High Spy and Cat Bells

After a good breakfast, we set out at 9.00 for a steep walk up the fell behind the hotel, passing disused slate mine tunnels, to reach High Spy at 650 metres by lunchtime. After a break for the packed lunch provided by the hotel and facing Castle Crag (290m), we continued across Maiden Moor before descending to the base of Cat Bells. Having walked to the top to get a great view of Derwentwater, with Keswick and Bassenthwaite in the distance, we descended and continued down a steep path to the shore of Derwentwater and then along to a cafe at Lingholm for tea and cake. The walk was about 14 kms. A minibus took us back to the hotel.
The weather was dry and cloudy with mist drifting around the peak at lunchtime, followed by a glimpse of the sun in the afternoon.Read more