The classic - Cat Bells fallback for a poor weather walk

STD

Cat Bells [NW]

REX May 09, 2026 Portinscale, Cat Bells

Distance 10.85 km, Time 3.48 h, Total Ascent 548 m Imperial | Metric

After a rainy morning we decide to fit in a quick Cat Bells during a break in the weather. Clouds are low today, but Cat Bells should be clear.
However, it wasn't so much Cat Bells as Piccadilly Circus. Although I appreciate the irony of being a person on a fell complaining about the amount of people on a fell, this was a bit much.

Earlier in the day, low clouds over the Skiddaw range from Portinscale

As you can see, even on a grey day, the ascent of Cat Bells can be

more of a procession than a Lakeland hike!

The flipside of the crowding was a rather jocular ambience as people saw the funny side of the British managing a queue even on a mountain.
Rex loves people of course, and said hello to as many as possible

I wander off to the side to catch some views of Rowling End, Causey Pike

and Robinson

The best I can do for a summit pic today - a crowd is spreadeagled all across it

Rex occasionally takes to short periods of descent like this.

We take the less popular side route off Cat Bells. Blencathra under low clouds

Rex with Derwent Water and Keswick behind

Walking back to Portinscale through

Lingholm woods

Start: Portinscale

1. Honister Rambler bus from Keswick (you can stay on the bus to 'Cattle Grid' if heading for Cat Bells or Newlands Horseshoe)
2. Limited parking in Portinscale, or car park further on at Lingholm [NY 25165 22357]

Route

Portinscale, Cat Bells
Distance 10.85 km, Time 3.48 h, Total Ascent 548 m
Wainwright Pictorial Guide: The North Western Fells

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Please do your own research to verify current routes and information on car parking, bus services and so on

Route maps from Ordnance Survey are scaled 1:25000 unless otherwise indicated.
Distance, Hike Time and Total Ascent as supplied by OS. Image shows planned route.
Distance 10.85 km, Time 3.48 h, Total Ascent 548 m

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