Starting and finishing at Staveley Recreation Ground, the 5K Kentmere Sport Trail, 10K Kentmere Trail Run, 18K Kentmere Trail Race and 18K Kentmere Trail Challenge courses follow fully marked and marshalled footpaths and bridleways, taking in panoramic views of most of the southern Lakeland fells. ***NEW FOR 2024*** We also have a 1/2 Marathon(ish) route for those of you wanting to go that bit further.
The trails climb out from Staveley above the Kentmere valley, before returning along the valley itself past idyllic tarns and through ancient woodland, climbing Reston Scar before the descent back into Staveley village. Underfoot conditions are quite variable and there's a bit of everything! Short sections of tarmac, grassy footpaths, stony bridleways with some stiles to climb over near the end, all add to the unique nature of the event. The NEW 1/2 Marathon course ventures a little further, over Green Quarter Fell, past the picturesque Skeggles Water before dipping into the dramatic landscape of Longsleddale. Refuel your tanks at the well-stocked feedstation at Kentmere Institute before picking up familiar trails home. Yes, that does mean The Sting in the Trail!
A carnival atmosphere is guaranteed for both
spectators and competitors, with live music, race commentary, food
and drink all available at the start and finish. So, whether you're
new to trail running, an experienced athlete, or simply looking for
an unforgettable day out in the Lake District, a family-friendly, festival
atmosphere and some amazing trail running awaits you!
11.15
£10
New Low Price
A shorter distance event for everyone over the age of 12, on a well marked and marshalled course, with graded runnable climbs and descents. There is a NO TIME LIMIT and to enter you must be at least 12 years old. It is no longer possible to order an event-specific t-shirt but we'll have a great selection of NEW general designs available on the day
11.00
£29 / U25 £15
ALL 10k runners will now set off at the same time.
A shorter distance event for everyone over the age of 16, on a well marked and marshalled course, with graded runnable climbs and descents. There is a time limit of 2 hours and to enter you must be at least 16 years old. It is no longer possible to order an event-specific t-shirt but we'll have a great selection of NEW general designs available on the day
11.30
£35
An event for less competitive runners and fitness walkers. If you want to take it easy and enjoy the views, this is the one for you. There is a time limit of 4 hours for the Challenge and to enter you must be at least 18 years old. There is one feedstation on the course. Please note that prizes in this event are only available in the 1pm start. It is no longer possible to order an event-specific t-shirt but we'll have a great selection of NEW general designs available on the day
13.00
£35
For the competitive runner, a well marked and marshalled course with fast, graded runnable climbs and descents for those used to off road running. There is a time limit of 3 hours for the Race and to enter you must be at least 18 years old. There is one feedstation on the course. It is no longer possible to order an event-specific t-shirt but we'll have a great selection of NEW general designs available on the day
13.00
£29 / U25 £15
An event for less competitive runners and fitness walkers. If you want to take it easy and enjoy the views, this is the one for you. There is a time limit of 3 1/2 hours for the Challenge and to enter you must be at least 18 years old. If you expect to finish in less than 1 1/2 hours, please enter the Race. Please note that prizes in this event are only available in the 2pm start. It is no longer possible to order an event-specific t-shirt but we'll have a great selection of NEW general designs available on the day
14.00
£29 / U25 £15
For the competitive runner, a fully marked and marshalled course with fast, graded runnable climbs and descents for those used to off road running. There is a time limit of 2 hours for the Race and to enter you must be at least 18 years old. It is no longer possible to order an event-specific t-shirt but we'll have a great selection of NEW general designs available on the day
All of the pre-race information is now shown below rather than in an Event Guide to make it more accessible. Please take time to read this information.
Can you fill your car with someone from your local club or car share? We've set up a Facebook group to help arrange that. Join that HERE to save money and emissions.
Send us a photo / screenshot of your public transport ticket to the event, or a photo of your bike in the event ground HERE and we'll randomly choose someone for a FREE entry. Staveley train station is very close with regular trains from Kendal and Windermere (see the timetable links below).
We won't be holding a Safety Briefing as all of the ESSENTIAL information is covered below.
✅ Follow the postcode LA8 9LN to Staveley and then follow our car park signs
✅ All day parking is £5 for cars, £6 for vans
✅If the ground is soft, use LOW revs and set off in a straight line
❌Only SMALL vans (max. VW Transporter) are permitted on our event parking (anything bigger would get stuck at the entrance and cause problems for everyone else)
❌ NO EXIT before 1pm as both car parks have only one entrance / exit
✅ Race number to be collected on the day AT LEAST 45 minutes before your Start Time
✅Your race number must be attached HORIZONTALLY or the timing chip won’t be read
✅ Set off at your allocated time or you won't show on the Results
✅You can swap your entry to the Race, Challenge, 10k or 5k at least 45 minutes before the earliest Start Time of the two (e.g. if you want to swap from the 1pm Challenge to the 2pm Race, 12:15pm is the deadline).
