Blog
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A journey of Raw North East Grit : Fatfield Loop
North East England · River Wear Sunderland & Fatfield Loop 22 miles of raw North East grit — from the flooded clay pits of East Boldon to the Lambton Estate and back through the heart of Wearside. Distance 22miles Ascent 340m High Point 45m Low Point 4m Terrain Riverside Trail & Urban Start Tilesheds LNR,…
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A route of extraordinary contrasts: Hawthorn Dene and Blast Beach
Run and Trail · County Durham · Seaham Hawthorn Dene & Blast Beach A complete mile-by-mile route guide for runners and walkers Distance 9.2kilometers 5.7miles Total Ascent 199m 653ft Start / Finish Nose Point Carpark (What3Words: ///chef.ripe.robot) What to Expect: A route of extraordinary contrasts. You leave Seaham’s former industrial heartland, travel south along some…
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One of Englands Greatest Circulars: Derwentwater & Catbells
Run and Trail · Lake District · Keswick Derwentwater & Catbells A complete mile-by-mile route guide for runners and walkers Distance 17 kilometers 10.66 miles Total Ascent 514 m 1,687 ft Summit 447m 1,467ft Start / Finish Keswick, Moot Hall Start Elevation 80m 263ft The route is circular, starting and finishing in the heart of…
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The Land of Oak & Iron: A Derwenthaugh & Gibside Trail
Welcome to one of the most historically rich and geographically diverse trail runs in the North East of England. This 12-mile loop is more than just a run; it is a journey through the “Land of Oak & Iron,” a landscape shaped by three centuries of heavy industry, aristocratic ambition, and the resilient beauty of…
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A journey through history: The Kingdom of Northumbria Ultra
An early start on a bright, cold March morning. 6:45am and the journey begins towards, Druridge Bay where the journey ends later that day. It’s the first ultra of the year, 55km along the magestic, history rich Northumberland Coastline. Starting at the regal heights of Bamburgh Castle and tracking south to the wild dunes of…
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Ambleside, Rydal Water and the Coffin Trail
There are routes in the Lake District that earn their reputation through raw altitude and brutal effort. The Ambleside–Rydal Loop is a more nuanced beast. It threads together road, estate trail, ancient moorland path, and riverside woodland to create a circuit that feels far more varied than its modest numbers suggest. It’s a route with…
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Lake Trails, challenges, people and collaboration
At the end of the summer a few years ago, I spent my time supporting two open water swim events in the beautiful setting of the English Lake District. Or that was the plan! Below you can see a beautiful, calm and tranquil Ullswater, the night before. In the role of safety Kayaker and open…