NAV4 Adventure Lakes Mountain 40

The course

What you’re in for

Forty fell miles in a figure of eight from Askham with roughly 3,000m of ascent, unmarked, off at six in the morning on a Saturday in April. Checkpoints at Loadpot Hill's trig point, High Street's trig point, Angle Tarn, Patterdale, Grisedale Tarn, Helvellyn's trig point, Place Fell and Martindale church — and free route choice over open access land between them, which is the point of a NAV4 event. Ten to twelve hours for most, fifteen or sixteen for some. GPS is allowed, but the organiser expects good basic navigation without it, and the kit list is full winter mountain: waterproofs top and bottom, thermals, survival bag, map and compass.

Terrain and trail

High Street's grassy ridge, the rocky climb to Helvellyn and the loose descent off it, peat and tussock on Loadpot and Place Fell, stone-pitched path through Patterdale and Grisedale, with track and the odd bit of tarmac linking it. April on the tops can mean snow. A fell shoe with grip.

Train for it: routes near the start

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

EXPERT

Tour de Helvellyn

58.6km · 2,129m climb · Loop · 0.1km away

A genuine ultra-distance day that shows you the Helvellyn range from every angle without ever queuing for Striding Edge - based on the established Tour de Helvellyn race route.

Checked Jul 2026

VERY HARD

Helvellyn Range and St Sunday Crag from Glenridding

20.6km · 1,300m climb · Loop · 14km 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 via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge from Patterdale

12.7km · 824m climb · Loop · 14km 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

EXPERT

Bob Graham Round Leg 2: Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise

22.3km · 1,690m climb · Point to point · 19km away

It is the great runnable middle of the Bob Graham: a near-continuous high ridge where you can hold a rhythm over twelve tops without ever dropping to the valley.

Checked Jul 2026

All Lake District routes →

How to enter

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Common questions

How far is the Lakes Mountain 40?

The Lakes Mountain 40 is one distance: 40 Mile (64.4 km).

How much climbing is in the Lakes Mountain 40?

The 40 Mile has 3,048 m of ascent.

How hard is the Lakes Mountain 40?

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 Lakes Mountain 40 yet.

Is the Lakes Mountain 40 course marked?

No. The Lakes Mountain 40 is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

What kit do I need for the Lakes Mountain 40?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Lakes Mountain 40. NAV4 Adventure confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Lakes Mountain 40?

A tough unmarked mountain route with free route choice between checkpoints over open access land, provided it is legal. Mass start at 06:00. Three roadside checkpoints. NAV4 expect most runners to take ten to twelve hours, some fifteen or sixteen.

What is at the checkpoints on the Lakes Mountain 40?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Lakes Mountain 40. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the NAV4 Adventure race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the Lakes Mountain 40 route?

Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Lakes Mountain 40. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.

When is the next Lakes Mountain 40?

Sat, 10 Apr 2027, 06:00. Entries open.