England is known for its beautiful landscapes, its history, landmarks, and friendly people. But England also boasts stunning lakes where you will experience unforgettable moments along their shores.
Circumnavigate England’s ten largest lakes on foot and earn your Iron Lake Challenge collector’s medal – ‚England‘ Edition!

REGISTRATION AND SERVICES
Registration for the Iron Lake Challenge England costs 24 EUR.
This entry fee includes our Iron Lake Challenge “England Edition” collector’s medal as well as the Timeless Challenge marble. Your registration fee also contributes to planting trees worldwide!
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However, to receive the medal, you first have to circumnavigate England’s ten largest lakes on foot! Only then will we send you your well-deserved medal and marble. After all, you want to earn them, not just be given them.
How to register:
- Please click on the logo, and you will be redirected to the registration page of our partner, Digistore24.
- You will then receive a registration confirmation.
- Now, you need to walk around the ten largest lakes in England (see below).
- As soon as you have completed all ten lakes, please send us an extract of your tracking as proof. We will believe you even without tracking, but in that case, you will not be included in the Honor Roll (Hall of Fame).
- Once we have verified your achievements, you will receive your well-deserved medal and marble. Easy, right?“
RULES
The rules for the Iron Lake Challenge England are very straightforward. Still, we want to clear them up one more time here:
- Sign up for the Iron Lake Challenge England!
- To conquer the Iron Lake Challenge UK and earn the beautiful collector’s medal, you must circumnavigate the ten largest lakes in the United Kingdom on foot after registering. Lakes that are partially located on the territory of other states are not considered for this challenge.
- Bicycles, skates, etc., are not permitted, but you are more than welcome to hike or run.
- You can take as much time as you like to complete a single lake. This means you can circumnavigate it in stages over several days.
- The Iron Lake Challenge UK has no time limit. This means you can take several years to complete all ten lakes.
- We trust that you have truly circumnavigated the lakes. However, if you wish to be included in the time rankings, we will need a copy of your tracking. We don’t mind which device or service you use (whether it’s a watch, smartphone, or app).
General Information – PLEASE NOTE!
- Please note that traffic rules apply in public areas and along roads and cycle paths. Therefore, please move considerately.
- You circumnavigate the lakes at your own peril and at your own risk. The operator of this website assumes no liability whatsoever.
- Please follow any medical advice or have a medical examination before starting the challenge. You are responsible for your own health, equipment, and physical condition. There is no shame in canceling a tour; your health always comes first!
A few important rules for respecting nature during your lake circumnavigations:
- Please observe local instructions regarding nature conservation.
- Please stay on the marked paths.
- Please keep noise to a minimum.
- Please do not collect stones or minerals.
- Please do not collect mushrooms.
- Please do not leave any litter behind. On the contrary, many of us even pick up litter along the way.
- Please do not feed any animals.
- Please do not light open fires.
- Please do not pick any plants.
This should be common sense for all of us, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded from time to time.
YOUR MEDAL AND YOUR MARBLE
Once you have circumnavigated the ten largest lakes in England on foot, you will have earned the beautiful Iron Lake Challenge ‚England Edition‚ medal. This could be the very first in your future collection from the Iron Lake Challenge!
In addition, you will receive the Timeless Challenge marble (from our Timeless Challenge series).
LIFE SCORE POINTS
The Iron Lake Challenge is part of our Timeless Challenge. Therefore, you will earn Life-Score points in addition to the collector’s medal and the coin. These points will be automatically credited to you in our Hall of Fame. This service is free of charge for you.
The ten largest lakes in England
Windermere
Windermere is England’s largest lake and is located in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. The area is a popular local recreation spot and a very well-known holiday destination. There are 18 islands in Windermere, the largest of which is about one kilometer long. A loop around Windermere is approximately 52 kilometers long (depending on the chosen route), but it is absolutely worth it!

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Lake Windermere:
Rutland Water
Hier ist die Übersetzung ins Englische:
Rutland Water is England’s largest reservoir by surface area. Constructed back in 1975, nature has had over 50 years to embrace the lake in all its beauty. The reservoir is famous for its wide range of water sports, as well as its wonderful hiking trails. A loop around the lake is between 25 and 30 kilometers long (depending on the chosen route).

