Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales

Guidebook to 40 of the best trail and fell runs in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ranging from 5 to 24 miles, the graded runs start from bases such as Ribblehead, Dent, Sedbergh, Malham and Grassington and take in the region's diverse delights, from castles and waterfalls to iconic mountains such as Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen Y Ghent.

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Overview

Guidebook to 40 great trail and fell runs in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ranging from 5 to 24 miles, the graded runs start from bases such as Hawes, Settle, Ingleton, Dent, Sedbergh, Malham and Grassington and take in the region's diverse delights, from castles and waterfalls to iconic mountains such as Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-Y-Ghent. For those seeking a longer challenge, the Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra is also described.

In addition to clear route description, mapping and gradient profiles, the guide also provides background information on local races and running clubs, the history of running in the region, as well as practical information on safety, equipment, navigation, maps, transport and accommodation.

Sandwiched between the Lake District and the Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales showcases some of the finest running terrain in the British Isles. Offering a delightful mix of medium sized peaks and broad open moorland, it is a must-visit destination for those seeking off-road runs with enchanting views.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
Running in the Yorkshire Dales
History and geology
Nesting restrictions
Accommodation
Transport
Maps
A brief history
Tracks and trails
Three Peaks race
Running clubs
Equipment
Navigation
Safety and mountain rescue
Using this guide
The South-West Dales and Three Peaks
Route 1 Settle Loop
Route 2 Crummackdale
Route 3 Pen-y-ghent
Route 4 The Three Peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough)
Route 5 Gragareth
Route 6 Ingleborough (from the Old Hill Inn)
Route 7 Ingleborough (via Park Fell)
Route 8 Dodd Fell
Route 9 Cosh
Route 10 Great Knoutberry
Route 11 Whernside (from Ribblehead)
The North-West Dales and Howgills
Route 12 Dent to Ribblehead
Route 13 Whernside (from Dent)
Route 14 Barbondale
Route 15 Black Force (Howgills)
Route 16 Bowderdale
Route 17 Wild Boar Fell
Route 18 Cautley Spout
Route 19 Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra Leg 1 (Pendragon Castle to Hawes)
The North-East Dales, Swaledale and Wensleydale
Route 20 Asygarth
Route 21 Thornton Rust
Route 22 Bainbridge
Route 23 Maiden Castle (Reeth)
Route 24 Gunnerside Gill
Route 25 Muker
Route 26 Great Shunner Fell
Route 27 Tan Hill (from Keld)
Route 28 Arkengarthdale
Route 29 Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra Leg 2 (Hawes to Kettlewell)
The South-East Dales and Wharfedale
Route 30 Bolton Abbey
Route 31 Simon’s Seat
Route 32 Malham Cove and Gordale Scar
Route 33 Mastiles Lane
Route 34 Grass Wood and Conistone Dib
Route 35 Troller’s Gill
Route 36 Great Whernside (from Kettlewell)
Route 37 Fountains Fell
Route 38 Buckden Pike
Route 39 Masham Moor
Route 40 Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra Leg 3 (Kettlewell to Skipton)

Appendix A Useful contacts

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Reviews

This is an excellent book

Last year readers will recall I reviewed a similarly titled book about Trail and Fell Running in the Lake District. Cicerone Books have now produced a second book in this series featuring 40 runs in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The book has been compiled by Pete Ellwood, an experienced fellrunner with Settle running club, winner of one of the classes in the Saunders Mountain Marathon in 2013 and a member of the mountain rescue team near to where he lives close to Ingleborough.

Of the 40 runs described in the book, 35 are circular, 2 are linear whilst the remaining 3 describe the linear route from Pendragon (near Kirkby Stephen) to Skipton, a total of 52½ miles split over three days. The distances of the runs range from 5¼ miles to 24¼ miles, the latter being the classic Yorkshire 3 Peaks starting and finishing in Horton in Ribblesdale.

The routes are graded from 1 to 5, the grade given to each run reflecting the maximum level of difficulty on that particular route, even though some parts of the route may fall into a lower category of difficulty.

Each of the routes starts with a summary comprising the start and finish points of the run (usually the same for 88% of the routes), distance, ascent, grading, estimated time to complete, type of terrain, map to be used, refreshment availability and public transport availability to the start/finish. The route is then described in detail and accompanied by a map on a 1:50,000 scale and also a number of photographs of features and views experienced during the run.

As well as the 40 runs, there are also sections at the start of the book on history & geology, nesting restrictions, accommodation, transport, maps, a brief history of running in this area, tracks and trails, the 3 Peaks Race, running clubs, equipment, navigation, safety & mountain rescue and how to use the guide itself.

The area covered by the runs is split into four sub sections – The South West Dales and Three Peaks, The North West Dales and Howgills, The North East Dales plus Swaledale and Wensleydale and finally the South East Dales and Wharfedale.

Although the book is aimed primarily at the cross country and fell running fraternity, 24 of the routes (60%) are of 10 miles or less and would be more than suitable for walkers to use. In this latter case, Pete Ellwood’s times would need to be doubled for each of the routes due to the slower pace of a walker compared with a runner.

Many of the routes in the book were well known to me from my many years of walking in the Dales but there are probably about six or seven lesser known ones that I have not walked which can be remedied over the next year to two.

For any fellrunners or seasoned walkers this is an excellent book, well written by Pete Ellwood, which should form part of their collection.

John Burland

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