Introduction
For those who like their Peak District views with a bit more blur, Let’s Go Peak District are delighted to be working in collaboration with Peak Running to present to you some of the best running routes in the area.
Running is a fabulous way to explore the area – as well as the health and fitness benefits, you simply get to see far more of the landscape in the same space of time if you run instead of walk!
“Can’t I just run some of the walking routes?”, you may be asking yourself. Well, of course you can. However, our running routes are designed especially with running in mind, which means they consider how easy it is to actually run when the terrain gets challenging and the extra distance that it’s possible to cover when running. They also take into account things like ease of route-finding, without having to constantly stop running to do so.
Grading
We doubt it has escaped your notice, but the wonderful playground that is our National Park is quite lumpy in places and some of the terrain is very challenging, even for very experienced fell runners. To make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew, we grade all our runs to give you an idea of their difficulty and the level of fitness you’ll need. If you’re new to off-road running, we suggest that you try out some of the less challenging routes first, or join a guided run with a qualified leader. Also bear in mind that your pace is likely to be a lot slower than it may be on flat, firm paths or roads. Typically expect to add at least 50%.
Our grading system is summarised below. This gives you an idea of the difficulty of the routes, in terms of distance, gradients and underfoot conditions, as well as some advice on the minimum level of fitness required. However, it’s important to remember that underfoot conditions can be a lot more challenging in the winter months or other wet periods, and that conditions may change quickly in the hills.
The Routes
Hope Panorama (Grade 1, 3.9 miles (6.3km))
The Hope Panorama run provides a great little tour of the spectacular valley in which Hope village and Castleton nestle. As a Grade 1 run it is relatively flat, with only short/gentle hills to contend with, but the setting is fantastic. As you traverse the valley, you’ll have great views in every direction. The hills of Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill tower above you, as does Peveril Castle perched high above Castleton. And the dramatic valleys of Winnats Pass and Cave Dale, which are visible at times, give a real appreciation of the landscape.
Click HERE for full instructions of the Route and a downloadable GPX file.
Life on the Edges (Grade 2, 5.7 miles (9km))
This wonderful route explores some of the dramatic rocky edges that run along the eastern side of the Peak District. It’s a circular route from Curbar Gap which offers some great high level running with superb views across the valleys and villages below, as well as some classic moorland with a really remote feel. The route is on well-trodden paths that are generally easy to follow, although not all turns are well signed.
Click HERE for full instructions of the Route and a downloadable GPX file.
