Kielder Water Lakeside Loop
It's one of the few places in the country where you can run 40km without a single significant hill, entirely on good surface, through forest that feels genuinely remote from anywhere else in England.
Effort: Ultra distance, gentle gradient
Underfoot: Mostly paths and tracks
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A 40km circuit of Kielder Water on the Lakeside Way, England's largest man-made reservoir, with just 337m of climbing on a well-surfaced multi-user trail through forest and along open shoreline.
It's one of the few places in the country where you can run 40km without a single significant hill, entirely on good surface, through forest that feels genuinely remote from anywhere else in England.
The route
The Lakeside Way circles the full shoreline of Kielder Water, England's largest reservoir by capacity, running through Kielder Forest for long sections and out along open ground where the water opens up beside you. At 40km with only 337m of total climbing, this is about sustained distance and consistent effort rather than managing any real elevation.
Kielder Forest
This part of Northumberland is genuinely remote - Kielder Forest is one of the largest working forests in England, and the water and forest together create a sense of scale that's unusual this far south of the Highlands. Dark skies status means the area is also known for stargazing, which gives a sense of just how little light pollution there is out here.
Underfoot
The trail is built for multiple users - walkers, cyclists, horse riders - so the surface is consistently good throughout, a mix of gravel and forest track with some paved sections near the visitor centres. The north side has more undulation than the south, but nothing here qualifies as technical.
Who it suits
The lack of climbing and consistently good surface make this a strong choice for anyone building toward a flat ultra distance event, or simply looking for a long day where distance rather than terrain is the challenge. It's also genuinely appealing for anyone who wants big scenery without the exposure or navigation demands of the higher fells further west.
Getting it right
The remoteness that makes this route appealing also means limited options if something goes wrong partway round - phone signal is patchy in places, and the visitor centres with food and water are spaced out around the full 40km loop rather than dotted every few kilometres. Plan your stops at Tower Knowe or Kielder Waterside rather than assuming you'll find something along the way.
Phone signal is patchy around parts of the forest, and services are limited to the visitor centres rather than spread evenly around the loop. The north shore has more undulating, technical gravel sections than the south.
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
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Runner reports
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