Fell Running in Cumbria – The Real Sport Behind The Cairn
Fell running is a real sport, and a huge one in parts of Cumbria: runners race up and down steep, often pathless fells in the Lake District. It's the world at the heart of The Cairn, book 3 in the Cumbria Crime series I write with Joel Hames, which opens at a fictional fell race starting from Bowness Knot.
The plot for The Cairn was inspired by a sport which doesn't exist in any of the other locations I write about but is huge in parts of Cumbria: fell running.
What is fell running?
This ancient and demanding sport is steeped in tradition, testing runners' endurance and mental toughness as they navigate wild landscapes. In essence it's a simple, community-driven pursuit where runners race up and down steep, pathless hills, battling unpredictable weather and challenging terrain with little more than their own grit.
But don't let that fool you into thinking anything about fell running is easy.
How old is fell running?
Fell running has roots stretching back to the 11th century, a time when I thought people were too busy just surviving to indulge in a sport as arduous (and bonkers?) as running across hills and mountains for fun. Traditionally, it was a test of endurance and speed, vital skills for the shepherds who navigated the hills for work. The first recorded race was in 1852 in Grasmere, part of a village festival.
Fell running has grown steadily since then and is now an organised sport, with local clubs and regular races. But it's still wonderfully simple: races are organised by small clubs and there are no big prizes, just a trophy or a post-race pie. What attracts people is the purity of the challenge and the joy of competing in one of the most beautiful regions in the UK.
Why is the Lake District perfect for fell running?
Cumbria's Lake District, with its craggy peaks and rolling hills, offers the ideal setting for fell running, and famous peaks like Scafell Pike and Helvellyn feature in many races. Runners face a real challenge: there are often no paths, forcing them to choose their own routes and use their knowledge of the hills and their navigational skills to find the quickest way.
Conditions can shift quickly, with rain, fog or strong winds turning a peaceful run into a test of survival. Runners need to carry basic equipment and be prepared for sudden weather changes. And for many, this is what sets fell running apart. It's not just about speed but also about understanding the land and coping with whatever it throws at you.
Where is the fell race in The Cairn?
The Cairn opens at a fictional fell run, one Joel and I spent time investigating before writing the book. Joel was even tempted to have a go at fell running himself.
(I was not.)
The route for the Great Borne Fell Run, which is where the crime at the start of The Cairn takes place, starts at Bowness Knot, a grassy area that serves as the main kick-off point (and car park). From here, runners head towards the challenging hills that define the course, including notable peaks like Red Pike and Starling Dodd.
As they climb, they're treated to stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including the lakes of Crummock Water and Buttermere, nestled within the rugged terrain of the Lake District. The route weaves along rocky paths, with climbs offering breathtaking panoramas of valleys and peaks. It's genuinely beautiful. Or it would be, if you weren't running up the side of a fell.
The descent would be as thrilling as the ascent, taking runners past granite and gorse: natural beauty mixed with the adrenaline of the race.
Researching the route
I have to give Joel credit for this route. He spent time visiting the location and working out a suitable course for a fell run, as well as spectating at real runs to find out first-hand how they were run and what the experience was like.
Happily, we were able to find a beauty spot without an existing run, and one close to some of the other locations in the Cumbria Crime series.
But for poor Laurence Eversholt, the route ends too soon. He doesn't finish the race, something that isn't like him. Laurence is an experienced runner and someone the organisers expect to make good time.
So what's happened to him?
Read more
New to the series? Start with The Harbour, or get the prequel novella The Castle free.
