Lake District Sky Trails - Swirral Grind 850

JUL
17
2026
Tackle the Swirral Grind 850 in Patterdale on 17 July 2026, part of the Rab Helvellyn Sky Ultra weekend, a pure uphill 6 km blast with 850 m of ascent to the summit. Expect steep paths, easy scrambling and stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site views.
Fri 17 Jul 2026
6 kilometers

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Event overview

The Swirral Grind 850 is an uphill-only race held in Patterdale on 17 July 2026. The race distance is 6 km with 850 m ascent. The event is based at the King George Playing Field in Patterdale and is scheduled as part of the Rab Helvellyn Sky Ultra weekend. Entry fee is £30 and the minimum age is 16. Entries open 4 October 2025 and close 15 July 2026.

Course and included services

The route is a continuous ascent from the start field to the ridge and summit. The course uses steep and stepped paths to the feature known as the "Hole in the Wall", then crosses the flats of Red Tarn Basin before a final climb to the ridge-line of Swirral Edge. The route involves easy scrambling to reach the summit trig point at 950 m.

The entry fee includes a fully marked course, manned checkpoints, a recycled paper mache wild flower seed bomb medal, and a safety officer with a supporting safety team provided by Mountain Run. The event page notes it takes place within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

6 km
6km With 850m Ascent