verne, Ali & Pete) on top of Cat Bells (Catbells)
Cat Bells (Catbells), Derwent Water with Bleaberry Fell & High Seat (Ashness Fell) from Scar Crags
Robinson, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Sail, Causey Pike, Rowling End, The Skiddaw Masiff, Keswick, Cat Bells (Catbells) and High Crags from Blea Crags
Castlerigg Stone Circle with the shoulder of Walla Crag (left), Maiden Moor and Cat Bells (Catbells) in the background
Snow on Derwent Water with Cat Bells (Catbells) (left) and Casuey Pike (centre) and Grisedale Pike (right)
Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Surprise View nr Ashness Bridge
Derwent Water with Maiden Moor, Cat Bells (Catbells) and Causey Pike (right) beyond from Friar's Crag
Bassenthwaite Lake (far left), Skiddaw (left), Blencathra (or Saddleback) (right), Keswick and Derwent Water from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Cat Bells (Catbells) with Dale Head (Newlands) & Hindscarth beyond from Latrigg
Me and my mates on top of Cat Bells (Catbells) with Derwent Water in the background
*High Spy, High Spy (North Top) and Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Latrigg
Looking North West towards Derwent Water and Cat Bells (Catbells) between Brockle Beck and Springs Farm
. . . see just 20 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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Not familiar with this top?
