Lake District Sky Trails - Swirral Grind 850
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Event details
The Swirral Grind 850 is an uphill-only race held on 17 July 2026 in Patterdale. The route is 6 km long with 850 m of ascent and is based at the King George Playing Field. Entry fee is £30. Entries open 04 October 2025 at 08:00 and close 15 July 2026. The minimum age to enter is 16 or older. The event is offered as part of the Rab Helvellyn Sky Ultra weekend.
Course description and race features
The race is designed in the style of a Vertical K and consists of continuous ascent. Steep and stepped paths lead to the feature known as the "Hole in the Wall", followed by running the flats of the Red Tarn Basin. A second and final ascent climbs to the Swirral Edge ridge-line, including sections of easy scrambling to reach the summit trig point at 950 m. The route involves an ascent of Helvellyn.
Included with entry are a fully marked course, manned checkpoints, a recycled paper mache wild flower seed bomb medal, and a professional safety officer and supporting safety team delivered by Mountain Run. The event is described as professionally planned and takes place within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.