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.
Effort: Shorter distance, major ascent
Underfoot: Technical, navigation required
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A real mix of running and walking — expect significant climbing.
The opening leg of the Bob Graham Round, run point to point from Keswick over Skiddaw and Great Calva to Blencathra and down to Threlkeld. 20.8 km with 1,576 m of climbing across three Northern Fell Wainwrights.
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.
The route
This is leg 1 of the classic Bob Graham Round, run as a point to point line from the Moot Hall in Keswick out to Threlkeld. It covers 20.8 km and gains 1,576 m, and all three of its high summits are Wainwrights: Skiddaw (931 m), Great Calva (690 m) and Blencathra (868 m).
From Keswick you climb steadily past the flank of Latrigg and onto the broad Jenkin Hill path, the same firm track the Skiddaw fell racers use. The gradient is relentless rather than technical, and you gain height fast. The pull onto Skiddaw's summit ridge opens up the whole of the Northern Fells, with Bassenthwaite Lake to the west and the Solway beyond.
The high traverse
Off Skiddaw the route drops east and climbs the lonely, heathery dome of Great Calva, then crosses the quiet, boggy ground near Skiddaw House before the long pull onto Blencathra. This middle section is open fell with no waymarks, so it rewards a clear head for navigation when cloud is down. Blencathra's summit sits right on the edge of its dramatic southern face.
The descent
The finish is the part that sticks in the memory: the drop off Blencathra towards Threlkeld. The direct Bob Graham line down Hall's Fell ridge is narrow, rocky and exposed, with a short scramble over Narrow Edge before the path eases to the valley. Take it steadily. It is a genuinely committing descent and it is where this leg earns its grade.
Why it works
Run as a standalone outing it is a superb big day on two of the most recognisable fells in the country, and as part of a round attempt it sets the tone for everything that follows. Carry food and water from Keswick, because there is nothing on the hill. On a clear day the panorama from Skiddaw stretches north to Scotland, and ticking off the first leg of the round is a milestone every Lakeland fell runner remembers.
The descent off Blencathra via Hall's Fell is narrow, rocky and exposed with a short scramble; avoid it in high wind or ice. The central ground around Skiddaw House is featureless and serious in cloud, so map and compass skills are essential.
Summits on this route
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
Run by us· last checked July 2026
Jason Millward has run this route and written it up from the ground. How we check routes
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