Catbells with Kids and Dogs

With Children

Catbells is the fell a lot of people remember climbing as a child. It suits children well: the boat ride to the start, a ridge that feels like a mountain, rock to scramble on and a proper summit, all within an hour.

• What age? There's no official minimum. Children who are used to walking and happy using their hands usually manage the north ridge; younger ones often do it with a hand held up the rock steps, and the smallest get carried. It's a judgement about your own child, not a rule.
• The rock steps. Go up them, not down: stay just below a small child on the way up. For the descent, carry on over the top and take the stone path down from Hause Gate, as the classic walk does.
• With little ones, or a baby in a carrier: use the route from Grange. It's a steady climb with no scrambling, so you keep both hands free.
• Steep sides. The ridge drops away steeply on both sides. There's no cliff edge on the path, but keep runners-ahead in sight, especially near the summit.
• No toilets at Hawes End or on the fell: go in Keswick before the boat.
• Take more layers than you think. The top is windier and colder than the lakeshore, even in August.

Allow about half as long again as the walk times: children stop often and the view gives them plenty of reasons.

With Dogs

Dogs are welcome and you'll meet lots of them.

• The lead rule is the law here, not just advice. Catbells is registered common land (Natural England, CL168) and open access land, owned by the National Trust. On open access land your dog must be on a lead no longer than 2 metres from 1 March to 31 July, and at all times near livestock (gov.uk).
• Sheep graze Catbells all year, and there are lambs on the lower ground in spring. The National Trust's advice for the fells around Derwentwater is a short lead around livestock. On this fell that means most of the walk.
• The rock steps. Agile dogs manage them. With a small, old or nervous dog, or a lead and a child to hold as well, the way up from Grange is easier.
• Water. There's none on the ridge. Carry some in warm weather; the lake shore on the way back is the first chance of a drink and a paddle.
• The launch: well-behaved dogs travel free on the Keswick Launch.
• Bag it and carry it down. Don't count on a bin at Hawes End: take everything home.

With a Pushchair or Wheelchair

Catbells isn't possible with a pushchair or a wheelchair: every route is steep and stony, and the ridge has rock steps. A baby carrier and the Grange route is the way to take a baby up.

For a gentler outing with the same lake, take the launch round the lake, or walk the lakeshore path through the National Trust woods at Brandelhow, between the Hawes End and High Brandelhow jetties.