Patterdale Parish Boundary Hiking Challenge - Beat The Bounds 2025

About

As an old tradition in the Ullswater Valley, join locals and regulars to the valley to 'Beat The Bounds' of the Patterdale Parish Boundary, following the Parish Bounds as much as possible.

​The Full Parish Boundary Event is 28 miles long with approximately 10,300 feet of ascent, and covers many famous mountains including Raise, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, Grisedale Tarn, Fairfield, Red Screes, the Kirkstone Pass, High Street, Angle Tarn, and Place Fell. Whatever the weather, the adventure is tough yet exciting. whether glorious or misty, or rain beat on your face, there are stupendous views which ed and flow throughout the length of the route. Think of it as a high-level companion to the Ullswater Way! There is of course, a little twist in the route to follow the 'actual' parish boundary on the OS map… so your navigation skills will be put to good use! Bespoke maps will be available to purchase & posted out to you in advance of the event.

The fastest known times to complete the full route are: Male: Bobby Gard-Storry 5 hours, 53 minutes, 31 seconds. Female: Karen Nash 8 hours, 28 minutes, 50 seconds.

2025 will be our first year with a 1st half event, so no times yet.

The fastest known times to complete the 2nd half are : Male: Adam Knodwell 3 hours, 6 minutes, 35 seconds. & Female: Angela Wilson 3hours, 6 minutes, 41 seconds.

Events Options & Start Times:

Full Boundary Event: 28 miles and 10,200ft ascent
Start: Patterdale School 5:30am - 9am - Strict Kirkstone Pass cut off time 3pm
Checkpoint: Kirkstone Pass with snacks (sweet and savoury), VOOM Nutrition (bars and hydration), hot and cold drinks. Our community are kindly organising and staffing the CP, other goodies for participants (free) and spectators (to purchase) will be in abundance!

1st Half Event: 16 miles & 6,500m of ascent
Start: Patterdale School 5:30am - 9am - Course closes at Kirkstone Pass at 3pm
Public transport from kirkstone back to Patterdale School runs hourly (subject to change in 2025 timetable). Or you may of course walk back downhill to the valley.

2nd Half Boundary Event (top of Kirkstone Pass to Patterdale): 14 miles and 3,500 ft ascent
Start: Kirkstone Pass Summit 11am - 3pm
Public transport is available from Patterdale School to the top of Kirkstone Pass for your start

Family Walk or Solo Downhill Challenge: 7miles via Hartsop Hall, downhill!
Start: Kirkstone Patt Summit 12noon - 3pm
Public transport is available from Patterdale School to the top of Kirkstone Pass for your start
A rolling start means you will be able to start between the suggested start times above, at your leisure.

You will be provided with a tracker, which not only gives us reassurance of your location and safety, but also enables the organisers to ensure you have ticked off a few strategic points along the route, even more reason to make sure your Navigation Skills are spot on... The strategic points will not necessarily be Mountain summits - we will be watching, which is half the fun of this event! After all it's the Parish Boundary, not a route only following the trails...

Family and friends are welcome to Kirkstone Top to cheer you on. Why not suggest they take part in the Minibeat - Down Hill 7 Mile Treasure Hunt for families/friends - £10 per family, individuals £5 (local families walk for free). Please enter on line to help us gauge numbers or you can still enter on the day the Minibeat ONLY on the day. This route starts from Kirkstone Pass to finish at Patterdale School.

You will be sent participant information, a detailed route description by email on the lead up to the event. The GPX Routes will also be available in due course.

Traditionally the event has been a walking event and has been conducted to raise funds for Patterdale Church of England School (the second most remote school in England), and which could not survive financially without generous donations from fund-raising events, they need to raise £17,000 per annum in order to stay open) and the ministry and work of St Patrick's Church, Patterdale. This has become a local tradition, to Beat The Bounds, since founded 45 years ago by Stephen Gorton, a resident of Hartsop and long-standing member of the church and founder member of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.

This event has historically been a free event where folk raised money in the form of a sponsored walk independently and can obviously still continue to do so. Confirmation of how to donate your fundraising will be given to all those partaking in the event, and there is an option to donate additional funds when you enter via SI Entries.

Your entry fee will include: Warm Welcome before you start / Tracker fitted to your pack / Bespoke race number / Kirkstone checkpoint food & drinks / Finishers soup & cake.

Cut off times will be applied at Kirkstone Pass and Boredale Hause (on the 2nd half) to ensure the safe return of all participants to the valley.

To make sure this all happens safely and smoothly, Nicky will organise the event with her experienced event team, First Aiders and event volunteers for many years to come. We hope that the volunteers from the valley and community will also remain highly involved. It is for these reasons that there is now a charge for this event.

There will 100% discount for residents of the Patterdale Parish, the discount code will be circulated around the parish or available by emailing nicola@hikinghighs.co.uk.

There will be a £5 discount for members of the Long Distance Walking Association FOR THE FULL BOUNDARY EVENT ONLY, by way of thanks for promoting our fundraising event via their social media and Strider magazine. If you are current LDWA member please provide your membership number when entering the FULL BOUNDARY and the discount will automatically be applied.

We would like to thank VOOM Nutrition for backing this event with a supply of hydration and energy along the way for hikers and runners & for offering signage for our 2025 event.

PLEASE BE ADVISE THERE IS NO REFUND POLICY FOR THIS EVENT. If you cannot participate and have already entered, PLEASE let us know as we pay for each tracker ordered. You Entry fee will be considered a donation to Patterdale C of E Primary School and St Patrick's Church, Patterdale, equally split.

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