One of our guests at Chimney Gill Cottage recently climbed Cat Bells during their stay and has written a review about their climb. We thought we would share this with you in our September blog as many of our guests travel from far and wide to take in the breath taking scenery and walks in the Lake District. Find out what the Cat Bells Climb is like…
Cat Bells sits above the town of Keswick and Derwent Water and from the moment you step onto the fell, you can enjoy panoramic views over Keswick, Derwent Water and Borrowdale. The name Cat Bells is said to be a distortion of Cat Bields, meaning the home of the wild cat.
“The fell is hugely popular and has been nicknamed the ‘family fell’ as families, grandparents and infants can all enjoy the walk and take in the amazing views. The walk starts at Hawes End Landing Stage (best reached by taking the Launch from Keswick). We arrived around 12noon and the place was a-buzz with tourists and hill walkers. It was a blazing hot day but that certainly didn’t put anyone off their adventure.
Cat Bells is around 3.5 miles long in total and it took around 3.5 hours (including stops) to complete the route. The amount of ‘hill walking’ traffic was impressive – proving how hugely popular this fell was. We began our ascent and the paths make for a moderate walk. There is a rocky summit which requires a bit of a scramble in order to reach the hilltop proper, but it is definitely worth it! The view from the top of Cat Bells are phenomenal and offers views of water, mountains and valleys – the perfect Lake District summary! At the top, you forget that Cat Bells is only a modest 451m high, small by comparison to counterparts but certainly not inferior in views.
We sat at the top and had a rest – taking in the beautiful scenery and looking back on our climb – it was well worth the scrambling! Due to the heat, we took more rests than normal but there was a slight, welcomed breeze at the top so we sat for longer than most! The popularity of Cat Bells means you are unlikely to get the top of the summit to yourself, but there is ample room for everyone to stop rest and take photos. We found all the hill walkers to be friendly and our little Shorkie dog made lots of friends along the way.
Onwards from the summit, we headed south and the path goes downhill. The path back to Hawse End is still very picturesque and we walked along the lakeside where more families were paddling and having picnics. Our Shorkie took full advantage of being able to cool down in the lake before we headed back to the starting point and our car.
As we packed up the car to head back to Chimney Gill Cottage, there were still plenty of hill walkers who were only just starting their adventure. We arrived home tired but with a little mountain accomplished. Thank goodness Chimney Gill is like a home from home as we spent the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying good food and wine in celebration of our efforts.
Cat Bells is a must for those looking for a challenge that can include the whole family. We would certainly do it again and again because the views are worth every step.”
So if you are planning a visit to Chimney Gill Cottage and are looking for an adventure, Cat Bells comes highly recommended. We know how lucky we are to be situated in such a beautiful part of the world and with this on your doorstep, it is an opportunity not to be missed!