Helvellyn Sky Ultra
Patterdale, United Kingdom • 18 Jul 2026
Event overview
The Rab Helvellyn Sky Ultra takes place on 18 July 2026 in Patterdale, in the English Lake District. The course distance is 57 km with 3700 m of ascent. The event has a maximum allowed time of 14.5 hours and a minimum entry age of 19. Entry fees are listed at £130, rising to £140 from 1 April 2026. Entries open 4 October 2025 and close 28 June 2026. Entries are not vetted for this race.
Course, classification and support
The route is a fully marked mountain course run in an anti-clockwise direction. Terrain includes grassy trods, mountain paths, bare rock and scree, bog and open fell. The route crosses notable ridgelines such as Striding Edge and Swirral Edge and includes long ascents and exposed sections; prior mountain experience is advised. The race was classified by Skyrunning UK as a "Sky Extra" race in 2018 and offers ITRA/UTMB ranking points.
Support and services included with entry: one fully supplied feed station, two valley support points, 11 manned checkpoints, GPS tracking and timing (Open Tracking), a mountain-qualified safety officer and supporting safety team, a post-race salty vegan soup, a wild seed-bomb medal, and an option to join a tree planting scheme. Optional extras are available for purchase through the entry system. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.