LAKES CROSSING 100KM
Start Venue & Registration
Seacotes Hotel St.Bees
Beach Road
St Bees
Cumbria
CA27 0ES
United Kingdom
Registration - Friday 19th March or Saturday 20th March 2027
Seacotes Hotel St. Bees
Friday 13:00 - 20:00: Race registration, race-bib collection, mandatory kit checks, and finish bag handover. (Please aim for Friday registration wherever possible)
Saturday late registration 06:15 - 07:00
Participants must bring photographic ID.
Please bring your own race belt or bib pins.
Race Day - Saturday 20th March 2027 - Seacotes Hotel
06:45 - 07:30: Tracker collection.
08:00: Race starts.
Finish Line - Shap
Final location TBD - Venue instructions will be issued in our final participant race packs.
Final Cut-off - 14:00 Sunday 21st March 2027
Overall time allowance - 30 hours
After a full lakes crossing with approximately 3500m+ over a distance of 100km you will arrive at our finish location in Shap.
Some of the first finishers will be expected into Shap Saturday evening and the remaining participants will arrive throughout the night and the following day.
The entire field will have until 2PM on Sunday to reach the finish where the Community Traverse team will be waiting to welcome each and every finisher across the line.
Course Overview
Participants will cross the heart of the Lake District National Park with the route closely following the established Wainwright's Coast to Coast path from St Bees to Shap, our final GPX route may differ slightly where required. While sections are well way-marked, participants must not rely solely on signage and should be competent in navigation.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience some of the most iconic and demanding terrain on the route. Coastal paths, steep mountain passes, rocky descents and exposed fells offer a mighty challenge that’s suited for experienced ultra runners, aspiring athletes, and long distance hikers who are confident they can complete the course within the overall time allowance.
The final route GPX file and any necessary details or diversions will be provided in advance of the event.
Checkpoints & Rest Facilities
Checkpoints:
Participants can rest, reset and receive support.
Checkpoint teams will welcome participants, log their arrival and departure times, provide food and refreshments, and help with basic welfare needs.
Toilet facilities and Period Products will be provided at all official Community Traverse checkpoints.
The lakes crossing is a continuous ultra marathon event with an overall cut-off of 30hrs. No on-course sleeping facility is guaranteed for this distance. Participants may rest as needed at checkpoints where space and opening arrangements allow, but must not leave the route to use private accommodation.
Individual checkpoint cut-offs are departure times and will be issued in our final participant race packs. Participants who cannot leave safely before a cut-off may be withdrawn.
Participants must remain self-sufficient between checkpoints and carry sufficient food and water for the next section, separate emergency food, mandatory kit and personal medication.
Checkpoint locations:
Food options:
Hot and/or cold food options will be available at each checkpoint location, there will be two menu options: Non-Vegan and Vegan.
Hot and cold drink options will be available at every checkpoint.
Participants with allergies or specialist dietary requirements should communicate this in advance of their race in case any special arrangements are required.
Participant responsibility:
Participants must remain self-sufficient between checkpoints and carry:
All mandatory kit
Sufficient food and water for the next section
Separate emergency food
Any personal medication or specialist supplies
Checkpoint support does not replace the need for proper preparation, sound judgement and the ability to manage yourself in remote terrain.
Check-in and check-out:
Every participant must be logged both entering and departing each official checkpoint.
Do not leave a checkpoint without confirming your departure with the checkpoint team.
Cut-offs:
All published checkpoint cut-offs are departure times.
Participants must have completed their stop and departed the checkpoint before the published cut-off times shown in the checkpoint rota.
Participants who are unable to leave safely before the cut-off will be withdrawn from the event.
Event changes:
Checkpoint distances are approximate and may change due to diversions or developing conditions.
Community Traverse reserves the right to alter checkpoint locations, opening times and cut-offs where required for the safe running of the event.
Participants will be informed of any material changes before or during the race.
Participants may not leave the route to book or use private accommodation. This ensures that everyone remains accounted for and that the race is completed under the same conditions.
Mandatory & Recommended Kit
Mandatory kit:
All mandatory kit must be carried by the participant at all times during the event.
Full kit checks will take place before the race, with additional checks possible at any point during the event. Participants who cannot present complete, functional and suitable mandatory kit will not be permitted to start or continue.
Conditions can change rapidly in March. Participants must be capable of remaining self-sufficient between checkpoints and be adequately prepared for all conditions.
Clothing and weather protection:
Waterproof jacket with taped seams, an attached hood and a minimum hydrostatic head of 20,000mm.
Full-length waterproof trousers with taped seams and a minimum hydrostatic head of 20,000mm. (No half-zip trousers)
Substantial long-sleeved insulated jacket (A synthetic insulated jacket is strongly recommended)
Base Layer
Long-sleeved thermal base layer (To be carried dry and separate from the clothing worn when leaving a checkpoint)
Long-sleeved mid-layer (To be worn or carried)
Full-length thermal leggings (To be carried dry and separate from the clothing worn when leaving a checkpoint)
Warm hat
Two pairs of gloves (One warm insulating pair and one waterproof pair as a minimum)
Neck covering or Buff
At least one pair of spare socks (kept dry)
Navigation and communication:
Coat to Coast Waterproof map (not supplied) - Harveymaps.co.uk Coast to Coast
Baseplate compass suitable for use with your hardcopy map.
Fully charged GPS device or watch containing the final official GPX route.
Fully charged mobile phone to be kept turned on.
Waterproof protection for maps and electronic equipment.
