I have been blessed with the best weather an April could throw at a week in the Lakes, but alas, not a single run has been done due to an outbreak of norovirus in our family....
But it got me thinking about my previous trips to the Lakes and the variety of routes of running and walking I have done. And I also thought about the first time I ran in the Lakes and how I had no idea where to go and so did some fantastic events which introduced me to the lovely towns and trails. I also remember how blooming hard it was compared to anything I had run on trails before!
Because the Lakeland fells are much steeper, and more vast and more rocky than a lot of England. There are bogs as deep as your waist in winter, and scrambles that might make you go a bit wobbly. You can get quite lost. Or you can just stuck trying to find a parking space in high season.
So I thought I could share a few of my favourite routes that are relatively easy to follow, have at least a good degree of runnability (i.e. you can actually run a good deal of them them without being a champ fellrunner). I am by no means and expert but I love these routes and I love sharing, and in the event of not being able to go run with you, this is my offering. All routes done at your own risk etc. etc.
Ambleside- Grasmere- Loughrigg
For this I usually park in the Rydal Road carpark in Ambleside. Its worth noting, this is not a route to do in high summer season; it is simply too busy.
Start with a jog along the road to drive the entrance of Rydal Hall where you come off the road and head up the long gravel drive. Follow it through the campsite and past the little cafe, and on to the road on the other side where you turn right up the short steep road to the turning circle and take a left on to the coffin trail, where they used to carry the coffins over to Grasmere for burial in consecrated ground. You now stay on this trail as it undulates, until Grasmere, though it turns from path to track to road, coming out by the Wordsworht Museum. There is now a longish road section, I am sorry. But this road section does have multiple options for refueling should you wish, or a short detour to the Grasmere gingerbread shop, which is not a bad trade off. Anyway, cross the A595 and head in to Grasmere, trotting along the main road but turning left at the garden centre to head along Red bank. Stay on Redbank until you reach a white ohuse, and shortly after there is a path that drops you down to follow the around the lake bank. Follow this until you come out at a beach section at the foot of Loughrigg fell. Now here you have two options (for more options and additions see below): you can climb the terraces and then head towards Rydal cave or Rydal water and back to Ambleside via Under Loughrigg Road, or you can head up the Terraces then take the path up Loughrigg fell and over the top. The climb up Loughrigg is steep in places but the views from the top are worth it, and the run off the back is fantastic. Loughrigg is, in my opinion, the best bang for your buck when it comes to height vs views as you get stunning views across Grasmere, Windermere and the surrounding fells. There are a lot of paths off the back of Loughrigg; I have come down multiple different ones. If you follow the most trodden you should come down at the back of Rothay Park, which you can then use to get back in to Ambleside and back to the car (via a cafe of your choice if preferred).
Want a bit more: try adding in a loop up to Alcock Tarn starting from the latter part of the Coffin trail, and head back in to the other end of Grasmere. Alternatively Silver Howe can be added in
More in this area: The Fairfield Horseshoe makes a fantastic long run but has quite the elevation gain. Definitely a 'fell' run. A more doable option is Wansfell via Stockghyll to Troutbeck and back via Robin lane and Skeghyll woods.
Coniston Copper Mines (Short)
This route in very short, really only 5k plus a bit from the car park. I would consider using the car park at Lakes Road, but basically park where you can in the busy town of Coniston. If starting from Lakes Road, job back up the road in to town and turn right past the petrol station and left at the fork and left again at the co-op. Follow the road up past the Ruskin Museum and then begin to climb as the road becomes a bit less well kept. Eventualy a stream will appear on the left, and you will travel up past Coniston Coppermines YHA. Shortly after the building, take a right hand path that hugs the hill and takes you round the old mine. Follow it over a waterfall (though you can take a fork up to Levens water if you fancy), until you reach a confluence with a second pathg down at another beck. Turn left and then after a short while, at another confluence, left and left again to keep the mines on your left, and follow this path down to a bridge back across the stream to a road and back in to Coniston.
Want a bit more: instead of the two lefts to take you back to the mines, instead take only one left and follow the path along until you join the Walna Scar road at the car park, which can be followed down in to Coniston by turning left, or follow the Lakeland Trails Coniston route up the road and then left in Banishead Quarry, down to Torver, then down to Brackenbarrow farm, and along the Cumbria Way back to Coniston (okay, that is quite a lot more).
