Running in County Durham is one of the best ways to explore more of this region. To help you discover the most beautiful places to run, we’ve reviewed our full …

Last updated: September 26, 2025

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1. Gibside Estate loop

8.51km

01:05

190m

Intermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

5.0

(1)

runners

2. Hamsterley Forest Loop

8.21km

00:59

190m

Intermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

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3. Hamsterley Forest Loop

8.05km

00:57

170m

Intermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

5.0

(5)

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4. Aykley Heads Nature Reserve & the River Wear loop from Durham

5.58km

00:34

60m

Intermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

2.5

(2)

runners

5. Grassholme Reservoir and Kirkcarrion loop from Middleton in Teesdale — North Pennines

14.3km

01:43

270m

Intermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

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4.0

(1)

runners

6. Cow Green & Cauldron Snout — North Pennines

14.7km

01:36

160m

Expert run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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7. Harter Fell and Lune Moor loop from Middleton in Teeside — North Pennines

15.6km

01:52

330m

Expert run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

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8. Five Pikes and the Elephant Trees loop from Frosterley — North Pennines

18.9km

02:13

330m

Expert run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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9. Hisehope & Smiddy Shaw reservoirs loop — North Pennines

7.64km

00:51

70m

Intermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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10. Three Waterfalls loop from Middlestone in Teesdale — North Pennines

19.7km

02:10

210m

Expert run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Most popular routes in County Durham

Hiking in County Durham

Easy hikes in County Durham

Cycling in County Durham

Road Cycling Routes in County Durham

MTB Trails in County Durham

Waterfall hikes in County Durham

Gravel biking in County Durham

Most popular attractions in County Durham

Places to see

Lakes

Castles

Waterfalls

Mountain Peaks

Canyons

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Check out more Running Trails & Routes throughout County Durham below and find the perfect route in your destination.

North Pennines AONB Burnhope Reservoir Selset Reservoir Derwent Reservoir Grassholme Reservoir Blackton Reservoir Balderhead Reservoir Smiddy Shaw Reservoir Thrislington National Nature Reserve Derwent Gorge And Muggleswick Woods National Nature Reserve Durham Coast National Nature Reserve Tunstall Reservoir Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve The Stang Forest Hury Reservoir Cassop Vale National Nature Reserve Hurworth Burn Reservoir

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Browse the best Running Trails & Routes in other regions.

Northumberland Newcastle Upon Tyne North Tyneside Sunderland Gateshead Henshaw City Of Durham Hepple Greenhead South Tyneside Whitton And Tosson Redcar and Cleveland Thropton Stockton-on-Tees Otterburn Snitter Hartleyburn Middlesbrough Thirlwall Bearpark Harbottle Earle North Sunderland Horsley Ilderton Simonburn Melkridge Ewart Kirknewton Alwinton Stanhope Milfield West Allen Seaton Valley South Bedburn Kielder Hartlepool Mickleton Holwick Newbiggin Lunedale Brinkburn Holy Island Wolsingham Park Moor Lands Cmn To Stanhope, Tow Law And Wolsingham Netherton Warkworth Darlington Wooler Akeld Heddon-On-The-Wall Middleton In Teesdale Togston Lands Common To Hamsterley, Lynesack And Softley And South Bedburn Hawthorn Blyth Kimblesworth And Plawsworth Wylam Morpeth Hepscott Allendale Hamsterley Brandon And Byshottles Sherburn Village Sedgefield Shotley Low Quarter Seaham Framwellgate Moor Hunderthwaite Doddington Bowes Chatton Ovingham Hunstanworth Dalton-Le-Dale Rothbury Cotherstone Prudhoe East Chevington Ashington Ovington Great Aycliffe Craster Mitford Croxdale And Hett East Bedlington Berwick-Upon-Tweed Hexham Beadnell Haltwhistle Biddlestone Muggleswick Hedley Satley Bamburgh Bardon Mill Sandhoe Belmont Chillingham Nunnykirk Bournmoor Rothley Fishburn Ord Falstone Choppington Mordon Easington Village Greystead Acomb Corsenside Hauxley Bishop Middleham Denwick Hedleyhope Healeyfield Little Lumley Longhoughton Marwood Middridge Westwick Hope Romaldkirk Lynesack And Softley Lilburn North Lodge Rokeby Lartington West Rainton Broomhaugh And Riding Egglestone Abbey Cleatlam Cramlington Healey Lynemouth Wycliffe With Thorpe Scargill Startforth Shoreswood Ouston Cassop-Cum-Quarrington Easington Colliery Horncliffe Shincliffe Whorlton Pelton Shadforth Norham Plenmeller With Whitfield Blanchland Knaresdale With Kirkhaugh Forest And Frith Cornforth Edmondbyers Birtley Stanley Barnard Castle Bradbury And The Isle Ferryhill Newbrough Spennymoor Carham Wolsingham Acklington Lanchester Greencroft Hutton Magna Greater Willington Coanwood Featherstone Alnmouth Alnwick Kelloe Kyloe Seaton With Slingley Langleydale And Shotton Widdrington Village Stannington Hexhamshire Pittington Eggleston Duddo Bywell Gilmonby Tarset Hollinghill Corbridge Bishop Auckland Matfen Chilton Witton-Le-Wear Woodland Tow Law Ellington And Linton Thornley Bewick Brancepeth Murton Windlestone Castle Eden Embleton Bellingham Trimdon Belsay Horden Dene Valley Ingram Adderstone With Lucker Wark Hesleyhurst Boldron Cresswell Lowick Bavington Barningham Warden Ancroft Amble By The Sea Humshaugh Edlingham South Hetton Hedgeley Lands Common To Brancepeth And Brandon And Byshottles Belford Hartburn Callaly Meldon Whittingham Langton Wall Glanton Gainford Hebron Bolam Shilbottle Brignall Capheaton Whalton Ford Tritlington And West Chevington Haydon

The best running trails in County Durham

1. Gibside Estate loop

2. Hamsterley Forest Loop

3. Hamsterley Forest Loop

4. Aykley Heads Nature Reserve & the River Wear loop from Durham

5. Grassholme Reservoir and Kirkcarrion loop from Middleton in Teesdale — North Pennines

6. Cow Green & Cauldron Snout — North Pennines

7. Harter Fell and Lune Moor loop from Middleton in Teeside — North Pennines

8. Five Pikes and the Elephant Trees loop from Frosterley — North Pennines

9. Hisehope & Smiddy Shaw reservoirs loop — North Pennines

10. Three Waterfalls loop from Middlestone in Teesdale — North Pennines

Other adventures in County Durham

Most popular routes in County Durham

Most popular attractions in County Durham

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