Trail Running Planet · Northumberland · Kielder
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.
Distance
40 km
Ascent
337 m
Descent
337 m
Max elevation
229 m
Route type
Loop
Est. time
7h 15m – 9h 50m
Grade
Expert
Navigation
straightforward
Parking
NE48 1BX
Dogs
Welcome
Best seasons
spring, summer, autumn, winter
About this route
A 40km circuit of Kielder Water on the Lakeside Way, England's largest man-made reservoir, with just 79m of climbing on a well-surfaced multi-user trail through forest and along open shoreline.
Hazards & notes
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.
Emergency
Call 999 or 112 → ask for Police → request Mountain Rescue. Register Emergency SMS: text "register" to 999.
Full route, GPX download & live conditions:
https://trailrunningplanet.com/routes/england/northumberland/kielder/kielder-water-lakeside-loop
trailrunningplanet.com