Patterdale Parish Boundary - Beat The Bounds 2024

​The Full Parish Boundary Event is almost 30 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.  On a good day there are stupendous views throughout the length of the walk.  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!

The record time to complete the full route is: 6 hours and 41 minutes.

The route will start and finish at Patterdale School, Ullswater, CA11 0NL

Events Options and Start Times:

• Full Boundary Event: 30 miles and 10,300ft ascent 
  Start: 6am - 9am - Strict Kirkstone Pass cut off time 3pm
• Half Boundary Event (top of Kirkstone Pass to Patterdale): 14 miles and 3,500 ft ascent
  Start: 11am - 3pm
• Family Walk: 7miles via Hartsop Hall, downhill!
  Start: 12noon - 3pm

A rolling start means you will be able to start between the 2 set start times 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 Down Hill 7 Mile Treasure Hunt for families/friends - £10 per family, individuals £5 (local families walk for free). This route starts from Kirkstone Pass to finish at Patterdale School.  This is available to book on line and entries are accepted on the day.

You will be sent participant information by email on the lead up to the event.

Patterdale Parish Boundary Neck tubes, designed by Patterdale School, will be available for purchase to increase fundraising profits.

This event is being reinvigorated by Nicky Merrett, founder of Hiking Highs, on behalf of Patterdale School and St Patrick's Church, Patterdale.  As a resident of the parish and also a family friend of Stephen Gorton, the Parish Boundary Walk has been talked about in her family since she can remember.  Who better to turn this around to be a flourishing event once more, in aid of the local community?

Traditionally the walk 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.