RUNNING THE LAKE DISTRICT
NEW DATE 2026:
12 - 15 AUGUST 2026 - 7 SPACES LEFT
Nearly 90% of our adventurers join alone! Shared accommodation is included, or you can secure your own room.
Would you like a short video explaining more about this trip?
EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW
From the southern Lakeland town of Coniston to mountain passes, lush woodlands, fell tops, and shoreline running, this adventure will let you experience Cumbrian culture and nature at its finest.
Our journey begins as we pick up flowy mountain trails, heading into hidden valleys and over the mountainous ‘Stake Pass’. Along our way we’ll pass waterfalls, have the chance to go wild swimming in crystal clear streams, and travel over Lakeland fells - jaw-dropping views are guaranteed!
This fully-guided and fully-supported adventure takes in a distance of 72km which is split over three days. We’ll aim to cover an average distance of 15 miles per day, staying in cosy hotels just off the trail which makes for a perfect base to relax at the end of each day.
INCLUDES:
3 nights accommodation at the 4* Coniston Inn & the Skiddaw Hotels (Twin room share basis - Single Room upgrade available)
Fully-supported trail running trip
Breakfast and picnic lunches throughout the trip
Two qualified trail running guides throughout
Support vehicle throughout (fully stocked)
3 Days of trail running on exceptional trails
Luggage transfer from point to point
Aid stations
Running technique and advice from UK qualified coaches
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
+ DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO CONISTON
+ DAY 2: TRAIL RUNNING CONISTON - LANGDALE - BORROWDALE
+ DAY 3: BORROWDALE TO KESWICK, VIA CAT BELLS
+ DAY 4: KESWICK TO NETHER ROW, VIA SKIDDAW HAUS - DEPART KESWICK
Is this trip for me?
- Four days in the Lake District with 3 full days of guided trail running as you cross the National Park from south to north.
- Daily distances of roughly 15–27km with 600–1,000m of ascent on mountain paths, fell trails and valley tracks.
- Best for runners comfortable being on their feet for 3–6 hours, happy to hike the steeper climbs and enjoy the views rather than chase pace.
- Perfect if you want a big UK mountain weekend with classic Lakeland summits, passes, ridges and lakes – without needing ultra or technical scrambling experience.
- Three nights in comfortable 4★ hotels (Coniston Inn and Skiddaw Hotel) on a twin-share basis with the option to upgrade to a private room.
- Fully supported with two qualified trail running guides, a support vehicle, luggage transfers, aid stations, breakfasts and picnic lunches included.
Would you like to talk to a Pure Trails team member to learn more about this trip?
SCHEDULE A 10‑MINUTE Q&A CALLOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1 | WELCOME TO CONISTON
NO TRAIL RUNNING.
Welcome to the Lake District!
You are welcome to arrive at the Coniston Inn and check into your rooms any time from 15:00, relax and get your bearings after your day of travelling. Coniston village is just a 1/3mile walk from the hotel. An obvious footpath follows alongside the main road, making it easy to explore the local area or access it if you have arrived by public transport.
Our Pure Trails team will be at the hotel from 18:00 onwards for drinks in the bar. This gives us the time to meet you, answer any questions and discuss a kit check in advance of starting on the trail tomorrow. A table has been booked for a group dinner at 19:30. Over dinner, we'll give a full briefing about the adventure ahead.
DAY 2 | CONISTON - ROSTHWAITE, VIA THE LANGDALE VALLEY
TRAIL RUNNING: Approx 27KM / Gradient: +1000m
Breakfast at the hotel, pack up your kit and check-out. We start this amazing journey from Coniston village, picking up a trail that heads north via the idyllic lakes at Tarn Hows, a tranquil setting of trees and a lapping shoreline. There are impressive views in every direction.
The trail continues along an easy woodland trail for some time, before the Brathay River joins us on our left-hand side. Here we'll stop to see the Skelwith Waterfall. The scenery continues to improve as we head towards Elterwater, formally entering the Langdale valley.
From here we travel on remote mountain trails, taking on the zig-zagging Stake Pass until heading downhill all the way to the Borrowdale valley until we reach our finish for the day at Rosthwaite.
We'll transfer the group to the town of Keswick with check in at our hotel, with time to relax before we re-group later for drinks and dinner in town.
