Thirlmere loop from Swirls — Lake District National Park

Thirlmere reservoir fills the long valley west of the Helvellyn massif in the central Lake District. Typically viewed from the A591 as you drive north or south, it’s an impressive lake that surprisingly doesn’t get a lot of footfall. A full loop of the reservoir is 10.3 miles (16.6 km), but with only 853 ft (260 m) of ascent it’s a great way to enjoy running in this spectacular setting without the gradients involved in the higher fells. As you run, you’ll cross the controversial dam which flooded the valley in the 1800s to provide drinking water for Manchester.
Running the Thirlmere loop anticlockwise means you’ll start out along the well-maintained north-eastern shore path, crossing the dam and then following the quiet lakeside road along the western shore. You can follow this road for its full length, but we’ve added in some interesting detours, allowing you to explore the lakeshore and woodland – we’d recommend trail shoes for this section. At the southern end the route crosses the A591 and follows gravel trails through the woods above the lake and below Helvellyn. The going is easy underfoot allowing plentiful opportunities for taking in the far-reaching views.
The 555 bus service links Kendal and Keswick, stopping on the A591 to the east of Thirlmere. Or, if you’re driving, the Swirls car park off the A591 is the best start point for this Tour.
Toilets can be found at the Swirls car park and, over the summer months, there may be an ice-cream van or two on the route but it’s well worth taking food, water and a jacket with you. Most runners take around two hours to complete the loop.
For post-run refreshments head north to Low Bridge End Farm tea rooms in St. John in the Vale or south to Grasmere. There’s a wealth of shops, cafes and accommodation in Grasmere, including the famous gingerbread shop. Otherwise, there are lots of options in Keswick to the north and Ambleside to the south.