Lake District & UK · Year-Round Series

Skyrunner UK & Ireland Series

The UK's premier technical mountain running series — steep, technical and spectacular. Races across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland with Lake District events at their heart.

13 Races

2026 Series

UK & Ireland

Locations

Technical

Race Style

SkyMasters

Series Final

COACH

Brennan Townshend — Former UK Skyrunning Champion

Brennan is a former UK Skyrunning Champion with extensive experience across the Skyrunning UK series. His technical fell running background makes him ideally placed to coach athletes targeting these demanding mountain races.

What is Skyrunning?

Skyrunning is mountain running at its most pure — technical, steep and spectacular. Races are characterised by sustained gradients, technical terrain (including scrambling), significant elevation gain and loss, and routes that explore the most demanding mountain environments in the UK. These are not trail races — they are proper mountain races requiring genuine alpine skills.

Key 2026 UK Series Races

Rab Scafell Sky Race

38km · 2,800m+ · Great Langdale, Lake District. June 2026. Summits Scafell Pike — highest in England.

Lake District

Rab Scafell Sky Ultra

63km · 4,400m+ · New ultra distance. A technical grand tour of the Central and Southern Lakes.

Lake District

RAB St Sunday Sky Race

29km · St Sunday Crag & Eastern Fells, Patterdale. July 18 2026.

Lake District

Snowdon SkyRace

38km · 3,300m+ · Includes Tryfan North Ridge & Crib Goch Grade 1 scrambles. Wales.

Wales

Copper SkyTrail

Intro to Skyrunning through technical Snowdon massif trails and Y Lliwedd ridge. Wales.

Wales

Mourne Skyline

35km · 2,700m+ · The classic Northern Ireland Skyrunning race. An iconic mountain route.

Northern Ireland

Key Facts

The 2026 series features 13 races across UK & Ireland
Top 3 men/women overall series champions win £500, £250, £125
Series champions are invited to the SkyMasters — the Skyrunner World Series Finals
Races are governed by the International Skyrunning Federation
Technical competence and mountain skills are essential — not just fitness
Lake District Skyrunning races are on Brennan's home turf

Preparation Tips

Technical Skills First

Skyrunning races often include scrambling, steep scree and exposed ridges. Build technical mountain running skills before entering. These are not beginner events.

Vertical Training

The gradient demands of Skyrunning are extreme. Include regular hill reps, steep ascent training and — critically — technical descent training on rocky, uneven terrain.

Recce Your Race

Most Skyrunning races are on unmarked or partially marked routes. Know the course before race day — especially the technical sections, scrambles and key navigation points.

Race-Weight Mandatory Kit

Skyrunning races carry strict mandatory kit requirements. Practice racing with full kit weight, including waterproofs, emergency gear and nutrition for the full race duration.

Training for Skyrunning UK?

We build bespoke training plans and coaching packages for this race. Get in touch to discuss your preparation.

Get in Touch Official Website ›