Hawse End via the north ridgeHiking · 2.2 km one way · 377 m ascent · ~1h 5m · from Hawse End, Derwentwater (launch jetty and roadside parking)Moderate
The pitched path climbs the north ridge in zigzags over Skelgill Bank, with short rock steps below the summit.
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Cat Bells each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 451m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over Cat Bells each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:07, sunset 16:45
9h 39m of daylight. Golden hour ends 08:00 and starts 15:52. From the summit you see the sun 07:02 to 16:49.
Cat Bells rises to 451m (1,480ft) above the west shore of Derwentwater, across the lake from Keswick. It has a neat ridge-top summit and a rocky crown, with Maiden Moor 1.8km to the south-west along the same ridge. It is a Wainwright and a Birkett.
The usual route starts near Hawse End and climbs the north ridge, a pitched path with short rocky sections where you use your hands. From the south you can climb from Grange or Manesty to the col at Hause Gate and follow the ridge north to the top. Parking near Hawse End fills on fine days, and the Keswick launch calls at the Hawse End jetty, so you can arrive by boat.
The summit looks over Derwentwater, Keswick and Skiddaw, and down the Newlands valley on the other side. The rock on the crown is polished smooth by boots and gets slippery when wet.
Cat Bells is 451 m (1,480 ft) high with 87 m of prominence. It is in Lake District C&W, England. OS grid reference NY244198. It is the 53rd highest of the 70 summits Peakify lists in Lake District C&W. The nearest summits are Maiden Moor (1.8 km), High Spy North Top (2.8 km) and Barrow (2.6 km).
Is Cat Bells suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is short and the path is clear, though the north ridge has a few rocky steps where children may need a hand.
Where do you park for Cat Bells?
There is limited roadside parking near Hawse End and Gutherscale. On busy days you can take the Keswick launch to Hawse End instead.
Can you climb Cat Bells and Maiden Moor together?
Yes. Maiden Moor is 1.8km south-west along the ridge, past the col at Hause Gate.
Is Cat Bells a Wainwright?
Yes. Cat Bells is a Wainwright and a Birkett.
How high is Cat Bells?
Cat Bells is 451 metres high with 87 metres of prominence.
Where is Cat Bells?
Cat Bells is listed in Lake District C&W, England.
Are there routes for Cat Bells?
Peakify lists 2 routes for Cat Bells, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Grange via Hause Gate (3.0 km one way, Easy).
Is it safe to climb Cat Bells today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for Cat Bells?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Cat Bells rises to 451m (1,480ft) above the west shore of Derwentwater, across the lake from Keswick. It has a neat ridge-top summit and a rocky crown, with Maiden Moor 1.8km to the south-west along the same ridge. It is a Wainwright and a Birkett.
The usual route starts near Hawse End and climbs the north ridge, a pitched path with short rocky sections where you use your hands. From the south you can climb from Grange or Manesty to the col at Hause Gate and follow the ridge north to the top. Parking near Hawse End fills on fine days, and the Keswick launch calls at the Hawse End jetty, so you can arrive by boat.
The summit looks over Derwentwater, Keswick and Skiddaw, and down the Newlands valley on the other side. The rock on the crown is polished smooth by boots and gets slippery when wet.
Cat Bells is 451 m (1,480 ft) high with 87 m of prominence. It is in Lake District C&W, England. OS grid reference NY244198. It is the 53rd highest of the 70 summits Peakify lists in Lake District C&W. The nearest summits are Maiden Moor (1.8 km), High Spy North Top (2.8 km) and Barrow (2.6 km).
Is Cat Bells suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is short and the path is clear, though the north ridge has a few rocky steps where children may need a hand.
Where do you park for Cat Bells?
There is limited roadside parking near Hawse End and Gutherscale. On busy days you can take the Keswick launch to Hawse End instead.
Can you climb Cat Bells and Maiden Moor together?
Yes. Maiden Moor is 1.8km south-west along the ridge, past the col at Hause Gate.
Is Cat Bells a Wainwright?
Yes. Cat Bells is a Wainwright and a Birkett.
How high is Cat Bells?
Cat Bells is 451 metres high with 87 metres of prominence.
Where is Cat Bells?
Cat Bells is listed in Lake District C&W, England.
Are there routes for Cat Bells?
Peakify lists 2 routes for Cat Bells, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Grange via Hause Gate (3.0 km one way, Easy).
Is it safe to climb Cat Bells today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for Cat Bells?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
