The Windermere Marathon is a road marathon in the Lake District that follows a loop around Windermere, England’s largest lake.
It starts at Waterhead on the lakeshore, heads north, crosses the Brathay River,
then turns south and passes Brathay and High Wray Castle before continuing along the eastern shore of Esthwaite Water.
The route passes the villages of Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey and reaches the southern end of Windermere,
with views including Hill Top, where Beatrix Potter lived, and Lakeside.
After crossing Newby Bridge, the route heads north along the eastern shore, passes Bowness-on-Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge,
and passes the finish at Brockhole on Windermere, where the Great North Swim takes place.
More than half of the course is on roads with partial traffic restrictions or lanes reserved for runners.
With substantial climbs and approximately 600 m of elevation gain,
the race is more about enjoying the scenery and the achievement of finishing than setting a personal best.
The first race was held in 1982 after local runners and volunteers formed a committee.
The Brathay Trust organised it annually from 2007 to 2024.
It is now organised by the Great Run Company, which operates the Great North Run,
and received the Boutique and Specialist Event award for events with fewer than 1,000 participants at the 2025 Running Industry Awards.
