Catbells

Catbells is a fell in the English Lake District, standing on the western shore of Derwentwater in Cumbria. It rises to 451 metres and is one of the most popular fells in the area. The fell’s distinctive shape draws many visitors who climb it after seeing it from Friars’ Crag on the opposite shore. Alfred Wainwright, the Lake District writer and walker, called it ‘one of the great favourites’ and a ‘family fell’ where people of all ages can climb together. Its name may come from an old term meaning ‘shelter of the wild cat’, though this is not certain. The fell is sometimes written as Catbells and marks the end of the ridge separating Derwentwater from the Newlands Valley. Catbells offers a simple but rewarding scramble to the summit, with two clear steps in the climb. The ridge continues south-westward to Maiden Moor after a steep-sided depression called Hause Gate. The fell’s geology belongs to the Buttermere Formation, made of folded mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. Many ascents start from Hawse End, where visitors can also take a launch from Keswick. Strong walkers can extend the route along the ridge to take in several nearby fells in a horseshoe walk. The summit is rocky, with loose stones scattered among small outcrops. From the top, Derwentwater dominates the view, with Bassenthwaite Lake, the Newlands Valley, Skiddaw and Keswick visible to the north. Southwards, Borrowdale stretches out in a fine vista. The lower slopes hold reminders of past lead mining, with old shafts and spoil heaps now mostly blocked off. Brackenburn Lodge, once the home of writer Hugh Walpole, stands on the lower slopes, and Beatrix Potter placed Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s home on the east side of the fell. A memorial stone to Thomas Arthur Leonard, a pioneer of outdoor holidays, is also found on the lower slopes.