Five Unmissable Lake District Ultramarathons

The Lake District offers an unparalleled backdrop for ultramarathon racing — ancient fells, hidden valleys, wind-scraped ridgelines, and more history packed into its peaks than almost anywhere else in Britain. Whether you're stepping up to your first ultra or hunting your next serious challenge, Cumbria has something that will test you and reward you in equal measure.

Here are five of the best ultramarathons the Lake District has to offer — each with a distinct character, and each worth every aching step.

1. The Lap — A Journey Around a Lifetime of Fells

The Lap is exactly what its name suggests — a lap of the Lake District. Covering 75 km of stunning fells and valleys in a single continuous effort, it has rapidly become one of the most beloved ultras in the North of England, and for very good reason.

What makes The Lap special is its dual character. The clockwise edition runs in May, catching the fells at their green-bright best after spring. The anticlockwise edition runs in September, with autumn beginning to touch the bracken gold. Same route, different feel — many runners return for both.

For first-timers, the well-marked course removes the navigation anxiety that can put newer runners off fell ultras. Aid stations at roughly miles 10, 18, 28, 36, and 42 mean you're never too far from support. The organisation is exceptional, the field is welcoming, and the scenery — passing through some of the most iconic Lakeland terrain — is genuinely breathtaking.

Registration for the September 2026 event opened 14 September 2025. Check thelap.co.uk for future dates.

We coach several athletes through The Lap each year. Read our full guide: Welcome to The Lap — Tips for First Timers.

2. Lakeland 100 — The Ultimate Endurance Test

If The Lap is the friendly introduction to Lake District ultra running, the Lakeland 100 is its uncompromising older sibling. Widely regarded as one of the most challenging ultra trail races in the UK, it sends runners through breathtaking valleys, along remote fells, and past hidden corners of Cumbria that most tourists never see.

The event offers two distances — the Lakeland 100 (100 miles / 160 km) and the Lakeland 50 (50 miles / 80 km) — both starting and finishing in Coniston. The 100-mile route covers around 6,300m of elevation gain. Many runners do the Lakeland 50 as preparation before attempting the 100 the following year, and it's a sound strategy — the terrain is demanding, the weather can turn ugly, and mandatory kit requirements are strict for good reason.

Finishing the Lakeland 100 is a genuine achievement. The cutoff is 40 hours, and a significant proportion of starters don't make it to Coniston. The community and atmosphere at the finish line is unlike anything else in British ultra running.

Ballots for the event typically open in September. Find details at lakeland100.com.

We have full race guides for both distances: Lakeland 100 and Lakeland 50.

3. The Lakes Traverse — Self-Sufficient and Stunning

The Lakes Traverse takes the iconic Wainwright coast-to-coast route and turns it into a 100 km ultramarathon — run point-to-point from the west coast to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales at the end of March.

Starting at St. Bees on the Irish Sea, runners navigate east through Ennerdale and Borrowdale, cross Grasmere Common, pass by Grisedale Tarn, drop into Patterdale, climb Kidsty Pike, follow Haweswater, and finish in Shap. The route is remote in places, the weather in late March is genuinely unpredictable, and the event embraces a self-sufficient ethos — this isn't a heavily supported race with a crowd at every checkpoint.

That's precisely why it's worth doing. If you want an event that truly immerses you in the fells rather than just running through them, the Lakes Traverse delivers. It also serves as an ideal stepping stone for those who have their eye on the Northern Traverse — the full coast to coast covering 190+ miles.

4. Helvellyn Sky Ultra — Technical Mountain Racing

If you've come to Lake District ultra running from the trail scene and you want something that genuinely challenges your technical mountain ability, the Helvellyn Sky Ultra is the event that separates runners from mountain runners.

Covering 57 km with 3,700m of vertical gain, this race is part of the Lake District Sky Trails series — inspired by the European skyrunning tradition of technical, high-altitude racing over mountain terrain. It is not a course you navigate on autopilot. Summiting Helvellyn, the third-highest peak in England, is only part of the story — the terrain demands respect, good judgement, and the ability to move confidently on technical ground.

If you've built your fell running legs on classic Lakeland routes and you're looking for the next level of challenge, this race belongs on your list. Preparation should include specific vertical training, technical descent practice, and ideally some recce time on the course. Do not underestimate the elevation gain — 3,700m across 57 km is a relentless ask.

5. The 13 Valleys Ultra — The Ultimate Lake District Challenge

Everything on this list has been building to this. The 13 Valleys Ultra is, quite simply, one of the most formidable endurance challenges in the UK — a 184+ km loop of the Lake District National Park, starting and finishing in Keswick, passing through all 13 valleys, and touching terrain that most runners have never encountered even after years in the region.

This is not a race for the curious. The course is not waymarked — every participant receives detailed route materials and a GPX file, but navigation in the dark, across unmarked terrain, in unpredictable autumn weather, is entirely their responsibility. There are 13 checkpoints and feed stations, but the stretches between them can be long and lonely. Self-qualification is required: the event organisers want confidence that every entrant is genuinely capable of completing what they're attempting.

The 13 Valleys Ultra represents the outer edge of what's possible in the Lake District — a true expedition rather than a race day. If you're considering it, honest preparation means time on your feet, serious navigation training, night running experience, and the mental resilience to keep moving through conditions that will test every layer of your resolve.

Find out more and check entry requirements at 13valleysultra.com.

How to Choose the Right Lake District Ultra for You

These five races represent a genuine spectrum — from welcoming first-timer event to elite multi-day challenge. A few honest questions to ask yourself before entering:

• How much fell running experience do I have? If the answer is "not much," start with The Lap or the Lakeland 50. Build the specific skills — navigation, descending, mountain judgement — before stepping up.
• Am I comfortable with navigation? The Lap is fully marked. The Lakes Traverse, Helvellyn Sky Ultra, and 13 Valleys all require map-reading confidence in variable conditions.
• What does my training look like? Vertical-specific training matters more than weekly mileage for most of these events. If your long runs are flat, your legs will struggle on Lakeland ascent.
• Do I have the mandatory kit experience? Several of these races carry strict mandatory kit requirements. Practice racing with your full kit before race day — don't discover that your pack rubs at mile 30.

If you're planning to take on any of these events and would like structured coaching to get there — whether that's building your first ultra base or preparing for the 13 Valleys — get in touch and we'll build something around your goal.