Lakeland Trails Ultra

Pick your distance

What you’re in for

A midnight start under head torches from Ambleside for the 100k, out through Haweswater, Patterdale, Glenridding, Grasmere, Langdale and Brotherswater. The 55k takes three mountain passes and 7,000 ft; the 100k adds two more passes and another 3,500 ft on top. Fully waymarked and marshalled, with GPX files to download — a compass, poles and GPS are allowed but you should not need them to find the way. Nine feed stations on the 100k, six on the 55k, and strict safety cut-offs. There are 23k and 14k options sharing parts of the same ground.

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Train for it: routes near the start

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

HARD

Lakeland Trails Ambleside 14k

13.8km · 505m climb · Loop · 0.3km away

You get the full Lakeland Trails Ambleside route: a climb through ancient Skelghyll Woods to the Jenkin Crag view over Windermere, then a fell finish over Loughrigg with the Langdale Pikes ahead.

HARD

Ambleside Low Level Loop

19.6km · 562m climb · Loop · 0.5km away

Rydal Water, Grasmere, woodland paths, and those views - all without setting foot on a major fell. This is what the Lakes are for on an easy-legs day.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Wansfell Pike, Sour Howes and Sallows from Ambleside

19.6km · 1,008m climb · Loop · 0.5km away

Three Wainwrights for the price of one popular summit, swapping the crowds of Wansfell Pike for the empty grassy tops of Sour Howes and Sallows.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Scandale Horseshoe from Ambleside

20.6km · 1,106m climb · Loop · 0.9km away

Scandale is the quiet valley next door to the crowded Fairfield Horseshoe, so you get the same big eastern-fell views and ridgelines with a fraction of the traffic.

MODERATE

Vale of Rydal

19.0km · 317m climb · Loop · 1.3km away

You get the full Wordsworth vale, Rydal Water, Grasmere and the paths the poet knew by heart, on a longer low loop that keeps the running easy and the scenery constant.

EXPERT

Helvellyn Double

36.7km · 2,856m climb · Loop · 1.4km away

It takes two of the Lake District's best-known summits and links them properly, so instead of picking Fairfield or Helvellyn for the day, you get both, with the climbing to prove it.

Checked Jul 2026

All routes near Ambleside →All Lake District routes →

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Lakeland Trails Ultra?

The Lakeland Trails Ultra offers 5 distances: 14K Trail Run (8.7 miles), 23K Trail Run (14.3 miles), 55K Challenge (34.2 miles), 55K Race (34.2 miles), 100K (62.1 miles).

How much climbing is in the Lakeland Trails Ultra?

The 14K Trail Run has 463 m of ascent. The 23K Trail Run has 782 m of ascent. The 100K has 3,268 m of ascent. No figure yet for the 55K Challenge or 55K Race.

How hard is the Lakeland Trails Ultra?

14K Trail Run: Hard. 23K Trail Run: Hard. 55K Challenge: Expert. 55K Race: Expert. 100K: Expert. Distances are measured off the course file. Where the file carries no elevation, the climb is the organiser's published figure.

Is the Lakeland Trails Ultra course marked?

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

What kit do I need for the Lakeland Trails Ultra?

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

What are the cut-offs for the Lakeland Trails Ultra?

Overall time limits — 14K Trail Run: 3h, 23K Trail Run: 5h, 55K Challenge: 13h, 55K Race: 12h, 100K: 23h.

What is at the checkpoints on the Lakeland Trails Ultra?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Lakeland Trails Ultra. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Lakeland Trails race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the Lakeland Trails Ultra route?

Yes. The GPX for each distance is free to download here, with no sign-up, the same as every route on Trail Running Planet.

When is the next Lakeland Trails Ultra?

Sat, 10 Jul 2027, 00:01. Entries open.