More in this area: the Cumbria way offers a relativelt well marked option for out and back routes. If heading north, running up to and round Tarn Hows and then back (either the way you came or via one of a multitude of woodland footpaths), is a great option if a bit of a long uphill. Alternatively, take the National Trust steamer to Parkamoor and follow their suggested route to Brantwood up through Dodd wood, a long a bridleway that touches the back of Grizedale forest, and down to Brantwood, catching the steamer back or continue running round the footpaths on this side of the lake to Monk Coniston, where you can rejoin the road back to Coniston. Alternatively, there are a whole host of options for running over the Coniston range if you are getting the bug!
Elterwater to Stickle Barn Circular
There are a couple of parking options in Elterwater: national trust or on the road with respect to other traffic. From the national trust car park head back on to the road and turn left, heading up thr road past the independant hostel and then take a right hand fork onto a road/ bridleway labelled Coniston (bridleway option). Keep right again and then go straight over the cross road of bridleways to stay on the uneven road to Baysbrown campsite, then continue on the bridleway that gets a bit rockier here on in, round to Oak Howe where you want to turn left on to the Cumbria Way as it climbs slightly around the foot of Lingmoor. The path here is made up of some quite chunky rocks so watch your ankles and don't worry about speed. Then you'll been hopping and skipping down the sort of steps, past a farstead, over the road and towards Sticklebarn and the New Dungeons Ghyll Hotel. Use the facilities if necessary. Then go back South of the road and across the car park to a track that takes you across fields at a lower height than you were. As it turns for the road, take a right and then right again to rejoin the Cumbria Way in the opposite direction and follow this back to Chapel Stile. the bit at Chapel Stile can be a bit confusing but basically you want to go over the campsite bridge, turn right and continue behind the school, you pop out in the road and go past the Wainswright Inn, and then turn right over a bridge to follow a nice section of old quarry path that undulates and is made of rocky slabs, to go behind the hotel complex back to the start where there are more toilets and pubs.
Want a bit more: Start in Skelwith Bridge and do the beautiful section of the Cumbria way that goes next to Elterwater (can be done on the out and back leg) and finish with a coffee and cake in Chesters. Or contineu on the Cumbria way at the western end and go further up to the Old Dungeon Ghyll and over the road throguh a campsite up the zig zag path to Blea Tarn (possibly the most photographed place in the Lakes due to amazing views of the Langdale Pikes). You can even then come round in to Little Langale valley and do a full circle of both valleys which is is about 13 miles all in depending on exactly where you go.
More in this area: the Langdale pikes are a great but challenging route, but beware some of the more technical parts of the route, especially any routes including scrambling up Pavey Ark.
Grizedale Forest and the Silurian Way
This is a longer run; its 10 miles. But I absolutely love the forestry commission sites for running on my own when the weather is a bit pants because they are so doable. At Grizedale and Whinlatter there are actually a few routes that could be used for a run (just because they are walks doesn't mean you can't run them, though Whinlatter has two designated running trails), and they are all way marked. The Silurian Way is excellent as its that bit longer, and very runnable, and incluudes some great features such as sculptures, small tarns and a trip to a small summit (Carron Crag). Follow the green markers from the visitors car park or pick it up at Blind lane and have the cafe and toilets in the middle. Please also note there is one section in the south east corner that both my friend and I have managed to fudge more than once, so sorry, can't help with that bit!
More like this: Other forest sites inlcude Whinlatter as mentioned above, and also Dodd Wood, where there is a 5k ish route up Dodd, which is also a Wainwright, so would definitely count as a proper trail run!
