Lake District Sky Trails Great Langdale 21

The course

What you’re in for

Twenty-one kilometres in and around Great and Little Langdale with 850m of ascent, technical underfoot without the scrambling of the sky races — the weekend's way in. A ten o'clock start on the Saturday of the Scafell races, five hours, fully marked, and you can watch the Sky Race come off Bowfell if you would rather watch it than be in it.

Terrain and trail

Valley path, stony bridleway and fell-side track between the two Langdales — rocky and rooty in places, boggy in others, with the climbs short and steep rather than long. Fully marked. A trail shoe with grip.

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Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Sticklebarn, Great Langdale, Cumbria, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

MODERATE

Cathedral Cave from Elterwater

11.2km · 214m climb · Loop · 3.7km away

You run straight into Cathedral Cave, a vast slate chamber with a pillar of rock holding up the roof and a shaft of daylight coming through. It is one of the strangest, best places to stop mid-run in the Lakes.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Elterwater and Ivy Crag

22.6km · 1,039m climb · Loop · 3.8km away

Ivy Crag gives you the whole Langdale valley laid out below for a modest climb, and the loop links three lakes and a tarn without ever feeling like a slog.

HARD

Helm Crag, Calf Crag and Steel fell from Grasmere

13.4km · 639m climb · Loop · 4.6km away

Helm Crag gives you the Lion and the Lamb, the most recognisable summit rocks in the Lakes, and the ridge beyond turns a short outing into a proper little horseshoe above Grasmere.

Checked Jul 2026

MODERATE

Grasmere, Rydal Caves and the Coffin Route

14.0km · 192m climb · Loop · 4.8km away

You run into the huge man made chamber of Rydal Cave and back along the centuries old Coffin Route, all on gentle paths between two lakes.

Checked Jul 2026

EXPERT

Bob Graham Round Leg 3: Dunmail Raise to Wasdale Head

25.5km · 1,906m climb · Point to point · 6.4km away

This is the heart and the crux of the Bob Graham: the Langdale Pikes, the highest ground in England over the Scafells, and the notorious Broad Stand step onto Scafell.

Checked Jul 2026

HARD

Rydal Water and Loughrigg Terrace

13.1km · 699m climb · Loop · 7.2km away

Loughrigg Terrace serves up the classic view down Grasmere, and the loop drops you past the great cavern of Rydal Cave, all on gentle ground between two of the loveliest small lakes in the district.

All routes near Coniston →All Lake District routes →

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Great Langdale 21?

The Great Langdale 21 is one distance: 21km (13.0 miles).

How much climbing is in the Great Langdale 21?

The 21km has 850 m of ascent.

How hard is the Great Langdale 21?

Not graded yet. A TRP grade is worked out from distance and climb measured off the course file, and there isn't one for the Great Langdale 21 yet.

Is the Great Langdale 21 course marked?

Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.

What kit do I need for the Great Langdale 21?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Great Langdale 21. Lake District Sky Trails confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Great Langdale 21?

We don't hold published time limits for the Great Langdale 21. If Lake District Sky Trails set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.

What is at the checkpoints on the Great Langdale 21?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Great Langdale 21. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Lake District Sky Trails race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the Great Langdale 21 route?

Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Great Langdale 21. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.

When is the next Great Langdale 21?

Sat, 5 Jun 2027, which the organiser has published as provisional. Not open yet.