Bob
Graham Round Recce 2024
Join a 3 or 5
day guided recce of the full
BGR route & 42 summits  |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Course
overview
|
 |
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. We offer either a
guided three or five day circuit, where
you stay the nights during the challenge
in local hostels / bunkhouses on a half
board basis. This
page details our guided itinerary,
but if you'd prefera self-guided
option, click
here. |
|
The
route is a serious challenge for any
runner, and so we would vet applicants
carefully. 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. |
|
We
aim to guide this route at a comfortable
and sustainable pace, often walking
the ups, jogging the flats, and running
the downs. Our approach is to set a
pace that is enjoyable, and allows you
to take in the amazing scenery, not
feel like it is a special forces selection! |
|
Obviously
the weather will play its part, but
you will be led by a local leader who
knows the mountains very well. In event
of poor weather, it may not be safe
to take in all 42 summits, but we will
make every effort to help make the BGR
route happen for you. |
|
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. |
|
Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Lake District Course
Information Booklet, course specific
kit list and invoice. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Brief
Course Itinerary
The
itinerary can be flexed on any day to take account
of weather conditions, to make every effort to ensure
that you complete the full Bob Graham Round. The
itinerary below is to provide you with a taster
of what you could achieve, and isn't fixed in stone,
but is our ideal day splits for the route.
|
3
day itinerary
Day 1 - Keswick to Dunmail
Meet in the Icicle office at
08:00, and get a short equipment, weather
and safety briefing, before setting off to
drive up to Keswick. 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.
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.
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, you
drive back down to Windermere to collect any
luggage, and are free to depart.
|
|
Which
option?
The classic BGR is split into
five legs. Leg three is the longest day, as
there is no option of any accommodation in
this central section of the route. The three
day option is very tough, covering roughly
marathon distance every day on largely untracked
fell terrain. Before booking, you should get
in touch to discuss which option would suit
your skills set best. The three day option
is for experienced fell runners only. |
|
5
day itinerary
Day
1 - Keswick to Threlkeld
Meet in the Icicle office at
08:00, and get a short equipment, weather
and safety briefing, before setting off to
drive up to Keswick. Start running from in
front of Moot Hall, and take in the 3 northern
fells, before descending Halls Fell or the
Paracute route to Threlkeld, where you stay
for the first night of your challenge.
Day 2 - Threlkeld to Dunmail
Cross
the road, and ascend Clough Head, before 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.
Day 3 - 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.
Day
4 - Wasdale
to Honister
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 descending to reach the road
at the Honister pass. Stay the night nearby.
Day
5 - Honister to Keswick
Ascend from the pass to 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, you drive back down to Windermere to
collect any luggage, and are free to depart. |
|
|
| 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. |
|
 |
|
| Course
Prices |
|
3
day course |
3
full days running guiding, 1:6 max ratio
3 days holiday in total, e.g. Mon -
Wed |
£1199 |
5
day course |
5 full days running guiding, 1:6 max ratio
5 days holiday in total, e.g. Mon -
Fri
|
£1699 |
|
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
|
 |
|
|
| Inclusions:
1) Qualified guide for the days running, 2)
Lake District course hosts for logistics &
briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet,
4) Equipment discount voucher for our UK shop,
5) Nights half board in hostel / bunkhouse
on the nights during the challenge (2 nights
on the 3 day trip, or 4 nights on the 5 day
trip), 6) Provision of group safety equipment
by the leader, 7) Bag drop at Dunmail Raise
leg. |
|
| Exclusions: 1)
Travel to & from the national park for
the weekend, 2) Equipment hire such as poles
or waterproofs, 3) Bar / food bills &
tips, laundry, telephone calls, 4) Accommodation. |
|
| Notes:
The scheduled course requires a minimum number
of 4 people for the advertised prices (see box at page top for a bespoke 1:1 guided Bob Graham), and there are a maximum of 6
people per guide. Do not book any travel arrangements
or accommodation, until we confirm that minimum
numbers have been met. If you would like a
private trip on a date of your choice, please
get in contact to pick a date. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Current
course availability
|
|
|
| Location
data for this trip |
|
|
 |
|
| 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! |
|
 |
|
| Free
resources |
|
|
 |
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Suggested
reading and kit |
|
|
|
|
| Why
choose our trips? |
|
|
 |
|
|
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! |
|
There
are several other operators who also offer trail
running trips, and we aren't afraid to advertise
that fact. Please look at their itineraries to see
how they differ from ours. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
Many
of our leaders are finishers of one of the world's
iconic trail races, such as the Ultra Trail du Mont
Blanc, Tor du Geants or WS100. |
|
|
| Essential reading and tips |
|
|
 |
|
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 copies available. |
|
| This book was written by award-winning author Kingsley Jones, who is also one of our lead UIMLA running guide team. |
|
|
