Lake District Sky Trails Scafell Sky Ultra

The course

What you’re in for

Sixty kilometres out of the Stickle Barn in Great Langdale with 4,400m of climb — the longest thing Lake District Sky Trails put on, and at 73m of ascent per kilometre one of the steepest ultras in the country. It follows the Sky Race over the first section, then branches off after the first feed station over Kirk Fell, drops into Wasdale, climbs Scafell Pike from the west and comes down into Langdale by a different line, before going back out to the Coniston fells for Prison Band between Swirl How and Wetherlam and home. A six o'clock start in early June, fifteen hours, three feed stations. No vetting, unlike the Pinnacle Ridge, but it is technical throughout.

Terrain and trail

Fully marked, and rock most of the way: stone-pitched path, boulder field and scree on the Scafell massif, rough fell on Kirk Fell, the loose rocky ridge of Prison Band on the Conistons, with grassy trod and bog in the valleys between. Nothing graded as a scramble, but plenty of hands-on ground. Full mountain kit is mandatory. A fell shoe with a sticky sole.

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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 Scafell Sky Ultra?

The Scafell Sky Ultra is one distance: 60km (37.3 miles).

How much climbing is in the Scafell Sky Ultra?

The 60km has 4,400 m of ascent.

How hard is the Scafell 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 Scafell Sky Ultra yet.

Is the Scafell Sky Ultra course marked?

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

What kit do I need for the Scafell Sky Ultra?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Scafell 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 Scafell Sky Ultra?

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

What is at the checkpoints on the Scafell Sky Ultra?

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

Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Scafell 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 Scafell Sky Ultra?

Sat, 5 Jun 2027, 06:00. Entries open.