A 182.9km road cycling route through the Lake District, starting and finishing in Grasmere, with 3,582m of climbing.
- Distance
- 182.9 km
- Elevation
- 3,582 m
- Terrain
- Challenging Endurance, Climbing, Steep Ramps
- Type
- Road loop
Start and finish: The Showfield, Grasmere
About this route
This route was designed by the organisers of the Fred Whitton Challenge, Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge, not by London Dynamo.
Sportive routes change from year to year, and this page follows the 2027 route. The event is run by the Fred Whitton Challenge.
On the route
The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the hardest one-day rides in the UK. It starts and finishes at The Showfield in Grasmere and crosses the best-known passes in the Lake District: Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn.
Hardknott Pass is the one to respect. The organisers quote gradients of up to 30%, and it comes late in the ride, around 150km into the ride. It is a serious day for any rider, so it suits members looking for a real challenge.
This page is for riding the route outside the sportive, on your own or with friends. The Strava route measures 182.9km. There are no organised feed stops outside the event, so plan your food and water for a very long day.
Event names and logos belong to their owners and are shown for identification only. London Dynamo is not affiliated with these events.
Notable climbs
- Climb near 13km: 4.2km at 3.4% average.
- Kirkstone: 5.1km at 5.6% average.
- Matterdale: 5.3km at 3% average.
- Honister: 5.4km at 5.1% average.
- Newlands Hause: 1.9km at 10.1% average.
- Whinlatter: 2.9km at 6.8% average.
- Climb near 108km: 3.1km at 3.1% average.
- Climb near 114km: 2.8km at 3.2% average.
- Cold Fell: 4.1km at 4.7% average.
- Climb near 139km: 1.3km at 6.7% average.
- Hardknott Pass: 2.5km at 15% average.
- Wrynose: 3.3km at 5.3% average.
- Blea Tarn: 2.7km at 4.1% average.
- Steep ramps: 125m at 13% average (c. 46km) and 175m at 19.4% average (c. 51km).
Route map and GPX
To download the GPX or TCX file, open the route on Strava with View on Strava below the map, choose the three dots menu, then Export GPX or Export TCX. A free Strava account is needed. Route checked against Strava on 24 October 2026.