If you’re looking to conquer the famous Catbells Walk while visiting the Lake District, this article is for you. This guide will arm you with everything you need to know about hiking Catbells and help you to prepare for the adventure ahead.
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Catbells Walk FAQs
Catbells Hike Height
Catbells stands at the height of 451 metres, equivalent to 1481 feet, putting Catbells 189th on the list of the tallest Wainwright Fells.
Catbells Hike Difficulty
In terms of height and technical difficulty, Catbells is one of the easier fell walks in the Lake District.The trail is easy to climb and straightforward to navigate, with only a brief scramble to reach the summit.
Having said that, you shouldn’t underestimate the climb – you are climbing 451 metres after all! The path gets rather steep at times, and there are areas of loose rocky terrain.
All in all, however, this is an accessible hike that anybody of a reasonable fitness level can conquer. It’s ideal for young, old, and four-legged walkers alike.
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How Long to Hike Catbells
Naturally, this will vary from person to person and depends on which route you take. Most people hike to Catbells from Hawes End, where it takes approximately 1-hour to reach the summit.
If you wanted to walk to Catbells from Keswick as we did, it’s around 2 hours from the town centre. This route takes you on a pleasant woodland walk before reaching Hawes End, adding a bit more depth and variety to the walk.
Parking at Catbells
There is lots of parking around Hawes End. The trouble is, it gets jam-packed, especially during peak times. If you wish to park close to the foot of Catbells, I suggest arriving as early as possible.
The alternative is to park in Keswick. There are plenty of pay & display car parks around Keswick town centre, but we found a road where we could park for free. I’ve marked it on this map.
From Keswick, you can walk to Catbells as we did. Or, if you don’t fancy the extra time on foot, you can catch the Keswick Launch instead.
The Keswick Launch is a 10-minute boat journey across Derwent Water. With beautiful Lake District views of the surrounding fells, it can be a fabulous way to start and end your walk.
Catbells Walk with Dogs
We hiked Catbells with our 5kg Jack Russell cross Chihuahua, Ronnie. He had no trouble navigating the path, even when it came to the brief scramble at the summit.
I would say that so long as your dog is fit and active, they will absolutely love conquering this hike with you. You’ll encounter sheep and other wildlife along the route so it’s best to keep all dogs leads.
Catbells Walking Routes
Various walking trails will lead you to the summit of Catbells, Lake District.
Here I’ll list three of the most popular routes that take you directly to the summit and back down again. I won’t inclide trails that include other nearby peaks or fells.
If you’re interested in adding nearby summits such as Maiden Moor and High Spy, you can find varying lengths of trails and routes on walking apps such as All Trails or Komoot.
“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” – Alfred Wainwright on Catbells
Catbells Circular Walk from Hawes End
- Distance: 4 Miles
- Walking Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
- Difficulty: Fairly Easy
- Starting Point: Hawes End
- View Map
The quickest and easiest walking route to Catbells is from Hawes End. Once you’ve parked or left the boat, it’s just a 2-mile trail to reach the summit.
If you follow my map, you will ascend Catbells head-on via Skelgil bank. This involves an initial steep climb to the top of the first section before it levels off into a gradual walk along the ridge.
The views from this point are spectacular, and you will want to take lots of photos. However, don’t waste too much time on this; I promise the views only get better the higher you climb.
Enjoy the easier terrain while you can, as it’s not long before the trail progresses into another steep climb. This is the final ascent and where things get slightly more technical.
There’s nothing too hairy, though—just a few areas of minor scrambling. You’ll want to take care when it’s wet; otherwise, it’s pretty straightforward.
Following the final push, you are rewarded with jaw-dropping views over Derwent Water, Keswick, and the western fells. If you’re fortunate enough to get a clear day, it’s truly a sight to behold in the Lake District.
After spending some time marvelling at the views, it’s time to make your descent. You can either go back the way you came or follow my map for a slight change of scenery.
The map route continues south of the Catbells summit and follows a rocky footpath downhill. As you approach the fork, take the left-hand footpath and follow the trail until you see signs for Hawes End.
Circular Catbells Walk from Keswick
- Distance: 9 Miles
- Walking Time: 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Starting Point: Keswick Town Centre
- View Map
If you fancy making your Catbells walk a bit more challenging, I recommend starting in Keswick. Not only does this add on a few extra miles, but it also offers a bit more diversity in the scenery.
From Keswick Town Centre, you can take the Cumbrian Way to Portinscale and follow the road until you reach Nichol End Marine.
Shortly after, you’ll see a path on the left, steering away from the road and ascending into a woodland area. Keep following the trail, and eventually, you will see signs for Catbells.
It’s pretty straightforward. There were a couple of times when we had to stop and check the map, but it would be difficult to get lost.
The woodland trail was gorgeous and got us nicely warmed up ahead of the climb. We even found an alpaca farm which was a pleasant surprise!
Finally, you’ll find yourself in Hawes End, and from there, you can follow the same Catbells trail as above.
Catbells and Derwent Water Walk
- Distance: 5.3 Miles
- Walking Time: 2 – 2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Starting Point: Hawes End
- View Map
Our final Catbells walking route takes you along the shoreline of Derwent Water – Perfect for those hot summer days when a post-hike swim is in order.
Again, you’ll start your hike at Hawes End and ascend Catbells via Skelgil Bank. You’ll descend via the south of the trail as per the routes above.
Only this time, instead of following the eastern edge of Catbells, you’ll follow the road down into Manesty Park and onto the Lakeside.
There are plenty of spots where you can stop and take a dip in the lake. Otherwise, the shoreline path will lead you back to Hawes End.
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Enjoy Your Catbells Hike!
That’s everything you need to know about hiking Catbells in the Lake District. Check out our Lake District series for more travel tips and advice.
If you love the Lake District, you’ll also love the Peak District! Check out our peak district series.
If you have any questions, please ask. Otherwise, I wish you happy and safe travels.
Planning a trip around the UK?
Check out our England series for more travel tips and advice.
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