Route: Catbells
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 1st December 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.6 miles
Weather: Some bright patches early on, increasing cloud, drizzle most of the way back
Catbells or Cat Bells? The OS maps have it as two words, but according to Wainwright it’s one – I’ll follow in Wainwright’s steps. This is a very popular fell and can be overcrowded at peak times, so I set off early and parked in one of the small parking spaces near the foot of the fell
The climb up Skelgill Bank starts immediately and after a while there are one or two steep rocky sections to clamber up, but there’s nothing to frighten the horses. There were some wonderful views all around, which explains why this fell is such a favourite
After reaching the summit I descended to Hause Gate, pondering a choice of routes as I did so. I could carry on along the ridge to Maiden Moor, which would have doubled the length of the walk, or I could descend right into Newlands Valley or left towards Derwent Water. In the end some darkening skies made my mind up and I opted for the shorter Derwent Water route back to the start
This turned out to be a good choice, as the weather deteriorated into light drizzle. Having completed the descent I followed the terraced path back to the along the eastern flank of the fell, and this took me back to the start. The views from the path are wonderful whatever the weather, and this was a fitting end to a great little fell walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
A photo from the east earlier in the week - the Humber Bridge
And back over on the west, a red squirrel in the garden the day before the walk
Next day, the start of the walk - Fix the Fells are kept busy here thanks to the high volume of foot traffic
Most of the snow has gone from Blencathra, where we’d had a fantastic walk last week
Looking back to Blencathra’s next door neighbour, Skiddaw
The distinctive knobbly outline of Causey Pike across the Newlands Valley
Some Fix the Fells handiwork
I clamber up the rocks to see the Leonard Memorial - some lesser mortals have defaced this and they should be ashamed
Looking back to Swinside, with Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance
Robinson and Newlands Valley
Looking back along the ridge to Derwent Water, Keswick, Skiddaw and Blencathra
Ard Crags
Catbells ahead
Knott End, Scope End (leading up to Hindscarth) and Robinson
Fix the Fells volunteers on the morning shift - thanks from a grateful fellwalker
Looking back to a band of cloud across Skiddaw…
Derwent Water and Keswick
Robinson again
Summit of Catbells - there’s no cairn, and the top is a platform of rock
Derwent Water islands from the summit
Skiddaw and Blencathra from the summit
I arrive at Hause Gate. Decision time. The path to Maiden Moor is ahead, but dark skies are approaching so I decide to descend to the left
Head of Derwent Water
Maiden Moor
Manesty Park
Borrowdale - pronounced ‘Borradull’ by the locals
Herdy above Derwent Water
I walk in the direction of Borrowdale for a while, but will soon turn sharp left
The start of the return leg along the eastern flank of Catbells - light rain had set in by now
Seat in memory of Sir Hugh Walpole, erected by his friend Harold Cheevers in 1941
Looking back to the seat
St Herbert’s Island
Further along the terraced path
Location location location…
The quiet road from Hawse End to Grange runs below the path…
The end of the walk is just around the corner - it had been a morning well spent
Back home, more red squirrel activity…
