Top 10 Running Routes in Norwich

A new challenge from the INOV8 Forge Store in Staveley, taking in eight Wainwrights and exploring the hidden gem that is the Longsleddale Valley.

Distance: 40km approx

Ascent: 1530m approx

Wainwrights ticked off: Shipman Knotts, Kentmere Pike, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Branstree, Selside Pike, Tarn Crag, Grey Crag. 

Reward for completion: complete the run using the Skamper app and you can call in to the INOV8 Forge Store to claim your woven badge as a memento. 

Route

Starting and finishing at Staveley Mill Yard, this round is a challenging route for any runner. Offering a demanding but scenic journey through a lesser visited part of the Lake District, it has been specifically designed to take in no less than eight Wainwright summits in the rough shape of an ‘8’ for INOV8!  This does require a couple of short out and back sections to Mardale Ill Bell and Selside Pike, but they are scenic summits and it’s a small price to pay to take the total of Wainwrights to eight!  It starts gently, with a warm up through the valley, then the ascending begins and you tackle (in order) Shipman Knotts (587m), Kentmere Pike (730m), Mardale Ill Bell (760m), Harter Fell (649m), Branstree (713m), Selside Pike (655m), Tarn Crag (551m) and Grey Crag (638m) before returning via Sadgill and Birk Rigg. 

The route has been designed to follow clockwise and the summits must be followed in the above order. All summits must be visited for a valid completion.

Fly over of the run

Using The Skamper App

To use the Skamper app to navigate or just to record your completion, download it (skamper - Android Apps on Google Play or Skamper: Run Trails & Routes on the App Store (apple.com)), enter registration information, then search for ‘INOV8 Round’. If you use a Garmin watch for navigation you can download the route to your watch using the button on the screen, or you can download the route to the app to ensure you’ll have access to the map even when out of mobile reception (which you will be). Once you reach the start point at the Mill Yard simply press ‘start’ on the route screen when it lights up blue, then the app will track you round the route and automatically record your completion (as long as you reach all the mandatory numbered checkpoints). You can use the app for navigation or just leave it in your backpack. If you use your Garmin to download and record your run, you can upload it using the Garmin button after your run. If you don’t use the app to record your run but you have a GPX record of it, you can upload it to the app using the ‘+’ button in the top right hand corner. Your run will need to be uploaded to the app in some way to appear on the leaderboard. For any queries about using the app contact info@skamper.com.

Safety

This course has several sections above 500m and the route is demanding, with rough sections. Weather conditions can change at short notice, so please plan accordingly and take waterproofs and enough warm kit (eg layers, gloves, hat) to keep you safe in the event of an injury which could lead to you being slower than anticipated. We strongly urge you to take a head torch with you, even if you are confident of a daylight completion, just in case. If you take on this round, you do so at your own risk. 

When running a longer course of this nature, we recommend starting with a full battery on your phone (and watch, if using for navigation), as well as a back-up battery pack. We also recommend taking a paper map and compass in case of phone/watch failure or thick clag requiring closer navigation than the margin of error with digital devices. If you’re in need of any last minute kit the INOV8 store sells everything from shoes and kit to sports nutrition and head torches. 

Parking and Public Transport

One of the founding principles of the Skamper app is to reduce the amount of car travel runners do to attend races and weekly runs by allowing them to find (and race, if they want to) routes local to them. Obviously we are encouraging you to visit Staveley in order to take on this round, but it does have some good public transport links. The 555 bus route goes from Lancaster to Keswick, calling at Kendal and Windermere (both have train stations), as well as Ambleside and Grasmere. The bus is just £2 for any journey. There is also a train line between Kendal and Windermere, which calls at Staveley. Please consider if you really need to drive to Staveley, but if you do there is a car park at the Mill Yard (likely cost around £10). 

Facilities and Refreshments

There are toilet facilities in the centre of Staveley village. There are several excellent cafes for pre and post-run refreshments, including Wilfs, More and Mr Duffins. There is also an excellent pub, the Eagle and Child, which serves food.

Completions

Skamper