Skip to content

Trail running routes in Forest of Bowland

Pendle Hill and Gisburn Forest: the two ends of Bowland, one a steep heather whaleback, the other waymarked forest trails round Stocks Reservoir.

4
Routes
14.1km
Avg distance
1,370m
Total ascent

Areas

Gisburn ForestPendle Hill
Sort:

4 routes

MODERATE
Gisburn Forest 10k
10.4km · 155m climb · Loop
Gisburn is one of the few places round here where you can run fast on dry, purpose-built trail whatever the moor is doing, and the forest hub means coffee and toilets at the start.
Dog friendly
Ogden Reservoirs from BarleyHARD
Ogden Reservoirs from Barley
13.2km · 409m climb · Loop
You circle two hidden reservoirs and run up the cleft of Ogden Clough right under the north face of Pendle Hill, on some of the quietest moor in Lancashire.
No car neededDog friendly
HARD
Pendle Hill from Barley
16.2km · 511m climb · Loop
Pendle Hill stands alone above the Lancashire plain, so the summit view is enormous, and the hill carries the weight of the 1612 witch trials in every place name around it.
No car neededDog friendly
Checked Jul 2026
Stocks Reservoir and Gisburn ForestMODERATE
Stocks Reservoir and Gisburn Forest
16.7km · 295m climb · Loop
Reservoir views, forest trails, and barely any climbing. One for when you want miles without mountains — or when the rest of the Dales is under a cloud.
Good for beginnersDog friendly
Checked Sept 2026

Races in Forest of Bowland

Full race calendar →

The next races starting in Forest of Bowland, with runner reviews and what people wore where we have them. Train on the routes above.

27

Aug

2027

UTL 100

Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire · Ultra Tour Lancashire

A hundred miles round the red rose county from the geographical centre of Britain.

100 miles2,120 m climb
Navigation requiredRuns through the night

EXPERT

Entries open

£209

28

Aug

2027

UTL 38

Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire · Ultra Tour Lancashire

Thirty-eight miles of the Forest of Bowland, round Stocks Reservoir and Gisburn Forest.

38 miles817 m climb
Navigation required

EXPERT

Entries open

£80

About running in Forest of Bowland

Pendle Hill and Gisburn Forest: the two ends of Bowland, one a steep heather whaleback, the other waymarked forest trails round Stocks Reservoir.

Four routes. Pendle Hill from Barley is the one everybody knows, 16km with a proper climb to the 557m summit; the Ogden Reservoirs loop from the same village keeps to the flanks. Gisburn Forest, on the far side of Bowland, is forest track and shore path: a 10km waymarked loop and a 17km circuit of Stocks Reservoir that run well all winter. Barley has buses from Nelson and Burnley; Gisburn Forest is car only. Every route has a free GPX download and an honest TRP Grade.

Safety reminder

In an emergency call 999 or 112 — ask for Police then Mountain Rescue.

No signal? Pre-register emergency SMS: text register to 999.

Safety guides →

Common questions

There are 4 trail running routes in Forest of Bowland on Trail Running Planet, covering 2 areas. All routes include free GPX downloads and honest grading.