Tea & Trails Ultra
Northern Fells, Lake District National Park
Saturday 28th June 2025
Fully waymarked and marshalled 50km and 25km route options.
Let’s hit the trails…
The route connects the outstanding trails of the Northern Lake District fells, taking in some of the most iconic Wainwright summits and boasting fabulous views across Derwent Water and beyond. With approximately 50km and 25km route options, the fully waymarked and marshalled course covers a mix of mountain trails, valley paths, and country lanes - perfect trail running for a brilliant and sociable day out with friends. We’ll keep you going with refreshment stops full of cake, cheese and pickle sandwiches, and, of course, plenty of tea!
So, grab a brew and get your name down on the list to be notified when entries go live.
Course Info
Support Ourea Events Office Team
- edit_square A well-planned and professionally organised event by Ourea Events
- group Excellent customer service support from our office team – speak to them any time via email, live chat, or on the phone!
- sim_card_download A GPX file of the route and checkpoint locations
At the Event Centre
- local_parking Parking for the day
- personal_bag Baggage storage while you run
- badge Team of motivated volunteer marshals and professional Ourea Events staff
While on the Course
- arrow_circle_right Fully waymarked and marshalled route
- timer_play Digital race timing for course split times and official results
- satellite_alt Live GPS tracking
- pin Race number
- local_drink Support Point at 15km
At the Support Point
- breakfast_dining Well-stocked support points with various snacks, cakes, and sweets
- local_drink Water and a selection of cold drinks
- badge Team of motivated volunteer marshals and professional Ourea Events staff
Mementos
- workspace_premium All who finish the race will each receive a quality finisher’s medal
Safety Cover
- stethoscope Emergency medical attention during the race
- personal_injury Professional response team to assist in case of emergency or injury
Prizes
- trophy 1st female and 1st male overall winners will each receive a Winners Trophy
- redeem 1st, 2nd, and 3rd female and male will each receive a Salomon prize
- award_star 1st female and 1st male veteran in each age category will each receive a Salomon prize
Who are Ourea Events?
- crowdsource Since 2012, Ourea Events have supported 30,000 runners to reach their potential and enjoy life-changing adventures around the UK
- workspace_premium The office team has a collective experience of over 75 years in organising premium outdoor events
- compost Ourea Events is a 1% For The Planet member supporting environmental causes, and is committed to a programme of sustainability
- diversity_4 Ourea Events is committed to a programme of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
- hiking Ourea Events supports charity partners like Mountain Rescue across the UK
The Route
We are finalising the sensational Tea and Trails Ultra route and we’ll share the provisional route early in 2025 before entries open.
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The Buttermere Skyline is inspired by various classic fell races. These routes are different from our race route, but there are some overlapping sections.
The Buttermere Skyline is a fusion of fell running, trail running and sky running, borrowing a little from the ethos and style of each discipline.
The route is very runnable for skilled off-road runners and features a mixture of grassy fell, technical rocky sections and gravel paths. The entire route is on established paths and trails whilst following Public Rights of Way.
The course will be fully signed, comprehensively waymarked and marshalled.
The entire route is mandatory.
There are various road crossings in Buttermere village and at Honister Pass. Please take great care at these locations, following the instructions of the marshalls and always remembering that you have no special right of way over road traffic!
There will be a Support Point at Honister Pass: See the Support Point section for details.
Participants have no special right of way over other recreational users and are reminded to be polite and courteous at all times.
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The route is approximately 27km with 2,000m of ascent.
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There will be marshalled checkpoints at the following locations. The cut-off time, where applicable, is noted.
Red Pike
High Crag
Scarth Gap (14:00)
Hay Stacks
Honister (15:00)
Dale Head
Robinson
Buttermere Village (17:00)
Anyone arriving after the Cut Off time at a Checkpoint will be retired from the race and must return to the Start / Finish venue with the course marshals.
The Course Closure Time is 18:00.
Anyone finishing after the Course Closure Time will be recorded as Non-Competitive in the results.
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Your run time will be recorded using RFID timing as you cross the finish line. If you lose your number, you do not get a time… As someone once said, “It’s not magic!”
Do not FOLD (or cut) your number, as your timing tag is attached to the back, and damage to the timing tag will likely result in not getting a time!
Your number must be affixed to your front horizontally.
Please wait until AFTER you cross the line to stop your watch – putting your arms across the race number can cause problems in recording your time.
It’s a mass start, so your start time regardless of when you actually crossed the line will be 10:00.