✅To arrange this, edit your entry up to 6 days before the event, contact us up to the Wednesday beforehand or in person at Registration on event day.
❌No on the day swapping possible between the Trail Run 10k Early Start and Main Start
✅ Carry your own water or bring your own cup for the water stations on course or by the marquee
✅ If you arrive at a closed gate, please close it behind you – there will be lambs in the fields
✅ If you find the terrain is tricky, be prepared to slow down so that you can negotiate it safely
❌No over ear or in ear headphones (bone conducting ones permitted)
❌Snot rockets or spitting on the course
❌No pushing past other runners
✅ Have a wonderful day
Please note that the Trail Run 10k and Trail Run 10k Early Start will now both start at 11am.
If you want to swap to a different contest, you can do so through your account HERE up until 6 days before the event.
Any later than that, please visit the Enquiries desk at Registration on the day, at least 45 minutes before the earliest start of your current and desired contest. e.g. if you'd like to swap from the 13:15 Challenge to the 14:00 Race, the cut-off would be 12:30.
The Start Lists will be updated on the Monday before the event to show any last-minute entries.
08.45 Car park opens
09.00 Registration opens in the main registration marquee.
11.00 Staveley Trail Run 10k (NB -we have removed the Early Start)
11.15 Staveley Sport Trail 5k
12.00 Staveley Trail 1/2 Marathon Challenge
12.45 Staveley Fun Trails (under 12's - enter on the day)
13.00 Staveley Trail Challenge 18k and 1/2 Marathon Race
14.00 Staveley Trail Race 18k
15.30 Après Trails live music with singer / songwriter Pete Lashley
16.30 Prize giving & spot prize giving
With bus prices are capped at just £2 per journey until the end of 2024, why not relax and take in the views along the route, save on the cost of parking and reduce your carbon footprint?
Staveley is on the 555 Bus Route from Kendal and the bus stop is only a minute's walk from the Recreation Ground. You can find the latest timetable HERE
The train station is only a 3 minute walk from the Recreation Ground. You can find the latest timetable HERE
Send us a photo of your public transport ticket for all or part of your journey and we'll award one lucky winner at each event with a FREE ENTRY to a future event. Email your photos HERE
The environmental impact of travelling by car is much reduced if it's full so why not join up with your friends / running club members to travel together? There's always plenty to do in and around our venue and visiting local businesses helps support them too. Visit our Car Share group on Facebook HERE to start planning!
Sport Trail 5k | Open Class: First Man & Woman Under 16: First Boy & Girl |
Other contests | Open Class: First 3 Men & Women Veteran Classes: First Man & Woman (V40, V50, V60, V70, V80) |
Please note that if a Vet in an event comes first, they will be classed as the winner and receive the Seniors’ prize – only one prize per person and they don’t get posted out.
Competitors in the 14-18k V70 can compete in either the Race or Challenge to be eligible for a prize.
Results will be available in real-time on our website.
We have bus and train information on our website. With bus tickets only £2 per journey, why not arrive at the event relaxed and enjoy the scenery on the way?
If you arrive by bike, we’ll have a bike rack available (bikes left at your own risk).
All day parking is £5. Alternatively, fill your car with 4 or more passengers and park for FREE. We prefer payment by card machine, although we can accept cash. Please use our Car Sharing Facebook group to either offer or request a lift.
The car park opens at 8:45am and is located a short walk from the Recreation Ground. Please follow our Car Park signs because the entrance to one car park is tight and the direct route causes bottlenecks.
Please note that this parking is only suitable for cars and SMALL vans (nothing larger than a regular VW Transporter). The entrance is narrow and you will get stuck if you try and arrive in anything else.
Nearly all of our runners and polite and friendly but, for some reason, a few people abuse our hardworking car park crew because they have had to wait a few minutes or they're being asked to park considerately. We have a zero tolerance policy to this sort of behaviour and will not hesitate to ban people from our events if they behave in this way.
If the weather is very wet leading up to the event, please check the event website for any announcements about possible changes in arrangements.
Non-event parking in Staveley is very limited and the roads are narrow so please use our car parks so that residents aren’t inconvenienced. We rely on their support and want to keep them happy. If you were planning to travel in a motorhome or large van, why not park in Kendal or Windermere and get the train in? You can check the timetable from THIS LINK.
When you are leaving the venue, please be patient if you’re asked to wait a couple of minutes, either for other cars to arrive or to give priority to runners.
