Best fell runs in the Lake District
The Lake District has more quality fell running per square mile than anywhere else in England. These are the routes worth travelling for — from short sharp ascents to full-day mountain circuits.
24routes
VERY HARD
Helvellyn, Fairfield and Striding Edge from Thirlmere
It strings the two great Eastern Fells giants, Helvellyn and Fairfield, onto one loop and still finds room for Striding Edge in the middle.
VERY HARD
Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge from Patterdale
This is the postcard round of Helvellyn: up the knife-edge of Striding Edge, across the 950m summit, and down Swirral with Red Tarn below the whole way.
EXPERT
Abraham's Tea Round
You earn a free cup of tea at Abraham's Cafe by touching every summit you can see from its top-floor window: a proper Keswick fell-running rite of passage.
EXPERTUltra Tour of Staveley
This is a commitment. Five distinct fell ridges, two remote valleys, and enough climbing to earn a very large meal. Plan your food, check the forecast, and don't set off late.
Checked Jun 2026
EXPERT
Bob Graham Round Leg 3: Dunmail Raise to Wasdale Head
This is the heart and the crux of the Bob Graham: the Langdale Pikes, the highest ground in England over the Scafells, and the notorious Broad Stand step onto Scafell.
EXPERT
Bob Graham Round Leg 4: Wasdale Head to Honister Pass
The savage climb straight out of Wasdale onto Yewbarrow sets the tone: this is the steepest, most concentrated leg of the round, over Pillar and Great Gable.
EXPERT
Bob Graham Round Leg 2: Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise
It is the great runnable middle of the Bob Graham: a near-continuous high ridge where you can hold a rhythm over twelve tops without ever dropping to the valley.
EXPERT
Bob Graham Round Leg 1: Skiddaw and Blencathra
You get the start of the most famous round in British fell running, crossing Skiddaw at 931 m and the lonely top of Great Calva before the high traverse to Blencathra and the steep drop off Hall's Fell.
VERY HARD
Skiddaw and Blencathra via Lonscale Fell
Four Northern Fell Wainwrights in one continuous round, including the roof of the region on Skiddaw and the dramatic edges of Blencathra.
VERY HARD
Helvellyn Range and St Sunday Crag from Glenridding
Seven summits of the Eastern Fells in one continuous high-level horseshoe, finishing over St Sunday Crag with Ullswater filling the view ahead.
VERY HARD
Robinson, Dale Head, High Spy and Catbells from Lingholm
Five Wainwrights in one flowing 20.9km round, finishing along the famous Catbells ridge with Derwentwater spread out below and a celebrated cafe at the start and finish.
VERY HARDColedale Horseshoe
Seven Wainwrights, 1100m of climbing, and a long ridge with exposure on both sides. This is proper fell running territory — you need to move well on open ground.
Checked Jun 2026
VERY HARD
Catbells, Maiden Moor, Dale Head and Hindscarth from Lingholm
Five Wainwright summits in one continuous Newlands ridge, from gentle Catbells along the airy skyline to the high point on Dale Head, with the valley falling away on both sides.
VERY HARD
Wansfell Pike, Sour Howes and Sallows from Ambleside
Three Wainwrights for the price of one popular summit, swapping the crowds of Wansfell Pike for the empty grassy tops of Sour Howes and Sallows.
VERY HARD
Helvellyn via Swirral Edge and Striding Edge from Thirlmere
You get the two most famous ridges on the fell, Swirral and Striding Edge, on a route that still starts and finishes on the quiet Thirlmere side.
VERY HARDKentmere Horseshoe
High-level ridge running with minimal descent until the end. The views across Kentmere Reservoir and to the surrounding fells are some of the best in the eastern Lakes.
Checked Jun 2026
VERY HARD
Helvellyn from Thirlmere
You gain the summit of a 950m Wainwright in well under an hour of climbing, then drop back to the car on grass you can really open up on.
HARD
Bob Graham Round Leg 5: Honister Pass to Keswick
Three last summits over the Newlands fells and then the famous road run into Keswick: this is the leg where a Bob Graham Round is finished.
VERY HARD
Walla Crag, Castle Crag and Derwentwater from Keswick
Two contrasting little Wainwrights on one long lap, the airy edge of Walla Crag above Derwentwater and the steep slate cone of Castle Crag deep in Borrowdale.
HARDReston Scar and Brunt Knott
Underrated terrain in a part of the Lakes most runners skip over. Reston Scar gives you proper fell on a short day, without the crowds of the central fells.
Checked Jun 2026
HARD
Ambleside Low Level Loop
Rydal Water, Grasmere, woodland paths, and those views - all without setting foot on a major fell. This is what the Lakes are for on an easy-legs day.
HARDAmbleside to Rydal Water and Grasmere Loop
Checked Jun 2026
HARD
Catbells from Keswick
You earn the Catbells summit the long way, with kilometres of lakeside running each side of the climb and no car needed from Keswick.
HARDStaveley and Kentmere Valley
Low-key Lake District running at its best. No crowds, good tracks, and the Hawkshead Brewery tap at the end. The Lakes without fighting for parking at Wasdale.
Checked Jun 2026
More collections
Best Trail Runs in the Peak District
Top trail running routes in the Peak District across gritstone edges, moorland, and limestone dales. Free GPX on every route.
Best Trail Runs in the Yorkshire Dales
Top trail running routes in the Yorkshire Dales — limestone pavements, high ridges, and deep valleys. Free GPX on every route.
Best Trail Runs in Snowdonia
Top trail running routes in Snowdonia — rocky ridges, cwms, and mountain terrain in Wales. Free GPX on every route.