Cat Bells (September)

PLEASE NOTE: The GPX trace on this route is for use as a guide only, its accuracy may change depending on the scale of map you are using. Use in combination with judgement and a paper map. We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure these walks are safe and correctly described. However things do change and all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. The publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any injuries or accidents that occur whilst following this walk. Trail magazine, Copyright Bauer Media Limited.



Distance 25.2km (15¾ miles)
Total ascent 1000m
Time 8 hours
Start/Finish Keswick NY263235
Terrain high-level fell-walk along clear paths and ridges with opportunities to change route; navigation not too difficult

Public transport regular railway services to Penrith with bus services to Keswick – tel. 0870 608 2608; www.cumbria.gov.uk
Guidebooks Lakeland Fellranger: The NorthWestern Fells by Mark Richards, pb Cicerone. 

NY263235 Leave Keswick by walking north-west along the main road away from the centre of town. Then immediately after you cross the River Greta a path on the left follows the Cumbria Way over the River Derwent towards Portinscale.

NY252235 In Portinscale some road walking is required before you can step back onto the footpaths through woods at Fawe Park. These paths continue to the foot of Cat Bells at Hawes End. 

NY246211 The path leaves the roadside and climbs steeply up the northern nose of Cat Bells. This is a steep but fairly easy climb on a good path.

NY244198 From the summit of Cat Bells the walk continues south along the broad ridge. The path descends to a saddle and then climbs onto Maiden Moor. 

NY236181 Here the ridge is broad and there are crags tumbling steeply into the Newlands valley. The ridge dips and then rises to the top of High Spy.

NY234162 The path descends steeply to the swampy bowl of Dalehead Tarn before climbing steeply up a rough scree path onto Dale Head. 

NY223153 The walk continues north-west along a clear ridge known as Hindsgarth Edge, with the Buttermere valley to the left and more views to the Newlands valley to the right, and then turns north to Hindscarth.

NY215165 From the summit of Hindscarth walk north along the ridge and then descend over May Crag and High Crags. Then continue more easily along a slender ridge to Scope End and Low Snab. 

NY229186 Here you join a lane that can be easily followed above the banks of Newlands Beck to the road at Little Town. Leave the road at Little Town and follow a track southwest and then north-east that contours beneath Cat Bells. At Hawes End you meet the outbound route, which can be traced back to Keswick.