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At registration, you will be provided with a GPS Tracker. This will be attached to your running pack/vest/bumbag by our marshalls and must not be removed.
The GPS Tracking is primarily for safety management purposes, but we will provide a link for friends and family to watch your progress.
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It is only possible to retire at the start/Finish and the Support Point.
In an emergency, our professional event Response Team will assist participants whilst they are on the course.
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We are ITRA members and await confirmation of the ITRA points for this race.
Where and when
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Description text goes hereDate: Saturday 16th August 2025.
Venue: Rannerdale Farm, Buttermere, Cockermouth, CA13 9UY
There will be food/coffee vendors at Event Centre, and an event shop for any kit list items forgotten.
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07:30 Car Park open
08:00 – 09:30 Registration open (mandatory for all runners)
09:45 Kit check on Start Line (mandatory for all runners)
09:55 Race briefing on Start Line (mandatory for all runners)
10:00 Race Starts
18:00 Course closed
18:30 Car Park closed
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If driving, arrive from the NORTH over the Whinlatter Pass from the A66 and down through Lorton. Do not drive over Honistor or Newlands Passes, as this will cause significant congestion in these areas.
Directions from the A66 are here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JqTJCrQ3RpdKwiy29
Public transport is available from Keswick, on the 77 bus. Timetable here: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/Cumbria/Lakes%20Connection/Summer%2024/77_77A_77C_Summer24.pdf
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Car parking is free.
Open from 07:30 for Participant vehicles only (supporters are welcome but must arrive with a participant)
Closed 18:30 (30 minutes after course closure)
Only use the event car park, do not park on the roadside, in laybys, or in Buttermere Village
Parking is in a field opposite Rannerdale Farm. It is not suitable for motor homes or low-clearance vehicles.
Please approach the venue from the north to avoid the narrow roads over Honister Pass and through Buttermere Village.
Address: Rannerdale Farm, Buttermere, Cockermouth, CA13 9UY
what3words: trudges.transmit.soda
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Registration takes place at the venue.
Every runner needs to register – you will be given your race number, GPS tracker, etc. at registration.
Please fill in medical details on the back of your race number.
Registration opens at 08:00 and will close at 9:30 sharp. Please do not leave it to the last minute to register, as there will likely be a queue.
Please note your race number before getting to the registration desk. A list of race numbers will be displayed in the registration venue and will be emailed to you beforehand.
If you have any questions about the event, please do not ask the registration staff, as they will be a little preoccupied trying to register all the participants. A marshal will be available at the venue to answer your questions.
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Overall prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd male & female runners.
The 1st male and female in each veteran category will also be eligible for a prize.
Veteran age categories are 40, 45, 50, etc, in five-year age blocks.
If you think you are the first finisher in one of the veteran categories, and we have not picked this up, please come and find us with your race number and let us know.
Prize giving will be at the finish shortly at approximately 15:00.
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You can leave any kit/bags with us while you are running. Please leave at the ‘Bag Drop’ at registration. A marshal will remain with the bags for security whilst you run. Please do not leave kit anywhere else.
A label with your name and race number must be attached to the bag – there will be labels at registration if you have not been able to do this in advance.
All kit must be in a bag that can be closed, e.g. rucksack, drawstring shoe bag, zipped bag etc. Do not leave anything in loose mesh side pockets.
You can only retrieve your bag on the production of your race number. Once you have collected your bag, you can recycle your race number in the bin provided.
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Coffee vendor open from 07:30
Pizza vendor open from 11:30
Salomon
Kong Running
Toilets
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Please note that due to landowner restrictions, no dogs are permitted on the route.
All dogs at the Start / Finish Venue must always be on a short leash.
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Runners need to be aged 18 or over to take part.
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Participants must follow the >> universal event rules << applicable to all events organised by Ourea Events.
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I declare that:
I have read and understood the information on the website about the nature of the course, which features rough and remote mountain trail running;
I can apply sound mountain judgement at all times even if it means compromising my overall race result;
I can diligently concentrate and follow waymarking;
I accept full responsibility for my own safety and any injury sustained during the event. These are not the responsibility of the event organiser, their agents or the landowners;
I know my limitations and I am experienced enough to make a reasoned decision whether or not to start the event and/or to retire from the event rather than jeopardise my own or other people’s safety;
I understand that there is a risk of serious injury or death whilst participating in mountain and trail running events such as this.
Take a minute to write an introduction that is short, sweet, and to the point. If you sell something, use this space to describe it in detail and tell us why we should make a purchase. Tap into your creativity. You’ve got this.
