Northern England is blessed with a national park of epic proportions, the Lake district. Craggy mountains jut skyward, rolling fells taper into lush green valleys and still cool lakes and tarns. Villages and towns nestle away in every corner bulging to the onslaught of visitors from far and wide every Summer. Indeed, the Lake District’s very own Scafell Pike holds the record of being the tallest mountain in England. The Lake District also holds claim to the largest and deepest fresh water bodies in the UK.
Alfred Wainwright(1907 – 1991) an avid fell walker before the term was vogue, saw the merit in this beautiful landscape. In his life, he compiled many maps of trails and walks which are still ventured today. He popularised many of the mountainous fells and hills in the region. Helping to cement the popularity of walks on hills and fells with such names as “Catbells” “Hause Gate” and “Maiden Moor“.
The town of Keswick in Northern Cumbria, nestles in the Borrowdale valley between Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake. It is a hub of the modern day fell walker. Every street corner boasts a fell walking shop resplendent with all of the supplies a budding trekker could require. A short way out of the town and one ventures to the edge of Derwent Water where a local motorbarge called the Keswick Launch runs a regular service around the 3 mile wide lake. It serves as a transportation service for the walkers ferrying them to various dropping off points.
To the uninitiated, venturing to the fells can be a bewildering and indeed dangerous past-time. Thankfully one of the more intermediate, yet still challenging climbs is Catbells, a short distance from the first Keswick Launch drop off point. It stands imposingly next to Derwent Water like a guardian, ever watchful.
Catbells rises dramatically in a series of humps into a lower summit and then onto the highest point offering some of the best views into the surrounding lake district. On a good day from the summit you can see far into the south Lakes region which is over 30 miles away. To the North, Bassenthwaite lake can be seen, Derwent water adjacent and then the town of Keswick sandwiched between then. To the west, the Newlands valley- picturesque houses and farmsteads scattered all of the valley. Indeed, one can feel like they sitting in the very lap of the gods
The paths up to the first summit are zig-zagging pebble path maintained by the UK National Trust which affords a quick ascent up to the first summit. For those feeling braver, the next stage to the summit of Catbells is a rougher scramble over rock, grass and well worn trails.
When standing on the summit, one can feel in awe of the natural processes which tore up the valley millions of years ago, deep in the bowels of the earth and pushed these massive rifts up into there present position dominating everything in sight.
The descent down the other side of Catbells gives way into grassland valley complete with caves and holes in the ground in the hillside betraying the mining trades of men from bygone centuries. Some of the caves are closed off to the public but some are still there. Beckoning the earnest traveller in to the dank, deep passages which fall away into the rock face.
The trail then evens out back onto a familiar National Trust path which takes you back down to the road and to a Keswick Launch pickup point.
A well earned beer awaits back in Keswick in one of the many local pubs as a congratulations to ones self for achieving a good days walk and giving thanks that you made it safely.
Till the next walk.
Further Reading To Fellwalking on Catbells
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