13 Valleys Ultra

The 13 Valleys Ultra is the centrepiece of the event weekend: a 184km loop from Keswick that threads through every one of the Lake District's 13 valleys, all of which form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. With 7,018m of climbing, 12 feed stations, and a course that is deliberately left unwaymarked, runners must self-navigate through remote Lakeland fells using GPX files — including during the mandatory overnight sections. A single drop bag drop is available at approximately the halfway point. The route passes through Windermere, Coniston, Duddon, Eskdale, Wasdale, Ennerdale, Buttermere, Borrowdale, Thirlmere, Ullswater, Haweswater, Grasmere, and Langdale. Only around 40% of starters reach Keswick within the 46.5-hour cutoff.