Lake District Ultra Challenge

Lake District Ultra Challenge - 6 to 7 June 2026

The Lake District Ultra Challenge is based at Kendal and takes place in the Southern Lake District. The event offers a 100 km Kendal loop option and shorter point-to-point or loop routes that pass Lake Windermere, Ambleside and Garburn Pass. The full continuous route lists about 2500 m of climb. There are camping and hostel options at basecamp, and optional YMCA accommodation or camping at the halfway Lakeside location for the two-day format.

Distances and formats

• 100 km full continuous loop (approx. 2500 m climb)
• 100 km split over 2 days (50 km + 50 km; 1300 m and 1200 m climb)
• ~50 km half challenge (Kendal to Lakeside; ~1300 m climb)
• ~42 km Lakes Marathon (approx. 1200 m climb)
• ~29 km quarter challenge (approx. 900 m climb)
• ~10 km Ambleside loop (approx. 350 m climb)

Support, services and categories

Rest stops appear roughly every 12.5 km with larger stops at about 25/50/75/100 km; meal stops are scheduled about every 25 km and snacks about every 12.5 km. Rest stops include covered facilities, toilets, medical teams, massage and podiatry support, baggage pick-up and hot and cold drinks. The route is fully signed and supported with GPS tracking via an event app and a timing system that logs progress at rest stops. Entry categories include Ultra March for walkers (100 km sub-24 hours or 50 km sub-12 hours), Ultra Trailblazerz for faster competitive runners, and a Solo Challengers start option. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.