RUNNING THE LAKE DISTRICT
NEW DATE: 06 - 09 AUGUST 2025
PRICE:
£695 PP
BOOK WITH JUST 10% DEPOSIT + PAY OFF IN SIX INSTALMENTS
SINGLE ROOM UPGRADE: £195 PER PERSON
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 Coniston Inn & the Skiddaw Hotel
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
SHARE THIS TRIP
ITINERARY
+ 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
Would you like to talk to a Pure Trails team member to learn more about this trip?
OUR 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.
IMPORTANT NOTES
+ ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE INFORMATION
If you are driving to the Lake District you can leave your car in the hotel car park for the duration of the trip.
Once the trip wraps up on the Saturday we will return you to the Coniston Inn to reunite with your car.
If you are taking public transport our suggestion would be to take a train to Windermere and connect with the hourly bus to Ambleside (or take a taxi). You can then connect with an onward bus to Coniston.
For your return journey, we can show you to the right bus stop for onward journeys to train stations in the North Lakes (Penrith) which depart from central Keswick.
+ WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRAIL?
Check-out from the Coniston Inn and be ready in your trail running gear for a 09 am start. We start directly from the hotel.
Our support vehicle will be parked at the hotel for you to load your luggage and other items you need for the rest of the trip.
Your baggage will be transferred to our hotel in Keswick awaiting our arrival later in the afternoon.
+ A TYPICAL DAY
A typical day on the experience will see us depart our tent camp after breakfast around 09:00 am, and maybe earlier depending on how hot the weather will be.
On average we will be on the trail between 3-5 hours a day covering mileage ranging between 10-20km. This is not all outrunning, we’ll be making sure we stop to soak up the views, take pictures and ensure we are getting the most out of this remarkable place.
We’ll also have two trail guides with the group at all times which gives a greater ratio of guides to runners and the ability for you to run at your own comfortable pace.
We will also be carrying a picnic lunch with us each day we are on the trail. Our trail finishes each day at our next tent camp where our luggage will follow closely behind.
+ WHAT IS THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE?
We hope for summer sunshine, but there is always the chance of rain in the Lake District. Knowing what the weather is like in the UK it's always best to cater for all occasions and please dress appropriately.
We run the trails in mid-summer when the countryside is lush and green. We can expect daily temperatures to sit on an average of 20 degrees C, however, being in Britain there is every chance of a hot spell (25 degrees C) or a colder spell (15+ degrees C).
This also being the Lake District you should prepare for the high chance of rain and wind, as well as bright sunshine. In the mountains, it is not unusual to experience four seasons in one day.
+ WHAT DOES FULLY SUPPORTED MEAN?
Throughout the adventure, we will have a support vehicle with us each day. The vehicle will also be our 'pop-up' aid station at intervals along the route, providing us with water, snacks, lunches and nutrition. You are also available to store any luggage that you wish to have carried for you.
Should anyone decide they do not want to continue you can hop in the vehicle and be transferred to a spot further along the route to rejoin the group, or if you've simply had enough for the day then we can transfer you back to the hotel to relax.
NEWS FROM BASECAMP
We look at the top five places in the world to trail run