The Maverick Lakes X-Trail

Pick your distance

What you’re in for

Maverick's biggest mountain day, from the Grasmere showfield in September. The route climbs out of Grasmere to Easedale Tarn and on to Stickle Tarn under Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle, drops down the Cumbria Way into Great Langdale and along the river to Loughrigg Tarn, then finishes with the climb to Rydal Head and the Fairfield Horseshoe before a technical descent back to Grasmere. Five distances share the ground. The Short is 9.2km with 334m of climb, the Middle 14.0km and 529m, the Half 25.2km and 1,023m, the Marathon 43.5km and 2,233m, the 50k Ultra 51.6km and 2,667m. The Ultra and Marathon have hard cut-offs — Stickle Barn at 10.5km by 11:20, Neaum Crag at 19.5km by 12:30, Rydal Hall at 27km by 13:50, Kirkstone Pass at 37km by 15:30 — giving eleven hours for the Ultra. Not dog-friendly, because of the terrain. A pound from every entry goes to Fix the Fells.

Terrain and trail

Steep rocky climbs and very technical descents, in the organiser's own words, and they are not exaggerating: this is Lakeland fell path, boulder, bog and scree, with the descent off Fairfield the hardest running of the day. Four outposts on the Ultra, three on the Marathon, two on the Half and none on the Middle or Short. Full mountain kit on the Ultra and Marathon — waterproof top and bottoms, spare base layer, head torch, 800 calories and a litre of water — and a GPX on your watch. Fell shoes with real grip. Maverick's format on every event: a fully marked course, outposts stocked with Precision Fuel & Hydration and a spread of sweet and savoury food as a top-up for what you carry, no cups (bring one), a bag drop, an event village with food and a non-alcoholic beer at the end. Mandatory kit is checked on the longer routes.

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Train for it: routes near the start

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

MODERATE

Grasmere, Rydal Caves and the Coffin Route

14.0km · 192m climb · Loop · 0.1km 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

HARD

Helm Crag, Calf Crag and Steel fell from Grasmere

13.4km · 639m climb · Loop · 0.2km 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

Cathedral Cave from Elterwater

11.2km · 214m climb · Loop · 2.8km 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 · 2.8km 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.

EXPERT

Fairfield Horseshoe Extended

33.1km · 2,287m climb · Loop · 2.9km away

You get the full Fairfield ridge plus a there-and-back tag of Helvellyn thrown in, so a route runners already know becomes a proper full-day mountain outing without ever leaving a path.

Checked Jul 2026

HARD

Rydal Water and Loughrigg Terrace

13.1km · 699m climb · Loop · 2.9km 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 Ambleside →All Lake District routes →

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

The Maverick Lakes X-Trail offers 5 distances: 50k Ultra (31.1 miles), Marathon (43.0 km / 26.7 miles), Half Marathon (25.0 km / 15.5 miles), Middle (14.0 km / 8.7 miles), Short (9.0 km / 5.6 miles).

How much climbing is in the Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

The 50k Ultra has 2,667 m of ascent. The Marathon has 2,233 m of ascent. The Half Marathon has 1,023 m of ascent. The Middle has 529 m of ascent. The Short has 334 m of ascent.

How hard is the Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

50k Ultra: Expert. Marathon: Expert. Half Marathon: Very Hard. Middle: Hard. Short: Hard. TRP grades come from distance and climb measured off the course file, not from the organiser.

Is the Maverick Lakes X-Trail course marked?

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

What kit do I need for the Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Maverick Lakes X-Trail. Maverick Race confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

We don't hold published time limits for the Maverick Lakes X-Trail. If Maverick Race set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.

What is at the checkpoints on the Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Maverick Lakes X-Trail. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Maverick Race race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the Maverick Lakes X-Trail 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 Maverick Lakes X-Trail?

No date announced. When Maverick Race confirm the next Maverick Lakes X-Trail, it appears here and on the race calendar.

Past runnings