The Lakeland Trails 100k Ultra is our ultimate trail with its iconic midnight start, taking the challenge to a new, but achievable level for a truly memorable journey encompassing the finest trails the Lake District has to offer.
The 55k Ultra is a testing ultra marathon course through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Lake District. The tough, challenging course will certainly live up to its billing as the most picturesque ultra marathon in the UK.
As well as those whose goal is to complete their first Ultra, expect things to be competitive at the front. The 2021 100k also doubled up as the British Athletics Championships with runners George Foster and Team inov-8's Merryl Cooper setting a high bar for future runners with course records of 9h30m11s and 11h32m19s respectively.
One of the great things about the Lakeland Trails Ultra is those at both ends of the field can expect a warm reception from the friendliest marshals you'll find!
The 55k route includes 3 mountain passes, with 7,000 ft ascent along with 5 well-stocked feed stations.
The 100k route adds in an extra 2 passes, 3500 ft more climbing and 3 feedstations.
The 23k and 14k routes share some of the final sections of our Ultra courses with spectacular views guaranteed.
The courses are all fully waymarked and marshalled with gpx files available.
The 100k Ultra is worth 4 ITRA points (courses validated for 2022) and the 55k Ultra is worth 3 ITRA points . (Please note - to qualify for points in the 55k you must run in the 'Race' and not the 'Challenge')
The start and finish arena will be quite a party, with entertainment, food stalls, trade and retail stands and PA commentary.
Your entry fee includes:
Superbly designed event finisher's t-shirt (and medal for the Ultra finishers)
Professional photo memento taken out on the course by professional sports photographers James Kirby and Paul Mitchell
Real-time GPS tracking for Ultra 100k. Electronic chip timing with live results for other events.
Fully waymarked and marshalled route
GPX files of the route to download for the Ultra distances
8 feed stations (100k) 5 feed stations (55k), 2 feed stations (23k)
Online entry administration fee
Great atmosphere with MC and commentators, along with entertainment at the start/finish venue
Professional Advanced Life Support Medical Cover from Event Safety Group
Professional Radio Communications
Public Liability and Events Insurance
VAT
00:01
£155
Save 15% with code ultra24earlybirdsave15%
The Ultra 100k is an epic, fully waymarked and marshalled journey around the Lake District. We invest heavily in all aspects of the event, in particular safety on the course, with advanced life support medics, radio communications and marshals. We also provide an iconic start & finish venue at Ambleside, with entertainments, to give you not just a great, well organised ultra marathon course through dramatic Lake District mountain scenery, but also a great day out for you, your friends and family. There is a 23 hour time limit for this event and entrants must be 18 or over. Entry includes an event t-shirt or the option to contribute to our BiodiversiTee fund
Challenge: 09:00 and Race: 10:00
£89
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A testing, but achievable, fully waymarked and marshalled Ultra marathon course through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Lake District. The route certainly lives up to the billing as one of the most picturesque ultra marathons in the UK. Entrants must be 18 years old or over and there is a 13 hour cut off for the Challenge / 12 hour cut off for the Race. Entry includes an event t-shirt or the option to contribute to our BiodiversiTee fund.
11:00am
£28
Price includes 20% Earlybird discount
Starting and finishing from the same location as our Ultra marathon runners the 23K route takes in a scenic climb out of Ambleside with stunning views along Windermere before splitting from the 14K at Rydal Water, where it heads along the old Coffin Trail to Grasmere, joining the ultra routes for the spectacular views in the Langdale valley. There is a 5 hour time limit for this event and events must be 16 or over. You will have the option to add a t-shirt to your entry for just £10. Checkout the News article and Ts and Cs for more information.
13.00
£23.20 / U25 £15
General entry includes 20% Earlybird discount
Starting and finishing from the same location as our Ultra marathon runners the route takes in a scenic climb out of Ambleside with stunning views along Windermere before splitting from the 23k course at Rydal Water and finishing over Loughrigg with stunning views of the Langdales. There is a 3 hour time limit for this event and entrants must be 16 or over. You will have the option to add a t-shirt to your entry for just £10. Checkout the News article and Ts and Cs for more information.
Please note: the information below is for reference only and relates to the 2023 event.
Our comprehensive 2023 Event Guide can be downloaded for reference by clicking here.
100k runners - please note that the Howtown checkpoint is based in the grounds of the Outward Bound Trust. Please do not enter the grounds when you are doing your reccies - you go in and out of the checkpoint from the road at its entrance.
Timing
Ultra 100k will have trackers so that they can be dot-watched around the course. The weblink is shown on the Results page (there's also a separate one for Ultra 55k runners who have ordered one.
