Montane Lakeland 100 course

Source: The distance and the ascent are from the race organiser (lakeland100.com). We calculate the descent from the organiser ascent and the elevation difference between the start and the finish. The elevation profile and the gradient data come from a 25 m digital elevation model (EU-DEM). All elevations are to the nearest 10 m (50 ft).

Race organiser? Get a course visualiser for your event site.

About the course

The Montane Lakeland 100 is a c.105 mi169 km ultramarathon that makes a full circuit of the Lake District National Park in north-west England, starting and finishing in the village of Coniston. The route runs clockwise, heading west through Eskdale and Wasdale, north via Buttermere and Keswick, east to Dalemain and Ullswater, then back south through Haweswater, Kentmere and Ambleside before returning to Coniston.

It is one of the UK's toughest ultra trail races. The course has roughly 22,500 ft6,860 m of elevation gain and loss, spread over a relentless series of climbs and descents on rocky mountain passes, bridleways and old packhorse trails. Its high point is only c.2,200 ft670 m, but the climbing rarely lets up, and much of the terrain is steep, stony and technical underfoot.

The Montane Lakeland 100 course climbs and descends around 22,500 ft6,860 m over its c.105 mi169 km distance. That's more total climbing than the Lavaredo Ultra Trail, although it is spread over a longer course and is less concentrated. The Lakeland course has nearly twice the climbing of the South Downs Way 100 over a similar distance, making it one of the hilliest 100-mile races in the UK.

Ascent & descent analysis

In late July, the Lake District is usually mild, with daytime temperatures typically around 18°C64°F and overnight temperatures dropping to around 9°C48°F. On the high fell passes it can feel much cooler, especially at night.

Rain is likely, and conditions are often breezy to windy. Low cloud can shroud the high ground, reducing visibility on the unmarked route, and heavy rain can leave paths boggy and swell streams.

The weather data has been obtained using the Open-Meteo historical weather API.

Conditions at the start line

The pictograms below show the conditions at the start of the course on the race date in each of the last five years.

Temperature range on course

Temperatures experienced on course are impacted by elevation. The graph below shows the temperature range for the five most recent events at different parts of the course.

Daylight hours

The graph below shows the daylight hours on the day of the 2026 edition (24 July), in local time.

The Montane Lakeland 100 starts and finishes in Coniston at roughly 200 ft60 m and reaches a high point of only around 2,200 ft670 m. Altitude has no meaningful effect on the race, so the challenge comes entirely from the terrain and the cumulative climbing rather than thin air.

Below 1,500 m, altitude has a negligible effect on VO2max, so the VO2max decline line is not shown for this course.