Directions – The postcode LA8 9LN will direct you to the Recreation Ground in Staveley. We will have two car parks in use depending on what time you arrive. As you approach the centre of Staveley, signage and our stewards will direct you to the correct one. It’s really important that you follow our instructions to avoid causing congestion in the village.
Please be very careful when you when you are driving through the village as there may be runners alongside the route.
All Race Numbers must be collected from Registration in the main marquee on race day.
Registration opens at 9:00am on Saturday. You can collect your number up to 45 minutes before your allocated start time.
Start Lists won’t be on display in the marquee but will be available above and we will confirm your number by email a couple of days before the event.
If you forget what your number is, you can check it on a tablet in Registration.
If you’ve got any questions about your entry, please go to the Enquiries desk on the right-hand side of the main marquee and a friendly face will help you.
There will be a baggage storage adjacent to the main marquee.
Please note there are no entries on the day and entries are not transferrable. Runners competing with someone else's number will be disqualified and will not be eligible for prizes or appear in the results.
We will also prevent them from taking part in future Lakeland Trails events, such is the safety risk if something were to happen to a person whose details we don’t have on our system.
All contests set off from Staveley Recreation Ground with the awesome Batala Lancaster keeping you entertained on the start line.
The finish is under our inov8 gantry. When you cross the finish line, it’s really important that your whole number is clearly visible so we can give you a shout out and cross check our timing system in case of any queries. Failure to display your number may result in disqualification
Once you’ve finished, you’ll go through the main marquee. If you've ordered a t-shirt it will be available to collect inside.
If you haven't ordered a t-shirt, please pass straight through the marquee.
Results will be available in real-time via our website.
Event T-shirts are no longer 'free' and must be ordered in advance. It's possible to add a t-shirt to your entry up to 4 weeks before the event if you didn’t do so when you entered. You can do that HERE.
Your race bib will indicate the style (male or female) and size of your t-shirt. If you have deferred from last year, we will order you a t-shirt if you requested one when you entered. T-shirts are available in the marquee after you have completed your run and cannot be collected on behalf of other people.
Please note - if you are not attending the event and want us to post your event t-shirt to you, we can do so for £5. Please make that payment HERE a minimum of 2 days before the event. We cannot arrange this any later and refunds are not available, in line with our Ts and Cs.
Any surplus t-shirts will be available for sale for £10 after the last runner has crossed the line. All profits from the sale of the surplus t-shirts will be donated to Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
All courses will be well marked and marshalled by our magnificent Lakeland Trails volunteers, all of whom work hard to make your run as enjoyable and safe as possible. The courses have a variety of terrain, mainly beautiful, scenic hard packed trails with the occasional muddy section!
Please stay alert on any road sections and keep close to the right hand side. Our marshals don’t have authority to stop traffic, so please be prepared to slow down and wait if necessary.
Remember to save yourself for the infamous ‘Sting in the Trail’ – the brutal climb to the top of Reston Scar which you summit with just a fast descent of 1km to go.
If you think the terrain is too tricky, it’s fine to slow down or walk and take in the views! Some gates on the course may not be staffed so if you arrive at a closed gate, please close it after you – there will be lots of lambs in the fields and we want them to stay there. There are sections of private land which may only be used on race day and please put any litter in your pocket until you reach a bin.
For safety, in ear headphones are not allowed - but we do allow bone conductor headphones which enable peripheral sound to be heard.
VERY IMPORTANT: DOGS AREN’T ALLOWED ON THE COURSE
As part of our commitment to reduce our environmental impact, please play your part by coming self-sufficient with your own water supplies or bring your own re-useable cup. We will not be supplying cups at the Water Stations so please bring your own to be filled with Lake District water.
There will be one feedstation and one water station on the Half Marathon course (at 11.8k and 17.5k) - please note that the first station is quite a way into the course so you may wish to take your own water for the long first section (11.8k). There will be TWO water stations on the 18k course (at 6.6k and 13.4k) and ONE on the 10k course (at 7k). Drinking water will also be available at the finish.
At the Half Marathon feedstation, there will be a selection of sweet and savoury snacks, including bananas, crisps, jelly babies and flapjack. Water and flat coke will also be available.
We recommend you wear suitable trail running shoes. The inov-8 Roclite or Mudtalon trail shoe would be ideal for the course. In adverse weather a cagoule, tights, hat and gloves may be required, so do come prepared, just in case. The Lake District is a mountainous region and the weather can deteriorate at any time of the year but especially in the spring.
