Lake District Sky Trails Place Fell 15

The course

What you’re in for

Fifteen kilometres and 680m of climb out of Patterdale on semi-technical trail round Place Fell above the Ullswater shore — the most approachable race in the Lake District Sky Trails calendar, with a four o'clock afternoon start so you can watch the ultra come in first. Three and a half hours, one feed station and manned checkpoints. Fully marked, and it runs on the same weekend as the Helvellyn Sky Ultra and the Swirral Grind.

Terrain and trail

Lakeshore path along Ullswater — rocky, rooty and up and down — with steeper stone-pitched climbs on the fell side. Semi-technical rather than technical, and fully marked. A trail shoe with grip.

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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 Place Fell 15?

The Place Fell 15 is one distance: 15km (9.3 miles).

How much climbing is in the Place Fell 15?

The 15km has 680 m of ascent.

How hard is the Place Fell 15?

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 Place Fell 15 yet.

Is the Place Fell 15 course marked?

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

What kit do I need for the Place Fell 15?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Place Fell 15. Lake District Sky Trails confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Place Fell 15?

We don't hold published time limits for the Place Fell 15. If Lake District Sky Trails set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.

What is at the checkpoints on the Place Fell 15?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Place Fell 15. 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 Place Fell 15 route?

Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Place Fell 15. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.

When is the next Place Fell 15?

Sat, 17 Jul 2027, which the organiser has published as provisional. Not open yet.