Lake District Sky Trails Helvellyn Sky Ultra

The course

What you’re in for

Fifty-seven kilometres from Patterdale with 3,700m of climb over five ridge-lines on the Helvellyn massif and the eastern fells, Striding Edge and Swirral Edge among them, now run anti-clockwise to keep clear of the crowds on the two edges. Graded scrambles and ridge as well as technical trail; the scrambling is graded, which means it is real scrambling rather than a steep path with a name. Half past six in the morning in mid-July, fourteen and a half hours, one feed station, two valley support points and eleven manned checkpoints. No vetting, though the kit list and the ground assume you know what you are doing.

Terrain and trail

The organiser's own list: grassy trod, well-worn mountain path, bare rock, scree, bog and open fell. Striding Edge is a Grade 1 scramble with real exposure, Swirral Edge a shorter one, and the descents are steep and loose. Fully marked. Full mountain kit, and a fell shoe you trust on wet rock.

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Train for it: routes near the start

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

VERY HARD

Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge from Patterdale

12.7km · 824m climb · Loop · 1.0km away

This is the postcard round of Helvellyn: up the knife-edge of Striding Edge, across the 950m summit, and down Swirral with Red Tarn below the whole way.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn Range and St Sunday Crag from Glenridding

20.6km · 1,300m climb · Loop · 1.0km away

Seven summits of the Eastern Fells in one continuous high-level horseshoe, finishing over St Sunday Crag with Ullswater filling the view ahead.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn from Thirlmere

10.7km · 812m climb · Loop · 6.8km away

You gain the summit of a 950m Wainwright in well under an hour of climbing, then drop back to the car on grass you can really open up on.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn via Swirral Edge and Striding Edge from Thirlmere

11.3km · 998m climb · Loop · 6.8km away

You get the two most famous ridges on the fell, Swirral and Striding Edge, on a route that still starts and finishes on the quiet Thirlmere side.

Checked Jul 2026

EXPERT

Bob Graham Round Leg 3: Dunmail Raise to Wasdale Head

25.5km · 1,906m climb · Point to point · 7.2km 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

Helm Crag, Calf Crag and Steel fell from Grasmere

13.4km · 639m climb · Loop · 9.7km 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

All routes near Ambleside →All Lake District routes →

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

The Helvellyn Sky Ultra is one distance: 57km (35.4 miles).

How much climbing is in the Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

The 57km has 3,700 m of ascent.

How hard is the Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

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 Helvellyn Sky Ultra yet.

Is the Helvellyn Sky Ultra course marked?

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

What kit do I need for the Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

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

What are the cut-offs for the Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

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

What is at the checkpoints on the Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Helvellyn Sky Ultra. 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 Helvellyn Sky Ultra route?

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

When is the next Helvellyn Sky Ultra?

Sat, 17 Jul 2027, 06:30. Entries open.