GPS tracker supplied by Community Traverse.
Race-information and emergency-contact card supplied by Community Traverse.
Electronic navigation does not replace the requirement to carry and be competent using your map and compass.
Lighting:
Main headtorch, minimum 600 lumens.
Sufficient spare batteries or charging capacity for 12 hours of darkness.
Rear-facing red safety light, capable of continuous use during darkness.
Emergency equipment:
Survival bag - Must be waterproof, windproof, high visibility and provide full enclosure.
Foil emergency blanket
Whistle
Personal first-aid and blister kit
- Must be kept waterproof and as a minimum include antiseptic wipes, standard fabric plasters, sterile dressing, small dose of paracetamol, medial tape or K-tape, hydrocolloid blister plasters, anti friction balm or tape.
Essential personal medication
Emergency food providing a minimum of 500 calories - Emergency food must be kept separate from normal race nutrition and used only in an emergency.
A mobile phone, watch or other navigation device does not count as a headtorch.
Food and hydration:
Bottles and/or hydration bladder with a minimum total capacity of 2 litres
Sufficient food for each section of the route (separate from emergency food)
Reusable cup
Reusable bowl and spork or cutlery suitable for hot meals
Minimum £20 cash and/or a physical payment card with sufficient funds
Two litres is the minimum carrying capacity. Participants must leave each checkpoint with sufficient food and water for the next section.
Recommended kit:
Trekking poles
Additional foot-care supplies
Electrolytes or salt tablets
Tick remover
Waterproof dry bags or pack liner
Waterproof cap
Spare gloves
Power pack
Race belt for bib number
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Finish Bags
A finish line bag transfer service will operate from the start location in St Bees to our finish line in Shap.
All equipment must fit securely inside your finish bag.
Mandatory kit must remain with the participant throughout the entire race.
Finish Bag Handover:
Finish bags must be handed in during your registration.
Finish bags cannot be accepted after registration has closed.
Community Traverse will take care when handling bags but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to individual items.
Collection:
All finish bags will be transported to the finish line location in Shap for each participant to collect.
Participants who withdraw from the event remain responsible for collecting their bag from Robin Hood’s Bay. Bags will not be redirected to another location along the route.
Participants are responsible for collecting their bag at the finish line location in Shap, including after withdrawal.
Safety
Expected conditions:
The Lakes Crossing 100km is a physically demanding route over Lake District terrain in March. Participants must be prepared for freezing temperatures, wind, wind chill, sun, rain, snow, hail, darkness, poor visibility, difficult ground, and long periods between checkpoints.
Community Traverse will provide GPS tracking, staffed checkpoints, Race HQ monitoring, medical support and an event response team.
Participants remain responsible for their own safety, navigation and decision-making throughout the event.
Race HQ and emergencies:
Race HQ contact numbers will be provided in our final participant race packs. Participants must save these numbers before the race.
Mobile phones must:
Remain switched on throughout the event
Be protected from water and cold
Have sufficient battery and charging capacity
Be checked regularly for calls or messages from Race HQ
For an immediate threat to life, serious injury or emergency, call 999 first and then contact Race HQ as soon as possible.
The GPS tracker is a safety and operational tool but does not replace emergency services, personal responsibility or the requirement to communicate directly with the event team.
Looking after each other:
If you encounter another participant experiencing difficulty, stop and assess the situation where it is safe to do so. Do not leave someone in need of help.
Contact Race HQ or inform the next checkpoint immediately. In an emergency, call 999.
No participant should be disadvantaged for providing genuine assistance. Time lost while helping another participant may be credited at the Race Director’s discretion, subject to checkpoint availability and the safe operation of the event.
Roads and public access:
Participants must:
Follow the Highway Code
Use pavements and designated crossings where available
Wear the rear red light
Remain alert to vehicles, cyclists, livestock and other trail users
Race position or cut-off pressure never takes priority over road safety.
Weather and event decisions:
Community Traverse may alter the route, advise lower-level alternatives, change checkpoints or cut-offs, pause the event or withdraw participants where conditions require it.
Decisions made by the Race Directors or Medical Director in the interests of safety are final.
Travel After the Event:
Participants must arrange their own transport from Shap after completing the event.
Due to the effects of fatigue and prolonged exertion, participants should not drive immediately after finishing or withdrawing.
A rested driver, Support member, public transport or pre-arranged collection should be used for every participant.
Support, Crewing & Conduct
Official crew or pacers are not permitted on the Lakes Crossing.
Participants observed being assisted, paced or accompanied by a person who is not entered in the race may be disqualified.
General support is encouraged and we will advise on suggested locations and checkpoint access where this can be facilitated in our final participant race packs. we ask that any and all general support will be considerate of the following details.
Vehicles and Parking:
Arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before their participant is expected
Use only designated parking areas and ensure to pay any relevant carparking fees where applicable
Participant space and welfare is priority at all times - access may not always be possible.
Keep roads, entrances and emergency access clear
Follow instructions from venue staff and event officials
Avoid blocking residents, businesses or other road users
Quiet Hours:
Quiet hours apply between 10:00pm and 7:00am, particularly in residential areas and at venues where participants may be sleeping.
Essential access for finishing participants only between these times please.
During these hours:
Keep voices, doors and vehicle noise to an absolute minimum
Switch off engines when parked
Avoid unnecessary lighting
Follow any venue-specific instructions
Leave immediately if asked by an event official
Conduct:
Event Officials may ask support to leave a location where their behaviour causes a nuisance. Please respect our neighbours and local communities at all times.