Walla Crag
This route starts in Keswick and the best parking is probably the Lakeside car park. the restaurant Fell Pack used to keep a score board of the fastest dash up this route so job back towards there and maybe see how you go. You want to end up heading out of the centre on the Ambleside road, passing the church on your right, then turning right on to Springs Road. Follow this to the end where there is a farm and a small cafe then bear left to climb up the side of a stream through some trees. Follow this path all the way to the small road at the top then turn right on the the road and follow it up to the farm on the top. A footpath comes off to the right and you follow the wall up to Walla Crag. And certain points you can pop over the wall and run along the craggy edge itself in the trees which is more adventurous feeling. There is a open area of rock at the top and some excellent views over Derwentwater. Turning away from the crags and going back the right side of the wall, follow the path away from the crags but then bear right to head round above Falcon Crags (not go up Bleaberry fell unless you want to) and head down towards Ashness Bridge on a mildly techical path. Towards the end of the path, use the bridge to cross a beck and turn right and run to the road and the Ashness Bridge. Follow the road down to the right and towards the lake. If the water isnt too high you can go down on to the shoreline and run along there. This route joins a more established lakeside path which initially takes you round a small headland, then becomes a bit more of a raised path (turn left half way down this) and then a board walk, then a footpath round past Friar's crag, and then road back at the lakeside at Keswick. The last bit can be a bit confusing but usually its a case of follow the large amounts of people....
Want a bit more: head the other way round the lake and pick up the Cumbria way on the far side for a much longer run back to Keswick, or add in the section to Bleaberry fell.
More in this area: Catbells is a very popular fell and can be done as a variety of loops of different lengths, and Latrigg can be accessed from Keswick. Both have relatively steep uphills but these are walkable. For Latrigg I would go up the steep Cumbria way and come down the paths in brundholme woods, but it might be more runabble to do the opposite (pick your poison).
Buttermere and Rannerdale Knotts
This loop has the option of parking on Grasmoor common, or in Buttermere. But I recommend doing the steep section of the Rannerdale knotts first, then running down the grassy side. PArking on Grasmoor common is free and you will just need to jog to the foot of the knots and join the loop there, but you may want to park at the council or national trust car parks in Buttermere if you want to use the faiclities there. From the back of the council car park, follow the path on the left of the stream to the lake, from the national trust car park take the path out of the car park over long how, and either way, once you kit the lake shore, turn right and run towards the road, over the road and on to the bridleway/apth on the other side heading left and up. You will follow this until you are between some knolls, where you might see the path up the knotts to your right. Its not the easiest to spot, I will grant you. An OS map app may be helpful here to tell you where to turn.... But you will soon be on a rocky and steep path up the Knotts, that zig zags. You are likely to be walking and occassionally scrambling, but that is part of the fun (there will be running in a bit). Don't go over board on the first knott as you have a few to bump over. Follow the path over the bumps (they are quite big bumps) and emerge on to the grassy bank at the otherside. Word of warning: here the map makes out there is one footpath when this is in fact a complete lie and a series of grassy footpaths. Basically, you are aiming right and down towards Buttermere. If you get chance, there is a point you can cross the wall and run on the beautiful single track next to the beck between the trees, but if not, as long as you hit Buttermere its all good. If you parked on the common, you could actually head back along the foot of the knotts on the north side by instead of running down and left, heading more to the right and picking up the footpath but have a look on google maps for this.
I know recommend a trip around the lake on the paths and roads to stretch the legs out, but maybe grab an ice cream if you don't fancy it. To do this, take the road behind the Fisher's hotel, as if you were heading back the car park but take the left fork and then next he left fork so that you head to Buttermeres shore, before following the well marked trail to Peggy's bridge, over the bridge, through the car park at Gatesgarth farm and then left along the road a short way to pick up the footpath again and wiggle back to Buttermere. None of this is technical and it add some miles and fab views of the fells. Can be busy though.
Want a bit more: Crummock water is bigger than Buttermere and could make an alternative circumnavigation by turning right after the Fisher's rather than the left fork. Alternatively, there are some quite high routes in this area but the easiest of these to add in would be to take the path up to Red Pike and along to either high Stile or High Crag. But these are steep and technically challenging in places.
More in this area: Ennerdale water offers another lovely circumnavigation route, with a few challenging sections, or you can run up the forestry road the full 5 or 6 miles to Black sail YHA which before Covid used to sell cups of tea I believe, and hopefully you will soon be able to stay overnight again and use it as a launch pad for further adventures. But as you sit there, in that valley, staring at the tops of the fells, please don't blame me if you suddenly find yourself planning a much more adventurous route....
If you have any other favourite beginner routes, do let me know. And I can provide GPX formata for most of the above if requested.
