Grimwith Reservoir
A rare thing in the Dales: a route you can hold an even pace on from start to finish. The circuit is 100% runnable and there is only 31m between its lowest and highest point.
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Runnable start to finish — nothing here forces you to walk.
A 6.8km circuit of Grimwith Reservoir north-east of Grassington, the flattest and most runnable route in the area. 76m of ascent on good ground, with straightforward navigation throughout.
A rare thing in the Dales: a route you can hold an even pace on from start to finish. The circuit is 100% runnable and there is only 31m between its lowest and highest point.
The route
A 6.8km loop around Grimwith Reservoir, north-east of Grassington at around 300m. There is 76m of ascent spread across the circuit and all of it is runnable, which makes this the flattest and most consistently runnable route in the Grassington area — the ground rises and falls by only 31m between its lowest and highest points.
Why it works
Most Dales running is an argument with the terrain. This is not. Navigation is straightforward, the mud rating is a low 2 out of 5, and because it is a closed circuit you are never committed — you can turn back at any point and the distance home stays bounded.
That makes it useful for the jobs the fells are bad at: steady-paced efforts where you want to hold a number, an easy recovery run between hard days, a first outing off road, or a run when the light is going and you would rather not be route-finding on open moor.
Timing and grade
Reckon on 45 to 65 minutes. At 6.8km with 76m of climbing it grades Easy (E1·T1), the gentlest route within five miles of Grassington.
Partner · affiliate policy
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
- Most runners complete Grimwith Reservoir in 45 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes, depending on pace and conditions.
Run by us· last checked July 2026
Jason Millward has run this route and written it up from the ground. How we check routes
Runner reports
Nobody's logged a run here yet. If you get out on it, a few lines about how it went helps the next person plan their day.
Routes nearby
Start from a town: Grassington 6.1 km · Kettlewell 10.7 km · Skipton 14.3 km
HARD
MODERATE
MODERATE
VERY HARD
MODERATERaces on this ground
All Yorkshire Dales races →Races starting within 20 km of the Grimwith Reservoir start, nearest first. If you are entered for one, this route is the rehearsal.
17
Apr
2027
Burnsall Trail Races
Riverside car park field, Burnsall, North Yorkshire · Due North Events · 3 miles away
Riverside paths and stone tracks out of Burnsall, on the Dales Way.
MODERATE TO HARD
Entries open
17
Oct
2026
Ultra Tour of the Yorkshire Dales
Devonshire Institute, 48 Main Street, Grassington, North Yorkshire · Due North Events · 4 miles away
Grassington to Malham Tarn, Arncliffe and Wharfedale, with route choice between checkpoints.
VERY HARD TO EXPERT
Entries open
24
Oct
2026
Nidderdale Way
Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire · Punk Panther · 6 miles away
The full Nidderdale Way at fifty-six miles, or a bite of it. Punk Panther's longest.
HARD TO EXPERT
Entries open
19
Jun
2027
provisional
Kettlewell (Skirfare) Trail Races
Hawkswick Cote car park field, Kettlewell, North Yorkshire · Due North Events · 7 miles away
Out of Hawkswick Cote into upper Wharfedale, with nine hundred metres of climb on the half.
HARD TO VERY HARD
Not open yet