Bob
Graham self-guided 2025
Self-guided 3
day recce of the full BGR route
and 42 summits  |
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Course
overview
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It
was back in 1932 that a Keswick Hotelier
called Bob Graham first ran this route,
and it's the classic circuit of 42 of
the highest Lake District peaks, in
a loop of 66 miles (106km), with 26,900
feet (8,200m) of ascent. To complete
the circuit in one continuous push is
the holy grail for fell runners. This
page details our self-guided itinerary,
but if you'd prefer the fully guided
option, click
here. |
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This
package is a self-guided circuit, where
we take care of all the logistics, and
accommodation bookings. There is a night
in a B&B booked at each end of the
run, as well as for two nights during
the challenge in local hostels / bunkhouses
on a half board basis. We also supply
a waterproof map and route cards, as
well as a detailed GPX (GPS) file to
assist your navigation. |
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The
route is a serious challenge for any
runner, but as this package is self-guided,
you can take it at your own pace, though
we recommend you should have run mountain
marathons previously, and whilst the
speed is not especially important, a
strong and determined character is important.
The days are all long, notably the first
and last in terms of distance, and the
middle day for the number of peaks ascended. |
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The
map and route altitude profiles below
show you the route, and how the days
are split. We've made each of the days
normally similar length in terms of
hours. Some of the route is following
established paths, though much of it
is navigating across open fellside to
take the quickest route. |
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Dates: This trip can only be organised during British Summer time between May and September, when the hours of daylight are at their longest, and the fells will hopefully be at their driest, with no snow or ice underfoot. Our itinerary can start on any day that you choose, so pick a date and get in tough with us by e-mail. We upload a private self-guided trip onto our booking system, and then you can book and pay securely online. You receive an immediate e-confirmation and kit list. You receive your trip detailed itinerary, map, and route notes in Windermere on your briefing. |
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| Pre-requisite experience |
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Distances and elevations
Over 3 days this averages 22 miles (35km), with 9,000ft (2850m), per day on 3 days back-to-back running.
Over 5 days this averages
13 miles (21km), with 5,400ft (1650m), per day on 5 days back-to-back running. |
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What this equates to
The 3 day schedule is roughly 1 mountain marathon with 2 ascents of Ben Nevis, every day, 3 in a row.
The 5 day schedule is a half mountain marathon
with 2 ascents of Blencathra, every day, 5 in a row. |
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Dealing with the terrain
To accept a booking, we expect everyone to declare that they have run a mountain running event of similar distance to the daily total, or ideally a multi-day running event, on similar fell (not trail) running terrain. |
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Mountain skills
The
weather in the fells of the Lake District can reduce visibility to just a few metres. At least one person in a group should be competent navigating in these conditions or in the dark, without electronic aids. |
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First Aid ability
You must be proficient in 1st aid, and carry sufficient kit to effect it autonomously. Under no circumstances are mountain rescue teams there for unecessary call outs, that you should be able to deal with yourself. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
On
this self-guided itinerary, the accommodation for
each night is booked ahead by us to guarantee availability,
so when you arrive at each point, there is a booking
in your name. There is some flexibility in the standard
of accommodation that you may require, so let us
know your preperences at the time of booking. The
trip price is for the logistics (bookings, briefing,
& bag storage), and provision of map, route
cards, and GPX (GPS) file.
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Arrive
& briefing
Arrive in Windermere to meet
one of our running guide team, who will brief
you on the route, latest conditions, and weather
forecasts. They will provide you with your
waterproof map and route cards. The GPX (GPS)
files are usually supplied by e-mail the week
before travel. In the briefing you are informed
of all the logistics notes, such as exact
accommodation bookings for during the run.
