11k Run South Lakeland: Scenic Journey to Gurnal Dubs

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 11.1km loop through South Lakeland offers a quintessential Lake District fell running experience, balancing accessible lanes with rugged upland trails. Starting with a gentle 2km warm-up, the route quickly tests your lungs with a steep, punchy climb up to Gurnal Dubs. This stunning upland tarn serves as a perfect halfway reward, though the climbing continues until you hit the 7km peak. Expect a mix of roughly 30% paved lanes and 70% grassy moorland; the descent is particularly fast and flowing, leading you back toward the river for a flat, scenic finish. With 313m of ascent, it’s a moderately challenging "SL" (Short/Large ascent) course that requires decent footwear for the potentially damp fell sections.

Gurnal Dubs is one of the most beloved "secret" spots in the South Lakes, a man-made tarn created in the 19th century by damming three smaller pools. It sits nestled between Potter Fell and Uggeshall Fell, offering a sense of wild isolation despite its proximity to the village of Staveley. Runners will pass through a landscape shaped by centuries of sheep farming and slate quarrying, with the surrounding dry stone walls providing a dramatic silhouette against the Lakeland fells. This area is famously part of the territory that inspired many local fell running legends, offering a more tranquil, off-the-beaten-path alternative to the busier tourist hubs in nearby Windermere.