The Pennine Bridleway Trail Challenge, trail running from south to north, 270km in 100hours.

Including indoor checkpoints with hot meals and sleeping.

But the clock is always ticking, so you need to manage your race pace and strategy to complete all 270km within 100 hours.

You’ll have access to your drop bag at checkpoints.

The route is a mixture of fast trails, technical and challenging ascents, taking in The Peak District, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire moors, finishing in Cumbria. Total ascent is 6628 metres.

The course is run over established trails and rights of way. On some sections of the Pennine Bridleway, we will use defined walkers’ alternatives which avoid using roads. For environmental consideration, we don’t add any additional signage, but route finding for the majority of the course is very straightforward. We email GPX files to all entries well in advance and during the build up to the race as well as a comprehensive race briefing document.

There will be Ranger Safety Team support at HQ and at regular intervals with water. There is a hot meal, hot drinks, refreshments and sleeping space for athletes at indoor checkpoints and the race finish. Finishers medals and winners’ trophies.

ITINERARY

Tuesday 19 April 2022

RACE HQ: Hayfield Cricket Club Pavilion. High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 2LD

15:00 – 21:00 Race registration, kit check, tracker issue

Pre-Race: For athletes staying over on Tuesday night. Hayfield and the surrounding area have lots of pub-hotel and private b&b options as well as a campsite. The nearest YHA’s are in Edale & Castleton (you’ll need a car or pre-booked taxi for these). A search on Google will provide plenty of possibilities.

Getting to Hayfield: There is very limited long-term car parking in Hayfield. We’d like to remain on good terms with our community and not cause traffic chaos in the small village. So, we highly recommend getting dropped off for Race Registration, or taking public transport. During the day, there are regular bus services from Buxton, New Mills, Glossop and Stockport. There are regular main-line train services to the nearest stations, New Mills (2 miles from Hayfield) and Glossop. These taper off in the evening so please check the current timetables. Taxi services are available, these are better pre-booked from New Mills. There is a serviced taxi rank outside the station in Glossop.

Getting home: Kirkby Stephen railway station is on the Settle-Carlisle line with connections to Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and further afield.

Wednesday 20 April 2022

Please note: No registrations or kit check on Wednesday morning

07:45 Bring your drop bag to Race HQ

08:30 Private coach leaves Hayfield promptly to take athletes to the start

09:45 Private coach arrives at race start

10:00 Race start at Middleton Top

Sunday 24 April 2022

14:00 Race finish 100 hour cut-off

 

STAGE 1 – Start Middleton Top to CP1 Hayfield 59km Ascent 1202m

Access to drop bag. Hot food. Seats for resting. Max 4 hours in Checkpoint. Athletes must exit Checkpoint 1 by Thursday 08:00

STAGE 2 – Hayfield to CP2 Hebden Bridge 75km Ascent 2223m

Access to drop bag. Hot food. Bunk beds. Max 8 hours in Checkpoint. Athletes must exit Checkpoint 2 by Friday Midday

STAGE 3 – Hebden Bridge to CP3 Settle 68km Ascent 1647m

Access to drop bag. Hot food. Sleeping space. Max 8 hours in Checkpoint. Athletes must exit Checkpoint 3 by: Saturday 13:00

STAGE 4 – Settle to Finish Kirkby Stephen 68km Ascent 1556m

Drop bag. Hot food. Sleeping space. Max 8 hours in Checkpoint. Finish cut-off: Sunday 14:00

TOTALS: 270km / 100 hours / 6628m ascent

 

WHATS INCLUDED

• Ranger Safety Team Support at Checkpoints and on course locations.
• On course water locations
• Navigation course notes and GPX file
• Tea/Coffee/Soft drinks and hot food for all racers at Checkpoints and Race Finish
• Finishers Medals
• Trophies for 1st Male and 1st Female
• Fastest finisher trophies in age categories 20-24, 25-49 and over 50’s

Please read through the following sections on kit, race rules and conditions. They’re quite detailed and will answer most FAQ’s.

THE KIT – TO BE CARRIED / WORN

• Backpack
• Waterproof jacket with hood
• Insulating Hat and Gloves/Mitts.
• Warm layers appropriate for the weather conditions, minimum is long sleeved fleece
• Clear un-tinted goggles (eg Bolle safety goggles as a minimum)
• Appropriate footwear for trail running.
• Hard copy Ordinance Survey type map/s covering the current stage (eg for the race distance: Harvey’s Map 1:40K Pennine Bridleway South, OS Explorer 1:25,000 OL21 South Pennines, OL41 Forest Of Bowland, OL2 Yorkshire Dales Southern & Western, OL19 Howgill Fells) (note: even if your primary navigation method is mobile phone or GPS, hard copy maps must still be carried)
• Navigation Compass (a mobile phone app or watch compass is not acceptable).
• GPS handheld until or GPS watch (must be able to show British National Grid coordinates)
• Head torch and spare batteries (rechargeable head torch is acceptable. But runners must be confident that the charge will last for the race duration. We recommend runners carry a spare back up head torch. e.g Petzl lite as minimum)
• Whistle
• Bivvy bag. Recommended minimum Alpkit Hunka or similar. (note: Sol bivvy, foil blanket or polythene bag are not acceptable)
• Sleeping mat. Minimum ¾ length. Inflatable or closed cell foam (note: Klymit not acceptable)
• Sleeping bag minimum 2 season
• Stove and fuel (solid fuel and any home-made types not acceptable)
• Primary and back-up method of lighting your stove
• Pan and mug (may be part of stove cooking system eg: Jetboil)
• Long handled spork
• Sufficient fluids and hill food to sustain you between stages.
• First aid / blister kit plus personal meds.
• Mobile Phone (fully charged).
• Optional: Poles

 THE KIT – KIT BAG – Max 15kg

• Spare dry clothing
• Additional personal rations and snacks for the trail
• Additional batteries for your headtorch, GPS etc
• Power bank, fully charged (we cannot guarantee a power point at CPs to charge your devices)
• One roll Kinesio tape
• Travelling home clothing
• Optional: Spare pair trail running shoes

This is the minimum compulsory kit list, applicable to all competitors. Each runner should carry their own items from the compulsory kit list. Sharing items, one between two etc is not allowed. We do not provide maps or any of the items on the kit list. Participants should review the forecast weather conditions add such items as necessary to keep warm, dry, fed and hydrated whilst on the trail.

View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.

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