you’re unsure of your navigation or mountain running skills, consider being led by a qualified mountain professional, who can teach you mountain running techniques and skills, runners’ navigation skills, and give you tips on how to select a runner’s line on a mountain. In the Lake District, contact Icicle (www.icicle-mountaineering.ltd.uk/trailrunning.html) for guided trail and fell running coaching. Another alternative is to gain experience running with others in a club, such as Ambleside AC (www.amblesideac.org.uk), with whom you can enjoy group training runs on weekday evenings or at the weekends. For more information see Appendix A.
Using this guide
The routes in this guidebook have been selected to offer a wide variety of running styles, in different regions of the Lake District. For simplicity the national park has been split into four areas, which roughly correspond to the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps; south-east, south-west, north-west and north-east.
At the start of each route description is an information box giving the key facts about the route, including the start and end point, distance covered, ascent and descent involved, level of difficulty, the length of time it’s likely to take, highest altitude reached, details of relevant maps, and transport info. Most of these routes can be run throughout the year, but you must always be aware of conditions such as deep snow, ice, heavy rain and storms, which might make the route impracticable. In the winter months, it’s not uncommon to see as many skiers as runners in the fells, so route choice must be flexible to allow for the conditions. Some of the open fell running lines, are the preference and interpretation of the author, and your line selection may well vary depending on the conditions.
Distance
In trail and fell running, the total distance is not always the best measure of a route – although it’s provided in this book as a means of helping you gauge your performance, or to select a suitable run. Distances are given in metric, to fit with maps and electronic devices from GPS units to watches, as well as in imperial. In fact the distance is less important to a mountain runner than the altitude gain or technical grade of the route.
Ascent/descent
The cumulative total ascent and descent is provided for each route. On several routes an opt-out point to truncate a route is mentioned, so you can elect whether to continue or descend. All altitudes are quoted in metres in order to tally with maps and altimeters.
Grades of route
Also included is the grading of the run, which has been categorised into the following levels, so that you may easily select a route grade that suits your aspirations for the day. The types of route have been further broken down into three types of running, so you can select a suitable run for the day.
Trail running
These runs follow paths that are marked on OS maps, and often include sections of long-distance trails such as the Coast to Coast walk and the Cumbria Way. These trails vary from single-track, where runners have to run in single file, to wider trails or bridleways where you can run alongside each other. On the trails, there is often a good level of signage, so navigation is rarely an issue. The trails help link together the villages and valleys, and were often historic trade and defence routes.
Fell running
This style of running originated in the Lake District mountains and fells. It is where you often avoid trails and paths to take more direct lines across country, to speed your progress. Fell running requires a good ability on broken mountain terrain, as well as the ability to choose a safe and fast line to ascend or descend a mountain. Due to the lack of time spent on paths, a good level of mountain awareness and solid navigation is required.
Skyrunning
These styles of trail are generally located on higher, steeper terrain, where there are few if any signposts, and the ground underfoot is rougher. You will encounter more exposure and drop-offs, where a greater level of mountain skills and good footwork are essential. Often you will reach a mountain summit on this type of route, and some easy scrambling may be required. Some previous experience of scrambling is essential before considering any of these routes.
Fell running over Swinescar Pike, with the Langdale Pikes behind
| Level | Trail running | Fell running | Skyrunning |
| 1 | Well-marked wider trails, such as along bridleways, with little steeper ground | n/a | n/a |
| 2 | Well established trails, with some small areas of rough ground, well signposted | Off-track between distinct identifiable points, non-technical ground underfoot | n/a |
| 3 | Single-track trails, with some steeper ground and rougher underfoot, well signposted | Steeper sections, and rougher underfoot, where care is needed to avoid slipping | Easier scrambling, or small sections using hands too, or easy snow patches |
| 4 | Single-trail path, and less marked mountain terrain including scree and boulders | Venturing onto steeper ground, where hands might be used on steep pitches | Exposed with scrambling and mountain skills needed, or steeper snow patches |
| 5 | Very indistinct path over broken mountain terrain that is hard to run over | Very steep or slippery slopes where route choice and navigation is essential | Very aerial route, with lots of exposure and significant amount of broken terrain |
Timings
The average running time has been given for each route, as this will provide a meaningful gauge for most readers. The intention is that the times will suit the majority, but as you progress through the itineraries in this guidebook you’ll quickly decide whether you need to adapt the timings to your own speed. A calculation that works well for shorter runs is 8km/h plus 1hr per 1000m ascended.
GPX files
GPX files for all the routes in this book are available as free downloads from www.cicerone.co.uk/880/GPX, for smartphone or GPS device. Remember to take spare batteries for your GPS unit, especially in cold or wet conditions, and always carry a paper map and compass as a backup.
Abbreviations and waypoints
Within the route descriptions, ‘left’ and ‘right’ have been abbreviated to L and R, with LH and RH for ‘left-hand’ and ‘right-hand’, and ‘straight ahead’ to SA. Similarly, the four points of the compass have been abbreviated to N, S, E and W. Numbered waypoints on the map relate to the numbered sections of route description. Furthermore, where a named feature also appears on the map, it is shown in bold in the route description to help you keep track of where you are along the way and aid navigation.
SOUTH-EAST LAKES
On Loughrigg Fell, Ambleside (Route 1)
ROUTE
