Great Owl Running We Need To Talk About Chevin

Pick your distance

What you’re in for

Two FRA fell races on Otley Chevin from Station Top. We Need To Talk About Chevin is a 14km category BM race with 650m of climb: up Jonny Lane and the Chevin steps to Surprise View, then hard descents and climbs via West Gate, the Danefield climb, Poolscar Wood, the power lines at Fells Plantation and Miller Lane before a fast run back down. Chevin is BS is a 9km category BS version with 390m of climb. The course is only partly marked and several paths lead to each checkpoint, so basic navigation is needed, and GPS devices are not allowed under FRA rules. On the longer race, runners reaching checkpoint 5 at 6.5km after 70 minutes are turned back. A finishers' ale is included.

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Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Station Top, East Chevin Road, Otley (opposite Wharfedale Farmers Market), nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

MODERATE

Washburn Valley from Leathley

10.2km · 167m climb · Loop · 3.1km 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 · 5.4km 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

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

7.7km · 248m climb · Loop · 7.8km 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 · 7.8km 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.

EASY

Fewston Reservoir Loop

5.2km · 21m climb · Loop · 9.0km away

A short and beautiful run around this picturesque reservoir in the Washburn Valley

Checked Jun 2026

MODERATE

Ilkley Moor from the Cow and Calf

9.5km · 287m climb · Loop · 9.3km 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 Airedale routes →

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the We Need To Talk About Chevin?

The We Need To Talk About Chevin offers 2 distances: We Need To Talk About Chevin (BM) (14.0 km / 8.7 miles), Chevin is BS (9.0 km / 5.6 miles).

How much climbing is in the We Need To Talk About Chevin?

The We Need To Talk About Chevin (BM) has 650 m of ascent. The Chevin is BS has 390 m of ascent.

How hard is the We Need To Talk About Chevin?

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 We Need To Talk About Chevin yet.

Is the We Need To Talk About Chevin course marked?

No. The We Need To Talk About Chevin is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

What kit do I need for the We Need To Talk About Chevin?

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

What are the cut-offs for the We Need To Talk About Chevin?

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

What is at the checkpoints on the We Need To Talk About Chevin?

We don't hold a checkpoint list for the We Need To Talk About Chevin. 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 We Need To Talk About Chevin route?

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

When is the next We Need To Talk About Chevin?

Sat, 13 Mar 2027, 11:00. Not open yet.