Catbells

Catbells is best climbed by its north ridge from Hawse End, on the west shore of Derwentwater. The small roadside parking there is full early on most fine days, and there is another small car park at Gutherscale, between Hawse End and Skelgill. Leaving the car in Keswick is often easier: the Keswick Launch calls at the Hawse End jetty, and the Honister Rambler bus has a Catbells stop.

The path zigzags up to a memorial stone for Thomas Arthur Leonard, a pioneer of outdoor holidays, and carries on over the first top, Skelgill Bank. Just below the summit the ridge turns into a band of bare rock. Paths wind up it on easy-angled steps with good holds, and this is the only place you might use your hands. Most people then go on south to Hause Gate, the col below Maiden Moor, and down a steep stepped path to the old terrace road back to Hawse End.

The Newlands side is quieter. From Little Town and the small car park at Chapel Bridge, a path climbs east to Hause Gate, and the view opens out all at once as you reach the col.

The summit is a small knot of rock and loose stones between low outcrops. Derwentwater fills the view, with Keswick, Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake to the north, Newlands to the west and Borrowdale to the south.

Beatrix Potter put Mrs Tiggy-Winkle's home on these slopes. There are old lead mines on both flanks, Yewthwaite above Newlands and Brandlehow above the lake. All of them had closed by the 1890s. Keep clear of their spoil and shafts.