Cat Bells is a fell in the Lake District
overlooking Derwentwater. At 451m, I‘ve climbed higher fells than Cat Bells so
I thought that this would be an easy one. I was wrong.
We walked from Manesty not far from our hotel to
the foot of the fell and ascended the steep steps. Parking is limited at Cat
Bells and with it being one of the most popular fells in the Lake District, you
want to get there early or walk from further away like we did. It was such a
sunny day you could see for miles around from the top, over Derwentwater,
towards Keswick and Bassenthwaite in the distance. Somebody had brought a cat
up to the top of Cat Bells so now I want to do the same, but I don’t think Tom
would appreciate it.
The descent was the hardest part. Most people
seemed to be walking the other way so had to climb up the rock face but
arguably climbing down was worse, especially with an audience. I slipped a
couple of times; the rocks are so smooth from where everyone has climbed them.
Once you’re at the bottom though, the walk back to the start is easy.
Main Points:
Distance – 4 miles (circular), steep ascent up the steps, steep climb down the other side.
