1st Quarter
Sat 6 Jun 2026 Kendal, Cumbria, UK Fundraising required

Lake District Ultra Challenge | 1st Quarter

Pack in the Longsleddale Valley, the Garburn Pass, stunning 360 views towards Windermere, the charming town of Ambleside, lakeside shores and a welcome finish line!

Enter now Charity places
  • Sat 6 Jun 2026
  • Fundraising required
Kendal Basecamp, Kendal > Ambleside, Ambleside
1st Quarter

07:00

Age 14 & over

£89

  • 29 km trail running + 900 m ascent

Event overview

Take on England’s finest countryside at your pace.

The challenge basecamp is in Kendal, and it’s a 100km loop taking in a couple of tough hills, the Garburn Pass, historic Ambleside, a halfway point by Lake Windermere, forests and nature reserves – with some stunning views en route, before a huge welcome and celebration back at basecamp after a momentous journey. You’ll get full support and hospitality, optional camping/hostel and various distance options available; there’s a Lake District Challenge for everyone!

The Ultra Challenge Experience

This endurance event is for a wide range of fitness and ages. Choose your distance and do it at your pace. The support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors and camaraderie.

There are marquee rest stops, plenty of food and drink, medical and massage teams, and a fully signed route with GPS tracking to guide you. A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement, and once the aches subside, you’ll feel energised and up for more of life’s challenges!

This event is part of Lake District Ultra Challenge.

Event video

  • All fitness levels
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Event village
  • Families

Your challenge, your way

Whether you’re a walker and new to challenge events, an experienced trekker, a marathon enthusiast upping the distance, or a seasoned ultra runner after UTMB points – there’s an Ultra Challenge® for you! Walk, jog, or run – as an individual or a team, for a charity of your choice or just for you.

On the Full and 1st Half challenges – there’s a new Ultra Trailblazerz® option for ‘rapid runners’, and an Ultra March® option for ‘hasty hikers’ – plus a friendly ‘Solo Challenger’ start time to join up with others.

The Lake District Ultra Challenge is fun, safe, and rewarding – with full support all the way, enabling you to push yourself further in some of England’s finest scenery.

Best support & hospitality

This Ultra Challenge® famously lays on the best support and hospitality available on any UK endurance-style event. This enables you to step up and confidently tackle an 'Ultra' distance, with the best chance of success - and to enjoy your challenge!

  • Check points
  • Distance markers
  • First aid
  • Food stations
  • Hilly
  • Marshals
  • Mass start
  • Navigation not required
  • No headphones
  • Outbound transport
  • Point to point
  • Return transport
  • Toilets
  • Water stations
  • Way markers

Overview

A fantastic ‘Quarter’ challenge which squeezes a lot in! Starting from our Kendal Base Camp (where you can camp Fri / Sat), it’s north up the Longsleddale Valley, and over the testing Garburn Pass with stunning 360 views towards Windermere, and then on to the charming town of Ambleside, on the shores of the Lake and a welcome finish line.

Map

map

Checkpoints

  • Snacks and drinks every 10-15km
  • 29km | picnic lunch and fizzy drinks
  • Finish | glass of fizz, medal and t-shirt

  • Accommodation
  • Bag transfer
  • Bar
  • BBQ
  • Cafe
  • Camping
  • Changing facilities
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Rural
  • Secure bag storage
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Kendal Basecamp
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9
UK

  • Camping
  • Chip timing
  • Drinks
  • Event app
  • Fizz at the finish
  • GPS tracking
  • Map
  • Massage
  • Medal
  • Pre-event training sessions
  • Snacks
  • Training plan
  • T-shirt

Before

  • Challenge app
  • Facebook forum
  • Training guides
  • Fundraising support
  • Training walks and runs
  • Video briefings
  • Travel planning
  • Parking

During

  • Baggage transfers
  • The start line
  • Timing and GPS tracking
  • Rest stops
  • Food and drink
  • Medical support
  • Camping

Along the route

  • Fully signed route
  • Apps, maps and GPS
  • Route safety experts
  • Emergency response
  • Trek masters
  • 24 hour control room

After

  • Finish line experience
  • Finish times and certificate
  • Shuttles and transfers
  • Hot meal
  • Medical care and follow up
  • Deals on future challenges

Bookable extras

  • Camping packages
  • Parking
  • Pre challenge transfers
  • Post challenge transfers
  • Extra meals
  • Baggage services

An excellent experience from start to finish. The route was brilliantly marked out, the food was gorgeous and plentiful, the staff couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive if they tried, a wonderful event that I can’t praise highly enough.

An amazing event, extremely well organised with fantastic, enthusiastic staff. So much support, food, drink and tonnes of information available if you ever had any questions. I’ve done lots of different races and this ranks as one of the best. It was tough but so worth it...a little bit sad it’s over.

Do it for charity

Looking to do this event for charity? Do it for one of the charities below or see the full list of charities on the Lake District Ultra Challenge charity places | 1st Quarter page.

Cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support

No one should have to face cancer alone.

  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£15

Fundraise
£275

Health and Medical

Stroke Association

Rebuilding lives after stroke.

  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£22.50

Fundraise
£275

Health and Medical

Epilepsy Society

Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.

  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact

Sign up
£22.50

Fundraise
£275

  • Age 14 & over
  • Entries open
  • Charity places
  • Enter online
  • Event merch available
  • Fundraising required
  • Series discount

The registration fee and minimum sponsorship amount will vary depending on charity/distance choosen.

Age

  • 100km - 18 years and over
  • 50km - 16 years and over
  • 25km - 14 years and over
  • 14-17 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult

Entry fees

Entry fee

£89.00

Enter now

Other races at event

  • Sat 6 Jun
  • #2 of 7
Kendal Basecamp, Kendal > YMCA Lakeside, Ulverston
1st Half

06:45

Age 18 & over

£139

  • 50 km trail running + 1300 m ascent
  • Sat 6 - Sun 7 Jun
  • #3 of 7
YMCA Lakeside, Ulverston > Kendal Basecamp, Kendal
2nd Half

10:00

Age 18 & over

£139

  • 50 km trail running + 1200 m ascent
  • Sat 6 - Sun 7 Jun
  • #4 of 7
Kendal Basecamp, Kendal
Full 100km continuous

06:45

Age 18 & over

£199

  • 100 km trail running + 2500 m ascent
  • Sat 6 - Sun 7 Jun
  • #5 of 7
Kendal Basecamp, Kendal
Full 100km over 2 days

07:00

Age 18 & over

£199

  • 100 km trail running + 2500 m ascent
  • Sat 6 Jun
  • #6 of 7
Kendal Basecamp, Kendal > Ambleside centre, Ambleside
Lakes Marathon

08:30

Age 18 & over

£139

  • 42 km trail running + 1200 m ascent
  • Sat 6 Jun
  • #7 of 7
Kendal Basecamp, Kendal
The Ambleside 10

10:00

Age 8 & over

£39

  • 10 km trail running + 350 m ascent
4 steps to wellbeing
Sleep well

A good night's sleep is an essential foundation for a healthy lifestyle, effective training and weight control.

Train slow

Low-intensity training is easier for you, reduces the risk of injury and helps builds an efficient aerobic system.

Eat natural

Cut out sugar & junk food, reduce carbs, eat natural foods and train your body to burn fat for fuel.

Get outdoors

Fresh air, natural light and reconnecting with nature all help to improve mental and physical wellbeing.