INDY SAYS: My first ever hike in the Lake District - Cat Bells! I enjoyed it. Some care required though - Cat Bells is not quite the simple climb that many think, and caution is warranted on rocky sections. No water on the fell.

First-time hiking Cat Bells in the Lake District? Follow Indy as she conquers this iconic beginner fell walk on her first ever visit to the Lake District

From Portinscale we walk alongside Derwent Water, past Lingholm and nearly to Hawes End, the landing stage for the launch from Keswick.
Not much of Derwent Water is seen on this part of the walk - we are mainly in woods.
Up past the Cattle Grid, and we emerge onto the fell.

It's their mountain, we pass by without disturbing them

The view from Cat Bells, even in poor weather, is relaxing

Indy waits for us to catch up... Come on !

Descent with view of Derwent Water and Keswick in the distance

A lone walker descends Cat Bells

Walking through the woods past Lingholm

Arriving at Portinscale, only 5 minutes to home now

6.74 miles, 3.48 h, Ascent 1,798 ft
Route maps from Ordnance Survey are scaled 1:25000 unless mentioned otherwise.
Km, hike time and metres of ascent as supplied by OS. Planned route