The infamous long-distance hiking event series, HIGHLANDER has come to the Lake District.

The largest and fastest growing long-distance hiking event in the world took place between July 5 and July 9.

Sunday marked the inaugural UK event; the first HIGHLANDER UK event was held in the heart of England’s largest National Park.

HIGHLANDER’s first UK series was divided into two formats: Hercules, a 99-kilometre, five-day journey and Pegasus, a 56-kilometre, three-day journey.

The route included popular places like Great Langdale and Borrowdale, stunning sights of Ullswater and Aira Force waterfall, as well as the Wainwright Fells of Fairfield, High Raise and Steel Fell.

The event saw impressive attendance, HIGHLANDER has grown to over 10,000 participants globally. Hikers from the United Kingdom, Latvia, the UAE, the Maldives, Croatia, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia and the United States of America embraced the challenges and natural beauty of the region.

The event was founded in Croatia in 2017 when a couple of enthusiasts decided to share their love and passion for long-distance hiking, now they host more than 50 events across 15 different countries, all with the mission of helping people further immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

The one-of-a-kind experience is designed to enable individuals to connect with nature, whilst conquering both physical and mental obstacles, all the while forging long-lasting relationships with like-minded people.

As well as enjoying a hiking adventure, HIGHLANDER participants had the option to immerse themselves in the festival vibe of the event by joining an inspiring programme of activities.

“We’re pleased with the strong appeal seen for our inaugural UK event”, said HIGHLANDER CEO, Jurica Barac, “The enthusiasm, determination and camaraderie displayed by the participants was truly inspiring. It was a privilege to witness individuals pushing their limits, cheering each other on and embracing the spirit of adventure amidst the extraordinary natural beauty of the Lake District. I’m already looking forward to coming back to the Lake District next year to build on the success of this year’s event.”

The event also ran in partnership with DIRT Charity, an organisation working to turn fashion into a climate solution, HIGHLANDER pledged £1 for each kilometre hiked during Hercules.

Registration is already open for HIGHLANDER Lake District 2024: https://highlanderadventure.com/en-us/lake-district