Lake District Sky Trails Swirral Grind 850

The course

What you’re in for

Uphill only: six kilometres and 850m of ascent from the King George playing field in Patterdale to the trig point on Helvellyn — steep, stepped path to the Hole in the Wall, a breather across the flat of the Red Tarn basin, then Swirral Edge and its easy scrambling to the top. A vertical race rather than a run, half past five on the Friday evening before the Helvellyn weekend, summit closed at seven. There is no descent to recover on, which is either the appeal or the objection. Fully marked.

Terrain and trail

Stone steps and pitched path to the Hole in the Wall, grassy trod round Red Tarn, then the rock of Swirral Edge — a short Grade 1 scramble — onto the summit plateau. Fully marked. A fell shoe with grip, a layer for the top, and your own way down.

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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 Swirral Grind 850?

The Swirral Grind 850 is one distance: 6km (3.7 miles).

How much climbing is in the Swirral Grind 850?

The 6km has 850 m of ascent.

How hard is the Swirral Grind 850?

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 Swirral Grind 850 yet.

Is the Swirral Grind 850 course marked?

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

What kit do I need for the Swirral Grind 850?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Swirral Grind 850. Lake District Sky Trails confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Swirral Grind 850?

We don't hold published time limits for the Swirral Grind 850. If Lake District Sky Trails set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.

What is at the checkpoints on the Swirral Grind 850?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Swirral Grind 850. 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 Swirral Grind 850 route?

Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Swirral Grind 850. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.

When is the next Swirral Grind 850?

Fri, 16 Jul 2027, which the organiser has published as provisional. Not open yet.