Advanced Life Support Medics from Event Safety Group will be in attendance and our in-house Comms Team will provide radio coverage to the marshals and crew. The medics priority is medical emergencies and more severe injuries. With that in mind, they may not be able to help you with minor cuts and scrapes that you’d normally be able to sort out yourself.
If you are unable to finish your event and need to retire, you must report to the finish line or an event marshal and hand in your race number.
Please remember to treat fellow runners, members of the public, our volunteers and crew with respect. We want everyone to have an enjoyable day!
Pete Bland Sports will be onsite providing expert advice, selling a wide range of the latest inov8 products and race essentials with great discounts on all inov8 footwear and clothing – even their exciting new products.
There will be some great food and drink stalls including exciting offerings from our local caterers. Our regular caterers include Fiery Mammas Pizza and Wrap Ninjas, with great coffees from The Coffee Bug and Fellside Coffee. We sometimes have guest traders too! We use all small local businesses who sell locally sourced food.
A PA system with race commentary from our fantastic MC will keep you informed of progress of runners and give you a warm welcome as you cross the finish line!
Portable loos and a urinal unit are also on site.
If it's your first event and you want to find out more about how the event works or have any questions, please introduce yourself to one of our friendly marshals and we will be happy to make sure you get the information you need!
All children Under 12 have the chance to run alongside, or maybe even in front of, Zeraffa, the long-lost cousin of the late and much-loved Gerry the Giraffe. Entry is only available on the day and is free for competitors’ children. The Fun Trails give children the buzz of the race day experience so please give them your support. You never know – they might be the next world champions! All the children are rewarded with a special finishers’ sticker. As the emphasis is on FUN and participation, there are no winners’ prizes. Bring your whole family along to make a great day of it! At Staveley the Fun Trail sets off at 12.45.
We will have a fantastic selection of NEW merchandise available, including hoodies, long sleeved technical t-shirts and Big Bobble Hats. Check out our SHOP page for further information.
We'll have some great deals on end of line products.
Spectators are very welcome and really help create a fantastic atmosphere in the event village. There is plenty of entertainment at the start and finish arena; bring deck chairs, rugs, cameras and a smile!
We will have James Kirby, our professional photographer on the course. FREE photos will be available to download from www.Facebook.com/lakelandtrails on the Sunday after the event.
The legendary singer / songwriter Pete Lashley will be performing live for an hour with Prize Giving following on afterwards. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow competitors, the organising and marshalling teams.
There will be a great range of Spot Prizes up for grabs. We’ll choose the winning numbers at random during our Prize Giving ceremony.
Results will appear LIVE on the Results page on our website.
Prizes are awarded to the following:
Sport Trail 5k
First Male & Female*
First U16 Boy & Girl
Trail Run 10k and Trail Race 18k
First 3 Men & Women and V40, V50, V60, V70, V80**
Trail Half Marathon
First 3 Men & Women and V40, V50, V60, V70, V80**
All prize winners receive a free entry into the following year's event and the top 3 runners will receive an inov8 voucher.
Under 16 winners of the Sport Trail 5k also receive a CASH prize.
*If an Under 16 wins the Sport Trail 5k, they will receive the Senior Prize only and a prize will not be awarded for the First Man and Woman.
**With the exception of V60 and V70, competitors need to take part in the Trail Race 18k to be eligible for a prize. V60 and V70 competitors can take place in the Challenge.
**If a Vet is placed in the overall results, they will receive the Senior Prize only and a prize will not be awarded for that Vet category.
Unfortunately we do not post prizes out.
Why not relax and take in the stunning scenery along the route, save on the cost of parking and reduce your carbon footprint? It's just £2 to travel by bus!
Staveley is on the 555 Bus Route from Ambleside, Windermere and Kendal. The bus stops at the Eagle and Child pub, only one minute's walk from the Recreation Ground. You can find the latest timetable HERE.
Staveley is also on the Kendal to Windermere train line. A timetable for the train can be found HERE.
Send us a photo of your public transport ticket for all or part of your journey and we'll award one lucky winner at each event with a FREE ENTRY to a future event. Email your photos HERE before the Monday after the event.
The environmental impact of travelling by car is much reduced if it's full so why not join up with your friends / running club members to travel together? There's always plenty to do in and around our venue and visiting local businesses helps support them too. Visit our Car Share group on Facebook HERE to start planning!
If there are 4 or more people in your car, parking is FREE!
The event requires over 50 marshals and stewards, so if you want to volunteer to help us in any way we would love to hear from you. Check out our volunteers' page for more details.
After the excitement of the race, it can be easy to forget to pick something up. If you think you've lost / forgotten something, please contact us HERE and we'll see if we can locate the item. Items can be collected at a future event free of charge or posted back to you. For the latter, please pay HERE after we've confirmed we've got your item.