⛰️ Cat Bells (Catbells)

📖 Key Information

Catbells is one of Alfred Wainwright's great favourites, and his fondness for it shines through in The North-Western Fells — he saw it as a 'family fell,' approachable enough for grandparents and young children to climb together, yet rewarding with shapely, sun-warmed slopes and a genuinely striking position above Derwent Water. At 451m (1,481ft) it's modest in height but punches well above its weight for views, taking in Derwent Water, Skiddaw, Blencathra and Bassenthwaite Lake from the summit. It remains one of the most-climbed fells in the Lake District, with the classic route starting from Hawes End and a popular extension continuing along the ridge to Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson — the Newlands Horseshoe.

🎯 Bonus Birketts within 3 km

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

🦶 My hikes over Cat Bells (Catbells) (Strava)

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🅿️ Potential parking

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

🚌 Buses from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

🌦️ 7-day summit forecast

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Other fells in this region

• Armboth Fell (Armboth Fell South Top)
• Blea Rigg
• Bleaberry Fell
• Calf Crag
• Eagle Crag
• Gibson Knott
• Grange Fell (Brund Fell)
• Great Crag (Stonethwaite)
• Harrison Stickle
• Helm Crag
• High Raise (High White Stones)
• High Seat
• High Tove
• Loft Crag
• Pavey Ark
• Pike of Stickle
• Raven Crag
• Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot
• Sergeant Man
• Sergeant's Crag
• Silver How
• Steel Fell (Dead Pike - Steel Fell)
• Tarn Crag (Easedale)
• Thunacar Knott
• Ullscarf
• Walla Crag