Blisco Dash

Blisco Dash

The Blisco Dash is an informal, low-key summer fell race held on a Wednesday evening. The event features a route that starts and finishes at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale, Ambleside. This AS-category race covers a distance of 8 km (5 miles) with a total ascent of 650 m (2133 ft).

The course begins on a road that is initially flat and fast before rising toward Blea Tarn. Runners then transition onto a rough, pitched path alongside Redacre Gill. The gradient steepens significantly on the way to the summit of Pike of Blisco, which requires some scrambling and route selection to reach the crown. The descent involves navigating back to Redacre Gill and following a greasy pitched path at high speed. The final section consists of a sprint along the tarmac to the finish line.

Participants must enter on the day of the event for a fee of £2. Because the race takes place on challenging mountain terrain, runners are required to have navigational skills and must bring full Fell Runners Association (FRA) kit. The use of GPS for navigation is prohibited. Parking is available at the National Trust car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll.

The event includes a prizegiving ceremony where the distribution of prizes often favors those who finish with slower times. Following the race, runners frequently gather at the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.