WRITTEN BY: TRM editor KATE DZIENIS
PHOTO: SAM HILL

GLORIOUS, AND EVER SO BEAUTIFUL, LDGT IN THE UK

If there’s ever a Dream Run recommendation to put on your wish list, it’s the freakingly beautiful Lake District Grand Tour (LDGT) in the UK. Lake District in itself is England’s largest national park and now a World Heritage Site, so running through here means you’re in the presence of incredible natural history.

Here in this stunning photograph by Sam Hill, runner George Foster runs through the northern fells of the English Lake District above Crummock Water. Fell running often involves off-trail running across heather, tussock, bog, grass and loose rock, and although not very big in this particular area (about 900m above sea level) the mountains can be technical and demanding – no run, or foot step, is ever the same.

If you fancy yourself a trip to the land of the Angles, do it so that you can combine the LDGT with your holiday, so pack your running shoes, your poles and be prepared to be a bit sleep deprived because if you’re someone who’s up for a challenge of sheer brut and strength of both the mental and physical kind, then this is the event to register for.

It’s a 400km ultra trail race that will give you about 17,000m+ elevation gain plus a decent 30 mountain passes, links to all 13 valleys, a visit to 10 out of the 16 lakes and only 42km of tarmac.

Let’s just say that the LDGT is not a flat race!

In 2023, if you’re not up for a 400km, race directors will have available a 55km race in the Northern Fells of Skiddaw Forest, but in 2024 there are plans to see the first ever editions of a 170km in the Eastern Fells around Ullswater and Haweswater, and a 110km in the Western Fells around Wasdale, Ennerdale, Crummock Water and Buttermere.

The LDGT 400 is an unforgiving race for the ill-prepared, but don’t let that turn you off.

For more information visit ldgt.co.uk

THIS DREAM RUN STORY AND ALL ITS ACCOMPANYING STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY IS FEATURED IN TRAIL RUN MAG #45 (NOV/DEC 2022).