Ultra Trail UK

Self-navigated running, UK

Lakeland 100

Written by Catriona Adams. Published 10 August 2026

The Lakeland 100 is a full loop of the Lake District from Coniston — around 100 miles with roughly 6,300m of climbing, run to a 40-hour limit. First held in 2008, founded by Marc Laithwaite, it runs alongside the shorter Lakeland 50 as the Montane Lakeland 50 & 100, both finishing at the same point.

Key points

  • Around 100 miles (161 km), roughly 6,300m of climb, 40-hour time limit — a full loop of the Lake District from Coniston.
  • First run in 2008, founded by Marc Laithwaite of the Achille Ratti Climbing Club.
  • Officially the Montane Lakeland 50 & 100 — the 50-mile race joins the same course partway and shares the finish.
  • Course distance and elevation vary slightly by source (GPS-measured, not laser-surveyed) — figures here are the most consistent available.

The numbers

Distance~100 miles (161 km) — sources vary between ~104–105 mi
Elevation gain~6,300 m — sources range 5,175–6,856 m
Time limit40 hours
Start / finishConiston, Lake District — full loop
First run2008, founded by Marc Laithwaite
Companion raceLakeland 50 — joins the same course partway, shares the finish
Title sponsorMontane

Why the figures vary by source

Trail ultras aren't laser-surveyed the way a road marathon is — distance and elevation come from GPS watches and course-planning software, which disagree by a few percent depending on device, sample rate and how tightly a route hugs switchbacks. Sources for the Lakeland 100 range from about 104 to 105 miles and 5,175m to 6,856m of climb; the figures above are the most consistently cited, not a single official survey.

Current records

CategoryHolderTimeDate
MenMark Darbyshire19h 10m 27s2021
WomenBeth Pascall21h 29m 36s2016

Organised race, same fells as the Bob Graham

The Lakeland 100 loops through much of the ground the Bob Graham Round also covers — but with a marked course, staffed checkpoints, and a 40-hour cut-off structure the Round doesn't have. Distance and terrain don't separate the two disciplines; organisation does.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Around 100 miles (161 km) with roughly 6,300m of climbing — figures vary slightly by source since the course is GPS-measured rather than laser-surveyed, but it's consistently described as a full loop of the Lake District from Coniston.

40 hours — far longer than a Round's 24-hour target, reflecting the greater distance rather than easier terrain.

Marc Laithwaite, a member of the Achille Ratti Climbing Club in Langdale, who ran the first edition in 2008.

A shorter companion race that joins the Lakeland 100 course partway round and finishes at the same point — officially the two run together as the Montane Lakeland 50 & 100.

Mark Darbyshire set the men's record at 19h 10m 27s in 2021. Beth Pascall holds the women's record at 21h 29m 36s, set in 2016.

Yes — despite looping through much of the same Lake District terrain as the Bob Graham Round, the Lakeland 100 has a marked course, checkpoints, a 40-hour cut-off structure and an entry list. The Bob Graham has none of that.

Sources for this page

Related

UK Ultra-Trail RacesBob Graham RoundThe self-navigated alternative, same Lake District