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County Durham

County Durham

The best running trails in County Durham

4.6

(215)

18,489

runners

1,479

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: October 14, 2025

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1. Gibside Estate loop

8.51km

01:05

190m

180m

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

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Intermediate

5.0

(1)

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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

3.3

(3)

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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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Intermediate

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. 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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Intermediate

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8. 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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9. 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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10. Three Waterfalls loop from Middlestone in Teesdale — North Pennines

19.7km

02:10

210m

220m

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

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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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

Natural Monuments

Lakes

Bike Parks

Castles

Waterfalls

Mountain Peaks

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

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. 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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