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County Durham

County Durham

The best running trails in County Durham

4.6

(232)

18,325

runners

1,392

runs

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 collection of routes in County Durham—and are proud to present the best running trails. Click on any of the routes for more details and browse real tips and photos uploaded by other runners.

Last updated: December 4, 2025

100

runners

1. Gibside Estate loop

8.51km

01:05

190m

180m

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

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Moderate

5.0

(1)

runners

2. Hamsterley Forest Loop

8.21km

00:59

190m

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

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Moderate

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runners

3. Hamsterley Forest Loop

8.05km

00:57

170m

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

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Moderate

4.8

(6)

runners

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

5.58km

00:34

60m

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

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Moderate

3.3

(3)

runners

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

14.3km

01:43

270m

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

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Moderate

4.0

(1)

runners

6. Cow Green & Cauldron Snout — North Pennines

14.7km

01:36

160m

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

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Hard

runners

7. Hisehope & Smiddy Shaw reservoirs loop — North Pennines

7.64km

00:51

70m

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

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Moderate

runners

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

15.6km

01:52

330m

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

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Hard

runners

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

18.9km

02:13

330m

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

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Hard

runners

10. Burnhope Reservoir and Wearhead loop from Cowshill — North Pennines

9.33km

01:03

100m

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

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Moderate

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Most popular routes in County Durham

Hiking in County Durham

Easy hikes in County Durham

Cycling in County Durham

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Most popular attractions in County Durham

Places to see

Natural Monuments

Lakes

Bike Parks

Castles

Mountain Peaks

Waterfalls

Canyons

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Didn’t find what you were looking for?

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

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. Hisehope & Smiddy Shaw reservoirs loop — North Pennines

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

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

10. Burnhope Reservoir and Wearhead loop from Cowshill — North Pennines

Other adventures in County Durham

Most popular routes in County Durham

Most popular attractions in County Durham

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