Cat Bells |
Cat Bells must be one of the most popular walks in the northern Lake District. I have climbed it a countless number of times myself but not at all recently. It's summit is barely 1,500ft high but it has a couple of difficult spots where some scrambling is required. There are splendid views across Derwentwater to Skiddaw and Blencathra. After ascending and descending, there is a fine woodland and lakeside walk back to the starting point.
The forecast for the 1st March was not great with heavy wintry showers forecast in a deteriorating situation. I was hoping to get up and down before things got too bad. There is a small, rather rough, car park at the northern end of the ridge at Gutherscale with room for perhaps just fifteen cars. You need to be lucky to find a space; I was lucky on this occasion. |
11:10 Gutherscale car park, about halfway along the single line of cars |
11:02 Signpost shows it is not far at all | 11:19 Derwentwater with Skiddaw and Blencathra |
11:26 The path has many hairpin bends | 11:28 A rocky outcrop lies ahead |
An outcrop of rocks will involve some scrambling, although an easier route may be found to one side or the other. Some walkers find this section difficult and may even decide to turn back, which would be a pity. There is another difficult section that involves some more scrambling just before the final ascent to Cat Bells summit. An interesting feature is a plaque to Thomas Leonard that has been set in the rocks. |
11:34 Plaque to Thomas Leonard set in the rocks |
11:46 Cat Bells summit in sight | 11:59 Looking backwards during a brief period of sunshine |
12:12 Almost at the summit and bad weather is closing in fast |
The summit of Cat Bells at 451m is rounded with rocks and grass but no proper cairn. The view over Derwentwater is truly splendid even in poor weather I was on the summit at 12:12, so it took just one hour after leaving the car park. After leaving the summit I maintained the direction to descend to Hause Gate. |
12:12 Derwentwater and Keswick in sunshine from Cat Bells summit |
12:18 Looking back at the rounded summit of Cat Bells | 12:26 Hause Gate, where I will turn left to descend |
12:33 The start of my descent from Hause Gate | 12:36 Steep stone steps that twist and turn |
12:41 Stone steps become an easier path | 13:12 The path reaches the road, where I turn left |
13:20 Manesty Woods are entered by the pillar box | 13:35 Shore of Derwentwater |
13:38 Path close by Derwentwater | 13:46 The woods at Brandelhow come right down to the water's edge |
13:56 Carved wooden hands in the wood | 13:56 Carved hands from the front |
14:00 Line of trees where I leave the lakeside |
At the line of trees, I made a left turn and had a ten minute walk back to my motor car. The whole walk had taken about 3 hours. I would not recommend Cat Bells in any strong wind, which seems to accelerate over the rounded summit making it difficult to stand. Otherwise, it can be an easy walk when higher cloud rules out many other peaks. Of course, a really nice settled day is best of all. |
Editor: Peter J. Cosker | peter@the2coskers.com | other Lake District walks | Updated: 29/11/2017 |