Ultra Tour Lancashire UTL 38

The course

What you’re in for

Thirty-eight miles of the Forest of Bowland from Dunsop Bridge on the Saturday of the UTL weekend, round Stocks Reservoir — the largest lake in Lancashire — and through Gisburn Forest, 62.2km with 817m of climb and seventeen hours from a nine o'clock start. The organiser's word for the Bowland is remote, and it is. Navigated from a GPX; the same aid-station set-up as the 100.

Terrain and trail

Fell track, forest road and reservoir path: heather and peat on the open Bowland ground, firm gravel in Gisburn Forest, and lane between. Wet on the tops after rain. A trail shoe with grip.

Train for it: routes near the start

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

MODERATE

Stocks Reservoir and Gisburn Forest

16.7km · 295m climb · Loop · 9.4km away

Reservoir views, forest trails, and barely any climbing. One for when you want miles without mountains — or when the rest of the Dales is under a cloud.

Checked Sept 2026

MODERATE

Gisburn Forest 10k

10.4km · 155m climb · Loop · 10km away

Gisburn is one of the few places round here where you can run fast on dry, purpose-built trail whatever the moor is doing, and the forest hub means coffee and toilets at the start.

MODERATE

The Tolkien Trail from Hurst Green

14.4km · 274m climb · Loop · 12km away

You run the countryside J.R.R. Tolkien knew when he stayed at Stonyhurst, along the Ribble and Hodder that many believe fed the rivers of Middle-earth, past the great college itself.

HARD

Ogden Reservoirs from Barley

13.2km · 409m climb · Loop · 19km away

You circle two hidden reservoirs and run up the cleft of Ogden Clough right under the north face of Pendle Hill, on some of the quietest moor in Lancashire.

HARD

Pendle Hill from Barley

16.2km · 511m climb · Loop · 19km away

Pendle Hill stands alone above the Lancashire plain, so the summit view is enormous, and the hill carries the weight of the 1612 witch trials in every place name around it.

Checked Jul 2026

All Forest of Bowland routes →

How to enter

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Common questions

How far is the UTL 38?

The UTL 38 is one distance: 38 Mile (61.2 km).

How much climbing is in the UTL 38?

The 38 Mile has 817 m of ascent.

How hard is the UTL 38?

38 Mile: Expert. TRP grades come from distance and climb measured off the course file, not from the organiser.

Is the UTL 38 course marked?

No. The UTL 38 is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

What kit do I need for the UTL 38?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the UTL 38. Ultra Tour Lancashire confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the UTL 38?

Overall time limits — 38 Mile: 17h. Five fully stocked checkpoints. Their FAQ on marking: "Most of the route will be signed and waymarked to ease navigation (though you are still expected to be comfortable navigating the route on your own)." Free camping at the Dunsop Bridge basecamp.

What is at the checkpoints on the UTL 38?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the UTL 38. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Ultra Tour Lancashire race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the UTL 38 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 UTL 38?

Sat, 28 Aug 2027, 10:00. Entries open.