Test the limits of your lungs, legs, and willpower at the Swirral Grind 850, a relentless uphill-only race scheduled for an evening start at 5:30 PM on Friday, July 17, 2026. Designed in the challenging style of a Vertical Kilometre, this event packs a massive 850m of ascent into a focused 6km distance, starting from the Patterdale events field. The initial grind features steep, stepped paths leading directly to the iconic 'Hole in the Wall,' offering a brief, flat reprieve across the Red Tarn Basin. The final, spectacular ascent then climbs the famous ridge-line of Swirral Edge, tackling easy scrambling before hitting the ultimate goal: the 950m summit trig point of Helvellyn, the Lake District's third-highest peak. You have 90 minutes to conquer this fast and furious ascent, offering an incredible challenge in the stunning, UNESCO-recognized mountain landscape. Entries open on October 4, 2025, providing the opportunity to earn a unique Wild Flower Seed Bomb Medal upon completion. Do you have the sheer desire to ascend one of the Lakes' most spectacular peaks in this high-energy evening mountain adventure?
Races Offered
6 km
Jul 17, 2026
straighten
Distance —
6K
terrain
Type ——
timer
62 days remaining
Weather History
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for July in Glenridding.
thermostatTemperature
11.8° / 17.2°
wb_sunnyFeels like
10.1° / 15.3°
light_mode
Avg sunshine hours
9h 18m
water_drop
Avg rainfall
6.1 mm
ac_unit
Avg snowfall
—
air
Avg wind speed
12.3 km/h (Gentle breeze)
opacity
Sweat loss rate
Low
terrain
Course conditions
Firm and slightly soft
sunny
Max UV Index
Moderate (5.6)
humidity_mid
Humidity
87.3%
wb_twilight
Sunrise
04:58
nightlight
Sunset
21:35
About Glenridding
Learn more about the host city, Glenridding.
Glenridding is a village at the southern end of Ullswater, in the English Lake District. The village is popular with mountain walkers who can scale England's third-highest mountain, Helvellyn, and many other challenging peaks from there.