Ultra 55k runners will have dibbers which must be 'dibbed' into control boxes at the start, every checkpoint and (please don't forget) the finish. We'll share a link for the live results and there will be a live intermediate split at the half-way point, Grasmere checkpoint.
GPX Files
The most up-to-date gpx files are available to download from the the following links: Ultra 55k 280623 and Ultra 100k 280623(right click and 'Save as' to download the files).
If you are doing your own course reccies, please make sure you follow the Countryside Code and make sure you close gates and 'leave only footprints'.
Mandatory Kit List - 100K and 55K (will be checked at Registration and spot checks at Checkpoints and the Finish).
A copy of this list can be downloaded HERE for reference.
Please note that due to the unpredictable nature of Lake District weather and the courses passing through some remote and exposed areas, there will be no reduction in the kit you will be required to carry at all times - this is for your safety.
Full waterproof body cover, including a hooded-jacket and full-length pants with taped seams (no exceptions), First aid kit (to include minimum blister plasters, bandage and zinc oxide tape to secure dressing), Spare long-sleeved base layer top, Hat & gloves, Whistle, Mobile phone (fully charged), Head Torch (and spare battery or an extra headtorch for the 100k), Emergency foil blanket or bivi bag, Emergency food & drink (minimum one energy/muesli bar and 100ml water - additional to your general nutrition ie not to be eaten during the event).
Note : compass is optional, and poles and GPS are permitted. Suncream is also recommended.
Photo ID
All competitors will be required to show Photo ID at the point of Registration. Acceptable forms of ID include Passport or Photo Driving Licence
Participation Statement
All participants in the Ultra must agree with the Participation Statement which is available to download here.
IMPORTANT - Strict Safety Cut Off Times will be operated for the event - these have been prepared for the safety of everyone in consultation with mountain rescue, safety, medical and communications experts and will be strictly adhered to. A broom wagon will follow runners around the course for anyone dropping out.
Feedstation and safety cut off information is available here.
Bag Drop - 100k runners can leave one bag at our bag drop in the marquee - nothing larger than a 20l rucksack. This bag will be available at the Glenridding checkpoint. You will need to affix the baggage label that you receive at registration to this bag and leave it in the marquee no later than 8pm on Friday. The bags will be returned to Ambleside from the Glenridding checkpoint once it has closed to the Ultra 55k runners and the Crew have cleared everything away.
Timetable
The event venue, start and finish will be in Rothay Park, Ambleside. Please note, there is no vehicular access to Rothay Park at all during the course of the event - this is a condition of our agreement with the local council.
Friday 7th July 2023
14:00 Registration / kit check opens in the main marquee, Rothay Park, for Lakeland Trails Ultra 100K and Ultra 55K
20:00 Registration closes
Saturday 8th July 2023
00:01 START: Lakeland Trails Ultra 100K (23 hour time limit)
06:45 Car Park opens at Rydal Farm
07:00 Registration opens (For the Ultra 55K we recommend you register on Friday in case of last-minute delays)
09:00 START: Lakeland Trails Ultra 55K Challenge (13 hour time limit)
10:00 START: Lakeland Trails Ultra 55K Race (12 hour time limit)
11:00 START: Lakeland Trails 23K (5 hour time limit)
13:00 START: Lakeland Trails 14K (3 hour time limit)
15:00 Children's Fun Trails (Please listen for announcements as this may be subject to change)
15.30 Après Trails live music with singer / songwriter Pete Lashley
16.30 Prize giving & spot prize giving for 23K and 14K
Sunday 9th July 2023
11:00 Apres Trails Party including live music from the amazing Pete Lashley
12:00 Prize Giving and Spot Prize Giving for 100K and 55K
The event requires over 150 marshals and stewards, so If you want to volunteer to help us in any way we would love to hear from you. Check out our volunteers page for more details.
With bus prices are capped at just £2 per journey, why not relax and take in the stunning scenery along the route, save on the cost of parking and reduce your carbon footprint?
Ambleside is on the 505, 555, 599 and 755 Bus Routes from Kendal and the 555 Bus Route from Keswick. The bus stop is only a few minute's walk from Rothay Park. You can find the latest timetable HERE
Send us a photo of your public transport ticket for all or part of your journey and we'll award one lucky winner at each event with a FREE ENTRY to a future event. Email your photos HERE
The environmental impact of travelling by car is much reduced if it's full so why not join up with your friends / running club members to travel together? There's always plenty to do in and around our venue and visiting local businesses helps support them too. Visit our Car Share group on Facebook HERE to start planning!