You spend the night in a local B&B (if
required) either in Windermere, or in Keswick,
to allow you an earlier start the next day. |
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Run
day 1 - Keswick to Dunmail
Breakfast in your B&B,
and then drop off bags at office (if staying
in Windermere), then travel to Keswick and
its Moot Hall. Start running from in front
of Moot Hall, and take in the 3 northern fells,
before the road crossing at Threlkeld, and
moving south over the whole spine of the Helvellyn
range, until you reach Fairfield where you
veer west over Seat Sandal and down to Dunmail
Raise. Here you reach the road you drove on
up to Keswick earlier in the day, and stay
in a local hostel on a half board basis. |
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Run
day 2 - Dunmail
to Wasdale
Set off up the seemingly vertical
Steel Fell, and run your way westwards across
into the Langdale Fells, then up into the
Scafell group. This section of the route is
peppered with high summits, and it's hard
to keep the pace steady. The trickiest technical
section is crossing from Scafell Pike across
to Scafell, before the long steep descent
to Wasdale head. Many an actual BGR 24 hour
attempt ends here, due to time lost over the
highest peaks, hence why this day is shorter
distance. Night in local hostel half board. |
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Run
day 3 - Wasdale
to Keswick
The final section of the route
starts with a loop off over the Pillar group
of fells, before curving around to the Gable
group, and then across the road at the Honister
pass, before you enter the last group of mountains
over Dale Head, before the final peak of Robinson
and the long descent and run out along the
Newlands valley to the shores of Derwent water
and finally the finish in front of Moot Hall
at Keswick. After a celebratory pint, collect
your bags from our office in Windermere, and
spend the night in a B&B (if required). |
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Departure
After breakfast in your B&B,
you can take time to take in your achievements
over the past three days. Many people have
quite an easy day to rest the legs, and spend
a few hours looking around shops, and eating
in local pubs and cafes, before travelling
home.
ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries.
Mountain adventures are weather and conditions
dependant, so occasionally we are forced to
alter the plans. Please use this outline itinerary
as a guide to the types of route / activity
that you will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course |
3
full days running, self-guided
5 days holiday, 4 nights accommodation |
£295 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Inclusions:
1) Qualified guide for briefing, 2) Lake District
course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment
discount voucher for our UK shop, 5) Booking
of up to 4 nights B&B / half-board accommodation
in your name (note cost of accommodation is
not included), 6) A new waterproof map of
the BGR, for you to keep after you have finished,
7) Route information cards, 8) Emergency procedure
and mountain rescue card, in case of an incident,
9) Free baggage storage in Windermere, for
the days you are out running, 10) 24 hour
in-resort emergency contact and queries support
throughout. |
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| Exclusions: 1)
Travel to & from Windermere, 2) Equipment
hire such as poles or waterproofs, 3) Bar
/ food bills & tips, laundry, telephone
calls, 4) Accommodation as requested, 5) Travel
to and from start of the run route from Windermere. |
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Book early for 2025...
Bookings for 2024 are now closed. Alpine mountain hut spaces are very limited.
2025 treks - book before the 01/12/2024, to guarantee trip availability & these prices. |
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Current
course availability
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
meeting point for these courses is at our office in Windermere
in the Lake District National Park. There is easy access
by car, and the train station is just 150m from the office
door. From here there are a huge variety of trails to
run on and mountain terrain to opt for, so we can cater
for all weather and conditions. We genuinely believe that
the Lake District is second to none with the quality and
quantity of amazing fell and trail running opportunities.
The UK hills are famed for often providing four seasons
in one day, and that is what makes the fell running such
a unique and rewarding challenge. Don't forget that it
helps to have a great selection of pubs in the Lake Dictrict
to enjoy a beer and natter in after the run! |
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| Free
resources |
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FREE
Podcast
Getting into trail running...
Trail
running is a fastgrowing sport, and
this podcast explains what it involves,
how to get into it, and also goes through
all of the equipment that is required. |
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FREE
Resource - Fell &
Trail running kit list...
If you are planning on attending one
of our trail running courses, you can
see a kit check list of the clothing
and equipment that we recommend you
take. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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| Why
choose our trips? |
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The
photo above sums it up. All of these finisher jackets
of the UTMB race series belong to our head running
leader. We genuinely think that there is no other
operator out there who is more credible! |
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We
don't offer talks from 'celebrity' runners, or go
in for the chardonnay in a hot tub 'lifestyle',
or quasi-scientific courses. Ours are run by people
who do it, not talk the talk. |
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The
effect on our prices is that we can offer you great
value. We genuinely believe that you'll spend more
time actually running and in the mountains on our
courses, than with anyone else. |
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Many
of those leading you will be a finisher of one of
the world's iconic trail races, such as the Ultra
Trail du Mont Blanc, Tor du Geants or Leadville
or WS100. |
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| Essential reading and tips |
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This guidebook has 40 routes in the Lake District, and with free GPX (GPS) files to help navigation. Lots of top tips, and run lengths from an hour or two, right up to 30 mile race routes. Signed copy. BUY NOW |
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| This book was written by award-winning author Kingsley Jones, who is also one of our lead UIMLA running guide team. |
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