DAY 3 | ROSTHWAITE - KESWICK, VIA CATBELLS
TRAIL RUNNING: APPROX. 15KM / Gradient + 600M
After breakfast, pack up your running kit and join the group transfer back to Rosthwaite (15 min drive).
This is a beautiful day today as we pick up the trail where we left off yesterday, following a woodland trail which takes us to the base of Castle Cragg - the smallest of the Wainwright Fells. We'll take a bit of time to explore Millican Dalton's hermit cave as we pass through.
From here the trail continues alongside tranquil rivers and over hillsides as we continue towards the southern tip of Derwent Water. The trail from here begins to steeply climb as he heads towards a mountain ridge, and onwards to the summit of Cat Bells (451m) which on a clear day has some of the best views of the Lake District. We descend from here, taking care of the initial rocky terrain until we meet the van. Time to take on supplies and change your gear, before we continue on the much flatter and easier trail that flows along Derwent waters shoreline, running into the Keswick and finishing at the steps of the famous Moot Hall.
Walk back to our hotel with time to relax and freshen up.
DAY 4 | KESWICK - NETHER ROW, VIA SKIDDAW HAUS - DEPART
TRAIL RUNNING: APPROX. 20KM / Gradient +885M
After breakfast, we prepare for our final day on the trail. Check out and leave your luggage at the hotel or in the van.
We begin running directly from the hotel, moving our way north through the town of Keswick until we reach the base of Latrigg fell. From here onwards our trail takes us between the two Lakeland giants of Skiddaw and Blencathra, heading towards the remote hostel of Skiddaw Haus. This part of the Lake District was once an ancient forest, with the landscape now characterised by hills and heather.
The final section of the trail takes us past the ancient medieval mines at Grainsgill Beck, with a final ascent up towards the Lingy Hut - a mountain refuge on the ridge - and to the summit of High Pike (658m) which represents the northern tip of the Lake District. It's now downhill on the grassy slopes, fields and tracks as we head into the pretty village of Nether Row which marks our finish.
We'll then transfer you back to Keswick (approx. 30mins) to connect with onward travel arrangements or back to Coniston if you have left your car there.
WHERE WE STAY
CONISTON INN & THE SKIDDAW HOTEL
We’ll be staying in two comfortable hotels for the crossing of the Lake District. Our selection includes cosy 4* hotels on the shore of Coniston Lake, as well as central Keswick which offers comfortable rooms, great local amenities, and space for us to relax after a great day on the trail.
If you are driving, you can leave your car in the hotel car park at the Coniston Inn for the duration of the trip. When the adventure wraps up we will return you to Coniston to reunite with your vehicle.
If you are travelling by public transport, we suggest taking a train to Windermere and connecting with the hourly bus to Ambleside (or a taxi), then an onward bus to Coniston. For the return journey, we can point you to the right bus stop in central Keswick for connections to Penrith train station.
Check out from the Coniston Inn and be ready in your trail running gear for a 9:00am start — we set off directly from the hotel. Our support vehicle will be parked outside for you to load any luggage and additional items, which will be transferred ahead to our hotel in Keswick and waiting on your arrival later that afternoon.
We depart after breakfast at around 9:00am and are typically on the trail for 3–5 hours, covering between 15–27km depending on the day. This is not all-out running — we make regular stops to take in the views, grab photos and get the most from the landscape around us.
Two trail guides are with the group throughout, allowing everyone to move at their own comfortable pace. A picnic lunch is carried with us each day, and the support vehicle is stocked with water, snacks and nutrition at aid points along the route.
We run in mid-summer when the countryside is lush and green. Average temperatures sit around 20°C, though you should be prepared for anything from a warm spell of 25°C to a cooler 15°C — this is Britain, after all. The Lake District is also known for its rain and wind, and in the mountains it's not unusual to experience four seasons in a single day.
Please pack accordingly and dress in layers. We'll share a detailed kit list in advance to make sure you have everything you need whatever the conditions throw at us.
Throughout the adventure a support vehicle accompanies the group each day, serving as a pop-up aid station at intervals along the route. It's stocked with water, snacks, lunches and nutrition, and you can also use it to store any luggage or kit you don't want to carry.
If at any point someone decides they don't want to continue, they can hop in the vehicle and be transferred ahead to rejoin the group at a later point on the route — or simply be taken back to the hotel to rest and relax for the remainder of the day.