logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Cat Bells (Route 2) from Gutherscale

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District North Western Fells

Wainwrights - Catbells

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.0 miles / 6.5 km    Ascent - 1500 feet / 455 metres

Time - 3 hours 30 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL4Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL4Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 90Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Cat Bells (Route 2)
Click image to visit gallery of 12 images.

This popular Lakeland Fell rises above the western shores of Derwentwater and is the basis for an excellent short and very scenic walk. Despite its modest stature, Catbells exhibits many of the characteristics of a many larger Lakeland hills, so often provides an excellent introduction to the pleasures (and pains!) of fell walking.

The start for this Lake District walk is the small car park (Grid ref. NY246211) on the dead-end road leading to Skelgill on the northwest flank of the fell. If this area is full then additional parking can be found along the verges near the road junction. From the car park walk back down the lane and take the path rising up the hill on your right. This path gains height quickly with no navigational problems. Quite soon the views begin to appear and you forget the uphill work as you enjoy the beautiful countryside in this part of Lakeland.

Reaching the first summit of Skelgill Bank you get your first clear view of Catbells' summit. Continue ahead on the main path. In some sections you climb over rock. There are no technical difficulties although you might need your hands on a couple of short sections. Reaching the summit you have a wonderful panorama. Ahead lies Maiden Moor. To your right is a superb view into the Newlands Valley with the fells surrounding Buttermere. Moving right you have Causey Pike and other fells of the Grassmoor group. Behind Keswick is Skiddaw with Derwentwater and Borrowdale completing the view.

To continue descend south. At the lowest point of the col (Grid ref NY244192) turn sharp left and follow the path descending towards Manesty. The descent offers fine views across Derwentwater. Continue on this path to reach a clear junction of paths with the woodland almost adjacent (Grid ref NY248186). Turn sharp left and continue along this balcony path eventually reaching the lane near the start of the walk. Turn left along the lane and left at the first junction. This will take you back to the small car park where you started.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1155 Causey Pikemoderate6.3 miles
Walk 1187 Robinson & Hindscarth from Newlandsmod/hard6.5 miles
Walk 1356 Walla Crag from Great Woodeasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 3029 Derwentwater & Walla Crag from Keswickeasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 3037 High Seat & Bleaberry Fell from Keswickmoderate9.0 miles
Walk 2321 Shores of Derwentwater from Keswick easy3.5 miles
Walk 1108 Ashness Bridge & Grange Fellmoderate9.0 miles
Walk 1120 Grisedale Pike & Crag Hill fro Braithwaitemod/hard8.5 miles
Walk 2038 Tower Ridge on Eel Crag returning via Sail & Barrowhard6.3 miles
Walk 1268 Cat Bells & High Spy from Grangemoderate8.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District

Great Mountain Days in the Lake DistrictAn inspirational guidebook to 50 challenging walks on the high fells of the Lake District. The graded circular routes, between 4 and 14 miles in length, cover classic Lakeland summits like Fairfield, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Blencathra, to the lesser-known High Spy, King's How and Brund Fell.
More information

Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far East

Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far EastPart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 36 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Ullswater, Haweswater, Troutbeck, Kentmere and Longsleddale valleys, with highlights including High Street, Place Fell and the Kentmere fells. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.