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  1. Traditional Lakeland Sports
    Traditional Sports

You are here: Home > What's On > Challenge Events > Traditional Sports

Traditional Sports

From horse leaping and pipe-smoking to open-air wrestling and sheep shows, the choice of peculiar sports is remarkable – and in some cases, very old: the Egremont Crab Fair has been running since 1267, while the sport of hound trailing began in the middle of the 18th century. Test your fell running fitness at the annual Grasmere Gallop, or try some ghyll scrambling. Get down and dirty with a bout of Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling, held at local shows throughout the summer months. Most of Cumbria’s traditional sports are rooted firmly in the countryside, and are designed to celebrate the changing seasons and a host of agricultural pursuits. Although that doesn’t explain why there should be a competition to crown the world’s biggest liar or who can pull the best face…
 

Highlights

Swimmers enjoying trips with Swim the Lakes
Tadpole Round Swim Hike

Discover the Tadpole Round Swim Hike—an unforgettable adventure at the heart of the Buttermere…

Acorn Bank 10k
Acorn Bank 10k race

A 10k road race for all abilities, on quiet country lanes, with start & finish within the beautiful…

People running through the lake district
Lakes in a Day

Lakes in a Day Half Distance Run 23 miles, 850m ascent – Want the excitement of being part of Lakes…

An Evening with Leo Houlding and Community Action Nepal.
An Evening with Leo Houlding and Community Action Nepal.

Leo Houlding will walk us through some of his recent amazing adventures like Climbing, exploring…

Maverick Lake District X-Trail
Maverick Lake District X-Trail

Come and give Trail running in the Lake District a try, with its rugged fells, stunning glacial…

Hoad Hill Harriers Christmas 10K Race & 1 Mile Fun Run
Hoad Hill Harriers Christmas 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run

Please join us for our Christmas 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run. Starting on the road, between the clubhouse…

swimming in a dark lake
Wild Swimming - Thursday 23rd July

Join us for Wild Swim Club! Experience the incredible benefits of this exhilarating activity as our…

Festival of Running Poster
Festival of Running

The Festival of Running is a community-focused sporting event designed to promote health, wellbeing…

Grasmere Sports
Grasmere Sports

Now one of the most popular traditional events in the English Lake District, participants compete…

Wild Swimmers in Rydal Water with Swim the Lakes
Rydal Island and Caves Swim

Our Rydal Islands and Caves Swim Walk is a perfect mix of easy-going hiking and wild swimming.…

Father Christmas
Christmas Grotto

Father Christmas returns to Holker Hall this December! Meet Father Christmas and the Elves at…

Swimmers enjoying the Lake District with Swim the Lakes
Ullswater Wild Isle Swim

If you love wild swimming around beautiful islands then you will love our Wild Isle…

A running bottle
Taste the Lakes

Taste the Lakes is not your average half marathon. Set across Greystoke Castle's private parkland…

wild swimmers with Swim the Lakes sat on the edge of a Lake District tarn
More Adventures in the Beautiful South

More Adventures in the Beautiful South is a 2-day swimming adventure in the beautiful South Lake…

Cartmel Racecourse
Cartmel Racecourse

Visit Cartmel Racecourse for our exciting 9 days of racing this 2026 season.

wild swimmers with Swim the Lakes Ambleside
Wild Swimming Taster Session

Try wild swimming in the Lake District. All you need to do is book, bring your swimming costume and…

Start of Junior Fell Race
Rusland Show

A traditional Lakeland show, now in its 141st year, in a beautiful valley in the South Lakes. Fell…

Altra 13 Valleys Ultra
Altra 13 Valleys Ultra

13 Valleys celebrates the 13 unique valleys of the Lake District National Park which are part of…

Lighthouse Ultra 180
Lighthouse Ultra 180 Triathlon

Coast-to-coast 180 mile ultra triathlon.

Cartmel Race Days
Cartmel Race Days

For an unforgettable fun-filled day out, Cartmel Races is hard to beat. Perfect for family, friends…

Glorious Gravel Logo
Lake District Gravel Epic

We have three route options for this glorious off road adventure around Coniston and the Grizedale…

Swimmers in Buttermere with Swim the Lakes
Buttermere Swimble Wild Swim

The Buttermere Swimble – The Buttermere Valley is surely one of the most beautiful in the Lake…

Man with a white beard and plait dressed in replica Roman auxiliary kit shows a boy in a red top and shorts how to fire a bow and arrow.
Archery on the Frontier

Join us and some of the Ermine Street Guard at the Roman Army Museum to practice your archery…

Boomin Bingo kendal
Boomin Bingo

Get ready for a high-energy night of Boomin' Bingo – brought to you by PC Roadshows – where classic…

PrevPrev
  • 1Tadpole Round Swim Hike
  • 2Acorn Bank 10k race
  • 3Lakes in a Day
  • 4An Evening with Leo Houlding and Community Action Nepal.
  • 5Maverick Lake District X-Trail
  • 6Hoad Hill Harriers Christmas 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run
  • 7Wild Swimming - Thursday 23rd July
  • 8Festival of Running
  • 9Grasmere Sports
  • 10Rydal Island and Caves Swim
  • 11Christmas Grotto
  • 12Ullswater Wild Isle Swim
  • 13Taste the Lakes
  • 14More Adventures in the Beautiful South
  • 15Cartmel Racecourse
  • 16Wild Swimming Taster Session
  • 17Rusland Show
  • 18Altra 13 Valleys Ultra
  • 19Lighthouse Ultra 180 Triathlon
  • 20Cartmel Race Days
  • 21Lake District Gravel Epic
  • 22Buttermere Swimble Wild Swim
  • 23Archery on the Frontier
  • 24Boomin Bingo
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