Great Owl Running Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North

The course

What you’re in for

Day two of the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras: about 43km and 650m of climb, point to point from St John's Community Church in Greengates back round to Garforth through Apperley Bridge, Horsforth, Cookridge, Golden Acre Park, Eccup, Harewood, Bardsey, Thorner and Barwick in Elmet. At a little over marathon distance, the organiser pitches it as a first winter ultra. The course is unmarked apart from the LCW's own owl waymarkers, so runners navigate with the GPX or a printed map. There is a cut-off at Bardsey (26km) at 14:30 and the course closes at 18:00. Garforth and Apperley Bridge stations are within walking distance of the start and finish.

Partner · affiliate policy

Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of St John's Community Church, 19 Carr Bottom Rd, Greengates, Bradford, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

MODERATE

Shipley Glen and Baildon Moor

12.7km · 215m climb · Loop · 5.4km away

You start at the World Heritage village of Saltaire, run the canal and the wooded ravine of Shipley Glen, then climb to the trig on Baildon Moor for a proper moor-top view over Airedale.

VERY HARD

The Ilkley Skyline

35.1km · 808m climb · Loop · 8.5km away

Eleven kilometres of unbroken moor crest, then you cross the valley and run the skyline back the other way with your entire morning laid out in front of you. It is the biggest day available from an Ilkley train station.

MODERATE

Washburn Valley from Leathley

10.2km · 167m climb · Loop · 11km away

You get a quiet string of reservoirs and river woodland a stone's throw from Otley, with none of the crowds of the honeypot dales. It is the sort of route locals keep to themselves.

MODERATE

The Twelve Apostles and Rombalds Moor Trig from the Cow and Calf

7.7km · 248m climb · Loop · 11km away

You touch the highest point of the moor and a Bronze Age stone circle inside eight kilometres, on paths good enough to run nearly all of. It is the best hour available on Ilkley Moor.

HARD

Burley Moor Stone Circles from the Cow and Calf

11.6km · 320m climb · Loop · 11km away

Four thousand years of prehistory in one loop. Rombalds Moor carries over 400 cup-and-ring marked stones, and this route strings the best of them together before dropping you onto two kilometres of Burley Moor that almost nobody runs.

MODERATE

Ilkley Moor from the Cow and Calf

9.5km · 287m climb · Loop · 12km away

You run straight up onto the moor of the famous song, past the Cow and Calf crags and out to the Twelve Apostles stone circle, with cup-and-ring carvings scattered underfoot.

Checked Jul 2026

All routes near Ilkley →All West Yorkshire routes →

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

The Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North is one distance: LCW Winter Ultra North (43.0 km / 26.7 miles).

How much climbing is in the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

The LCW Winter Ultra North has 650 m of ascent.

How hard is the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

Not graded yet. A TRP grade is worked out from distance and climb measured off the course file, and there isn't one for the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North yet.

Is the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North course marked?

No. The Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

What kit do I need for the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North. Great Owl Running confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

Overall time limits — LCW Winter Ultra North: 10h.

What is at the checkpoints on the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Great Owl Running race information rather than turning up expecting food.

Can I download the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North route?

Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.

When is the next Leeds Country Way Winter Ultra North?

Sun, 10 Jan 2027, 09:00. Not open yet.