page_title: Cat Bells
section_title: Ascents
hierarchical_section_title: Cat Bells / Ascents
caption_attribution_description: English: A view of the northern ascent of Catbells (facing south) in the Lake District near Keswick, Cumbria. Français&#160;: Vue du flanc nord de Catbells (faisant face au sud) dans le Lake District près de Keswick, Cumbrie, Royaume-Uni.
context_page_description: Cat Bells is a fell in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria. It has a height of 451 metres and is one of the most popular fells in the area. It is situated on the western shore of Derwentwater within 3 miles of the busy tourist town of Keswick. Its distinctive shape catches the attention of many visitors to the Lakes who feel compelled to climb to the summit after seeing it from the viewpoint of Friars' Crag on the opposite side of Derwentwater. The Lake District writer and walker Alfred Wainwright acknowledges the popularity of Cat Bells among fellwalkers of all abilities by saying:
  "It is one of the great favourites, a family fell where grandmothers and infants can climb the heights together, a place beloved. Its popularity is well deserved: its shapely topknott attracts the eye offering a steep but obviously simple scramble."
context_section_description: Nearly all ascents of Cat Bells start from Hawse End at the foot of the northern ridge; there is car parking here but the spaces soon get taken on busy summer days. Ascents can also be made from Grange and from Newlands.  Hawse End is also served by the Derwentwater Motor Launch and this enables visitors to Keswick to combine a sail on the lake with an ascent of the fell. Many walkers who reach the top of Cat Bells return to their starting point after admiring the view: however, strong walkers can continue along the ridge to take in the fells of Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson to give a horseshoe walk which ends in the Newlands valley close to Hawse End.
caption: The ascent along the northern ridge facing the summit to the south
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