Doris' lakeland ales ultra
The terrain of the Lake District has provided a natural challenge to anyone traversing it for thousands of years. Some people like more of a challenge than others…
Introducing ‘Doris’ Lakeland Ales Ultra’, big sister to The Old Crown Round and a real challenge for anyone interested in testing themselves to their limits.
Weighing in at a hefty 129.02km on its first completion with 6,655m elevation gain, running this route in one go is not for the faint-hearted (though you can always take your time and complete it at your own pace).
To sweeten the deal, there will be a free bottle of Doris’ 90th Birthday Ale waiting at the brewery for every brave (and thirsty) soul that completes this mammoth task.
Whether this is whetting your appetite for competition or just making you curious about the times our super-human competitors have set, read on for details, a leaderboard and a full log of completions.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” Mark Twain
The route
There is no set route for Doris’ Lakeland Ales Ultra, we encourage competitors to find a route that suits them while respecting private land, adhering to rights of way and using correct access.
The route is to start and finish at Hesket Newmarket Brewery and visit the following tops and passes in any order: Black Sail Pass, Brim Fell, Carrock Fell, Catbells, Haystacks, Helvellyn, Little Mell, Scafell and Skiddaw.
There is no time limit for the completion of Doris’ Lakeland Ales Ultra, it can either be done as one continuous loop or spread out over a number of days taking advantage of hostels, hotels or campsites along the way.
The Leaderboard
We ask competitors to email over their name, date of completion, time taken and Strava data for the route so we can keep a league table updated. A bottle of Doris’s 90th Birthday Ale can be claimed from the brewery (during opening hours) by all competitors who finish. For a full list of completions, please click here.
| Rank | Competitor Name | Completion Date | Completion Time | Distance | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Steve Rhodes |
04/01/2023 |
31:40:01 |
129.02km |
6,655m |
Steve Rhodes
Steve is a shareholder in the brewery as well as a keen fell-runner. He came up with the idea of running a route comprising all of the fells we have (regularly produced) beers named after. In the first few days of 2023, he embarked on a route he’d planned out and, after a few wrong turns and lost paths, he arrived back at the brewery 31 hours and 40 minutes after leaving to set the first time for the ‘Doris’ Lakeland Ales Ultra’
Nathan Gregory
Head Brewer & Manager
Nathan has been with the brewery since 2013. Joining initially as the brewer he took over as manager in 2018. Originally a keen homebrewer, his passion for beer and lifelong interest in brewing have ensured that we continue to brew high quality real ale that is full of flavour.
STAPLE BREW: Brim Fell IPA – Nathan’s first recipe that became a staple of our core range.
Shane Kirk
Brewer
Shane joined the Brewery in 2017, having worked with Nathan previously. Shane is responsible for the day-to-day production of beer, both in cask and bottle/can. His understanding and skill as a brewer have continued to strengthen our reputation for outstanding beer.
STAPLE BREW: Peak Bagger IPA – a modern seasonal brew that is hop forward.
Dan Skillicorn
Brewer & Admin
Dan is the most recent addition to the line-up, starting in 2018. His is the voice you are most likely to hear when you call us. He is responsible for all things admin; from sales and purchasing to balancing the books and logistics – Dan can!
STAPLE BREW: Black Sail – you can’t go wrong with a stout, and this is one of the best!
