Fastpacking (Grasmere/Keswick)

Do you dream of being able to run all day long, free of cares and responsibilities?  Or perhaps the idea of travelling light, exploring the landscape on your two feet, and making a linear journey, appeals to you?  If so, fastpacking is for you.

On this two day fastpacking trip we will explore the Lake District landscape between Grasmere and Keswick, beginning our journey by climbing through Grasmere Common on Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast route, recently designated a National Trail, and featuring some wonderfully runnable sections of recently installed slab paving. Descending into the Borrowdale Valley to the hamlet of Rosthwaite we will keep our eyes open for a coffee and cake stop, before completing our journey on the Cumbria Way as it wends its way along Derwentwater's beautiful shoreline. Our destination for the evening is the cosy Royal Oak pub in the village of Braithwaite.

In the evening, you are welcome to spend time as you please - perhaps exploring the village, strolling onto the local fells, relaxing in your room or joining others in the bar for social time.  A table will be booked in the pub for the group to eat together; this meal is not included in the trip cost.

Day two begins with a tasty breakfast at Jasper's Café (not included in trip cost), before we start our journey via Keswick town and a fly-by of the Moot Hall (starting point for contenders on the legendary Bob Graham Round) before we begin ascending the shoulder of Latrigg, and make our way into the stunning Glenderaterra valley - one of the best trail runs in the Lake District. Descending to Derwentfolds we may catch the ice cream van before we take the recently installed Railway Trail to Threlkeld, and thence onto the St John's in the Vale 'corpse road'. We will complete our route by crossing Dunmail Raise on the scenic 555 bus to return to Grasmere, with options to extend or shorten the run depending on the mood and energy levels of the group.

Feedback from previous attendees on our fastpacking trips:

'Excellent weekend as always, great company and a laugh make the miles tick by!'

'Really loved the weekend of running and great company. Thanks Jenny will look forward to some more in the future. Will definitely be back to the lakes it was fab.'

'Thank you all for a fabulous weekend and thanks again Jenny for your amazing organising, guiding, encouraging and inspiring. I'm looking forward to the next adventure already!'

'The pace of the whole weekend was perfect. On the trails, the pace made it easy to enjoy the surroundings, chat and cover the distance comfortably. The time in the evening, would have been plenty if anyone had wanted to go off and do something themselves or taken some time out, but I very much enjoyed the company of the group in the bar and over dinner.'

'I loved the fast-packing experience of a journey from one place to another, through the beautiful and varied landscape of the Lake District, with such a fantastic bunch of people. Your skills, guidance and enthusiasm are inspirational, Jenny. I look forward to more adventures with 'Into the Hills' and many more of my own.'

FAQs

What time will the trip start and end?

We’ll meet for coffee in Grasmere on day one at 9.30am for a 10am start, and we’ll aim to return by 5-6pm on day two to allow for onward travel.

Is this trip suitable for me?

We think that if you are running around 20-25 miles per week, and you could run (at an easy pace) for 2-3 hours two days in a row, you’ll be comfortable on the beginner trip.  Bear in mind that doesn’t mean you need to be doing that regularly in your running - just that you could do it if you tried!

How far will we run?  And how fast?

Our exact routes will depend on the weather and on our group, but we will aim to be moving for 6-7 hours each day, at a leisurely 3-5kph pace. We're likely to complete around 25k each day. This trip has a bit more ascent than our Ambleside-Coniston adventure, but we walk all the hills, and leave nobody behind. On Into the Hills events we always move at a comfortable pace for the slowest people in the group on the day. Please contact us if you're unsure - we're always happy to have a chat about fitness levels and prior experience to help you decide if a trip is for you.

What kit will I need?

We’ll send a kit list prior to the event, but there shouldn’t be much (if anything!) on it that you don’t already have.  The main piece of equipment you will need is a running backpack or vest large enough to hold a few toiletries, food for the days, and a change of overnight clothes.  If you’d like to get ahead on this, have a look at our fastpacking blog, which features Jenny’s packing list for a three day trip.

What is included?

The cost of the trip includes two days' guided running, one night's accommodation in Braithwaite (at the lovely Royal Oak), and breakfast on day two. Dinner at the pub and food for the time we are running are not included. The maximum group size is six people.

Who will be leading the trip?

This adventure will be guided by one of the fantastic Into the Hills team: Jenny, Rachel, Pip, Bryony and Heidi.

How do I book?

Simply add your ticket(s) below and click 'checkout' to book your place - you'll receive an email with your tickets, and we will be in touch before your course date with full details of the trip and a kit list.  If you have any questions before booking, have a look at our FAQs, or contact us if your question isn't answered . Our cancellation policy can be found on our FAQ page.

Practical notes

1. Please note that the routes described above are indicative rather than final; we will always take into account the weather forecast and the pace of the group when making route decisions.

2. Please contact us if you need to make payment in instalments; we can put a place on hold for you and arrange this.

3. Accommodation for this trip will be in shared twin rooms with someone of the same gender.  If you have a need or a preference for a private room, please contact us.  We can’t guarantee this, but we can hold a place for you while we discuss with our accommodation provider and find out what the additional cost to you would be.

4. Travel and accommodation arrangements before and after the trip are not included; you will need to arrange your own transport to and from Grasmere, and accommodation before and after the trip if required.  If driving, three-day parking permits are available for the Lake District National Park car parks in Grasmere.