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There is almost always a medic at the Support Point to provide advice and emergency care. However, the medics may be called away to deal with an emergency and they will always triage participants based on clinical need.
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Facilities: Gazebo shelter in an outdoor space, toilets
Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food
Drinks: Hot and cold
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There will be gluten-free and vegan alternatives available.
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Any allergies/intolerances you tell us about in your entry will be noted, but we are otherwise unable to give special dispensation for participants with personal dietary preferences that fall outside our menu, with the exception of being able to provide gluten free options.
We will of course do everything reasonably practicable to accommodate the requirements of the participants within the boundaries of the menu being offered.
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Sustainable food is a fundamental component of our sustainability strategy. It affects everyone because our staff, volunteers and participants rely on the food we provide to fuel them through our events.
We have served a meat and fish free menu to participants since our first event in 2012. Over the years, we have worked hard to develop the menus we provide for our participants, to ensure the meals are nutritionally balanced for their needs.
A meat and fish free menu is the cornerstone of reducing the environmental impact of our event catering, because livestock production takes up around 80% of the world’s agricultural land and is one of the leading causes of deforestation, biodiversity loss and water pollution.
Our ‘Food Sustainability Policy’ (HERE) covers this in more detail.
Kit Requirements
Please download the following clothing and equipment checklist. The items listed are mandatory and must be worn by the participants or carried at all times for the duration of the Salomon Buttermere Skyline.
We know that kit and clothing requirements can be a bit confusing, and we hope that the downloadable checklist will help you select and pack the correct clothing and equipment. Our comprehensive clothing and equipment guidance has some great advice for more information.
KIT RECOMMENDATIONS
We are fortunate to work with the world’s leading trail running brand, Salomon, and would like to recommend some of the excellent items they make that are well suited to the Butteremere Skyline™:
Classic trail running shoes such as the Speedcross Offroad or the S/LAB Alpine.
The S/LAB Ultra 10 or ADV SKIN 12 for carrying all the mandatory kit comfortably whilst leaving room for any additional items.
A comprehensive range of trail running clothing for both men and women
The ULTRA CARBON FOLDABLE poles combined with a CUSTOM QUIVER ULTRA for easy carrying and access on the move.
A common mistake we see at kit check is participants bringing a survival blanket rather than a survival bag. A survival bag is far superior in an emergency and is mandatory. We recommend the SOL survival bag, which is available for purchase in our shop.
Whilst the built-in whistle on your rucksack or vest is acceptable, we recommend a purpose-made device such as the Lifesystems Whistle.
Finally, if you want to enjoy a warm drink at the Support Point, you must carry your own mug. We recommend the Lifeventure mug.
EXCEPTIONAL WEATHER KIT
From 2024 onwards we are being more prescriptive about the clothing and equipment that we will mandate that participants carry in the event of exceptionally cold and/or wet, or hot weather. When notified, these additional items must be carried in addition to the standard mandatory kit, and are included on the downloadable checklist linked above.
We will notify Salomon Buttermere Skyline™ participants at registration whether they will need to carry this kit with them or not. Therefore, participants must bring their ‘Cold Weather Kit/Hot Weather Kit’ to registration and be ready to carry it in their running rucksack.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Finally, we would like to share some further recommendations and insights that we have seen participants successfully employ over the years. These items are not mandatory but might help you to critically appraise your clothing and equipment choices.
RECOMMENDED COLD WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Heavy-weight mountaineering-style waterproof jacket. Especially if you are likely to be walking rather than running.
Waterproof cap. Brilliant for keeping driving rain off your face - worn under the hood of your waterproof jacket.
Second waterproof jacket. Layering two lightweight waterproofs is an old trick that keeps you drier whilst adding warmth.
Winter underwear. Windproof and/or insulated underwear for staying comfortable in very cold conditions.
RECOMMENDED HOT WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Sunblock. Factor 50 and waterproof. We recommend the Lifesystems Sports Suncream
Long-Sleeve Top. A loose-fitting and lightweight long-sleeve top to keep the sun off your skin, and reduce sunburn risk.
Sunglasses. Helps reduce fatigue in bright conditions.
Headband. Salty sweat running into your eyes is seriously unpleasant.
Thin socks. In hot weather, your feet will swell, and swapping for thinner socks helps with comfort.
Weekend Information
The Tea & Trails Ultra is not just a race. It is an opportunity to join the wonderful trail running community for a weekend of celebration and good times. Please see the WEEKEND page for more details!