Great Owl Running The Billing

The course

What you’re in for

A 14km winter trail race from Rawdon Cricket Club with around 277m of climbing, most of it from going up the Billing twice. After the first ascent the route crosses the top of Yeadon, goes round the perimeter fence of Leeds Bradford Airport and comes back for the second climb. The ground is fields, trail and public footpaths and the course is fully marked. There is no water station, so carry your own, and a warm waterproof or windproof jacket is compulsory. The field is limited to 100 and runners must be 18 or over. Bring spare shoes and clothes, as muddy kit is not welcome in the carpeted clubhouse.

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Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Rawdon Cricket Club, 73 Larkfield Rd, Rawdon, Leeds, 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 · 7.5km 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.

MODERATE

Washburn Valley from Leathley

10.2km · 167m climb · Loop · 7.7km 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.

VERY HARD

The Ilkley Skyline

35.1km · 808m climb · Loop · 8.0km 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.

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

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.

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 Billing?

The Billing is one distance: The Billing (14.0 km / 8.7 miles).

How much climbing is in the Billing?

The The Billing has 277 m of ascent.

How hard is the Billing?

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 Billing yet.

Is the Billing course marked?

Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.

What kit do I need for the Billing?

We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Billing. Great Owl Running confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.

What are the cut-offs for the Billing?

We don't hold published time limits for the Billing. If Great Owl Running set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.

What is at the checkpoints on the Billing?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Billing. 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 Billing route?

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

When is the next Billing?

Sat, 13 Feb 2027, 12:00. Not open yet.