Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs

Pick your distance

What you’re in for

A 10km or a half marathon from the Waterside campsite at Pooley Bridge, at the northern end of Ullswater, in June. The half gets up onto the fells above the lake — this is the hilliest race on the Wild Deer calendar — and the 10km stays lower but still climbs. The 10km is 10.7km with 233m of climb; the half is 21.1km with 473m, which is a proper fell-edge half rather than a lakeside jog. Supports Patterdale Mountain Rescue. Routes are published to download and the final version is emailed a few days before.

Terrain and trail

Lakeshore path, bridleway and open fell: firm along the water, stony and grassy on the climbs, with the moor above Pooley Bridge boggy in a wet June. The descents are the technical part. A trail shoe with grip, and take the kit list seriously — the top of the half is exposed.

Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Waterside Campsite, Pooley Bridge, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

EXPERT

Tour de Helvellyn

58.6km · 2,129m climb · Loop · 5.1km away

A genuine ultra-distance day that shows you the Helvellyn range from every angle without ever queuing for Striding Edge - based on the established Tour de Helvellyn race route.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn Range and St Sunday Crag from Glenridding

20.6km · 1,300m climb · Loop · 9.4km away

Seven summits of the Eastern Fells in one continuous high-level horseshoe, finishing over St Sunday Crag with Ullswater filling the view ahead.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge from Patterdale

12.7km · 824m climb · Loop · 9.4km away

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.

Checked Jul 2026

EXPERT

Bob Graham Round Leg 2: Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise

22.3km · 1,690m climb · Point to point · 14km away

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.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn from Thirlmere

10.7km · 812m climb · Loop · 16km away

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.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn via Swirral Edge and Striding Edge from Thirlmere

11.3km · 998m climb · Loop · 16km away

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.

Checked Jul 2026

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How to enter

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Common questions

How far is the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

The Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs offers 2 distances: 10km (6.2 miles), Half Marathon (21.1 km / 13.1 miles).

How much climbing is in the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

The 10km has 233 m of ascent. The Half Marathon has 473 m of ascent.

How hard is the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

10km: Hard. Half Marathon: Hard. TRP grades come from distance and climb measured off the course file, not from the organiser.

Is the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs course marked?

Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.

What kit do I need for the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs. Wild Deer Events confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

We don't hold published time limits for the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs. If Wild Deer Events set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.

What is at the checkpoints on the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Wild Deer Events race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs route?

Yes. The GPX for each distance is free to download here, with no sign-up, the same as every route on Trail Running Planet.

When is the next Pooley Bridge Wild Trail Runs?

Sat, 5 Jun 2027. Not open yet.