Waterhead, Ambleside, United Kingdom · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Valleys Ultra 55km

10 days to go

58 km Distance

2,500 m Climbing

6.7 Grit · Hardcore

54.4219° N, 2.9640° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 43 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Time limit 19 hours 19:39 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Among the most forgiving 50K cut-offs we track. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~458 Large. Rarely out of sight of another runner.

DUV results for the 2024 edition (55km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, September

Daytime high 15°C

Night low 10°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 12 h 01 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for September — NASA POWER, grid elevation 164 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 58 km of trail with 2,500 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes43 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition58 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles2,500 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 19 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Salomon

Sense Ride 5

RunRepeat found the Salomon Sense Ride 5 to have immaculate lockdown and a smooth and stable ride, making it confident on moderate trails and steep downhills. I…

★★★★★ 4.5

Adidas

Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

★★★★★ 4.5

Skratch Labs

Sport Hydration Mix

Clean electrolyte drink mix with real fruit flavor. Low sugar.

$20 ★★★★★ 4.5

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

Industry-standard 12L race vest with front flask pockets and minimal bounce.

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

4-section folding carbon poles with compact pack size for mandatory gear.

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

Nitecore

UT32

Dual-beam trail running headlamp (1100 lumens) with spot and flood beams.

$100 ★★★★★ 4.5

All gear guides →

Course Notes

Approx. 55km challenge incorporating 5 valleys of the 13 Valleys route. Starting at Waterhead, Ambleside and finishing in Keswick, participants will follow a fully way marked route with regular check points and feed stations to keep fulled and motivated.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.