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Rutland Water:
Kielder Water
Kielder Water is the largest artificial lake (reservoir) in Northern Europe by water volume and is surrounded by England’s largest forest. Miles of hiking trails invite families and hikers to explore and linger. A full loop around the lake is approximately 25 kilometers long.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Kielder Water:
Ullswater
Ullswater is often called England’s most beautiful lake. It is located in the Lake District, in the northeast of the national park of the same name, not far from the Scottish border. Its elongated shape, surrounded by lush green hills and gently sloping bays, makes Ullswater a true feast for the eyes. Walking around it is a real treat, even though you should expect a distance of about 30 kilometers.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Ullswater:
Pitsford Water
Pitsford Water is a man-made reservoir located east of Brixworth. It is popular with hikers, cyclists, anglers, and other water sports enthusiasts. With a shoreline of 11 kilometers (approx. 6.8 miles), it is perfect for a wonderful loop on foot.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Pitsford Water:
Grafham Water
Located just a few miles from Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire and nestled in a wonderful landscape, lies Grafham Water, England’s third-largest reservoir. The lake is a favorite among water sports enthusiasts, runners, and hikers. There is a fantastic trail that leads you all the way around the lake, covering a distance of approximately 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles).

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Grafham Water:
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is the third-largest natural lake in England and is located in the Lake District within the county of Cumbria. The lake has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1994. To circumnavigate it, you will need to cover approximately 18 kilometers (about 11.2 miles) on foot.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Bassentwaite Lake:
Derwent Water
Derwent Water is England’s fourth-largest lake and is located in the Lake District within the county of Cumbria. The lake lies at the lower end of Borrowdale, immediately south of the town of Keswick and just south of Bassenthwaite Lake. The loop around the lake on foot is approximately 15 kilometers (about 9.3 miles) long.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Derwent Water:
Chew Valley Lake
Hier ist die Übersetzung ins Englische:
Chew Valley Lake is a reservoir in Chew Stoke, Chew Valley, Somerset, England, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The reservoir has since become home to many rare bird species and is highly valued by visitors and locals alike. A loop around the lake offers approximately 13 kilometers (about 8.1 miles) of shoreline.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Chew Valley Lake:
Derwent Reservoir
Hier ist die Übersetzung ins Englische:
„Derwent Reservoir is the middle of three reservoirs in the upper reaches of the River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. It should not be confused with Derwent Water (mentioned above). To the north, the reservoir directly joins the dam of the Howden Reservoir, where a small island is also located. A loop around the reservoir is approximately 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) long.

Recommended routes for circumnavigating Derwent Reservoirs:
Iron Lake Challenge England Hall of Fame
Here you can quickly and easily enter your lake circumnavigations and upload your proof (e.g., a screenshot of your tracking). We will review your submission and then approve it. Once approved, your result will be saved and will appear in the Hall of Fame.
How to use our Challenge Tool
- Register on our website
- Select the lake you circumnavigated under “Summit/Lake”
- Enter the distance you covered (in meters) under “Length / Mountain height (in m)“
- Enter the time taken (in minutes) under “Time needed (in min)”
- Enter the date of your circumnavigation under “date”
- Now you can upload your proof (e.g., a screenshot of your tracking) under “Upload proof (optional)“
- Now all you have to do is SAVE
THE IRON LAKE CHALLENGE IN SOCIAL MEDIA
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Join the conversation in our community! Our forum for experiences, trip reports, questions, and more.

HASHTAGS IRON LAKE CHALLENGE
We would love for you to share your photos, videos, and experiences involving the Iron Lake Challenge with others. To help you do that, we’ve provided the following hashtags for you to use:
- #ironlakechallenge
- #ironlakechallengeengland
- #timelesschallenge
THE IRON LAKE CHALLENGE ON FACEBOOK
We’d love to invite you to join our Facebook group! “Iron Lake Challenge Discussion Board”





