Windermere Marathon
The Lowdown
The Windermere Marathon is a point-to-loop road marathon around England's largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria. Runners start at Waterhead, near Ambleside, and finish at Brockhole-on-Windermere (the Great North Swim site), with over half the 26.2-mile course on traffic-free roads or roads with a dedicated running lane. The route hugs both the western and eastern shores of Windermere, passing High Wray Castle and Beatrix Potter's Hill Top farmhouse, with roughly 600 meters of elevation gain across a hilly, scenic course. First held in 1982 with an entry fee of just £2, the race ran until 1986 before being revived by the Brathay Trust in 2007 and staged annually through 2024; since 2025 it has been organized by The Great Run Company, and it won Boutique/Specialist Event of the Year at the 2025 Running Industry Awards. The 2027 edition takes place on Sunday 13 June, starting at 8:30am, with a 6-hour-30-minute cutoff and finishers receiving a medal and a VOOM nutrition bar at the finish line. Entry is open to runners 18 and over.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Moderate rolling hills
Participants
Field Size
Intimate field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Good crowd energy
Lake Windermere shoreline
High Wray Castle
Beatrix Potter's Hill Top farmhouse
River Brathay crossing
Brockhole-on-Windermere (Great North Swim site)
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Windermere, England, United Kingdom
GB
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18 on the day of the event
Required Documents
- Photo ID for race pack collection
Entry Methods
- Online registration via windermeremarathon.co.uk
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Review the official Windermere Marathon terms and deferral policy on windermeremarathon.co.uk before registering
Originally established in 1982 (ran 1982-1986); revived by the Brathay Trust in 2007 and run annually through 2024
Organized by The Great Run Company since 2025
Won Boutique/Specialist Event of the Year at the 2025 Running Industry Awards
Course record: 2:23:16, set by Mike Critchley (Bolton AC) in 1985
7 drinks stations on course with water, VOOM Hydrate, and energy bars
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Community
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