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It's Grim Up North Running Glorious Gargrave

Gargrave, North YorkshireSat, 15 May 2027

A flat out-and-back on the Leeds & Liverpool towpath at Gargrave on the edge of the Dales, 5k to marathon, six and a half hours. A tougher towpath than most, they say.

DistanceAscentPer km
42.2 km Marathon——
21.1 km Half Marathon——
10K——
5K——
canalflatMarked course

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Pick your distance

6h 30m cut-off, which needs 78:00/km

Start time not confirmed yet — check with the organiser.

What you’re in for

The May race at Gargrave, 5k to marathon on the towpath at the edge of the Dales. The course is the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath at Gargrave on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, an out-and-back turning at a marshal. The canal here is at its summit level and its prettiest, with the fells of Malhamdale in view. The marathon is two laps of the half.

Terrain and trail

The organiser calls it a tougher towpath than most and it is: more grass and stone than tarmac, uneven in places, and muddy after rain. Still flat, still a canal, but a trail shoe is the right call and a PB is not the point. Six and a half hours for every distance. Feed stations roughly every three miles with drinks, sweets and cake, and the events are cup-less, so bring your own cup or bottle. A GPX is supplied and not every junction has a marshal, so know where the turn is. Over-ear headphones are not allowed, and some road crossings are unmarshalled.

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Cut-offs

6.5 hours for every distance.

Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Gargrave, North Yorkshire, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

Skipton to Saltaire Along the CanalHARD
Skipton to Saltaire Along the Canal
25.6km · 0m climb · Point to point · 6.0km away
Zero metres of climbing over 25.6km means this is pure running, not hill work - a good route for working on pace and distance without terrain getting in the way.
Checked Jul 2026
Skipton to Malham via Canal and Pennine WayMODERATE
Skipton to Malham via Canal and Pennine Way
17.7km · 189m climb · Point to point · 6.0km away
You start on a flat canal towpath and finish in Malhamdale, with the Pennine Way's National Trail waymarking doing the navigation for you almost the entire way.
Checked Jun 2026
EXPERT
Skipton Round
96.5km · 2,428m climb · Loop · 6.4km away
You circle Skipton on a huge loop through the quieter country of Craven, linking moor edge, riverside and old field paths that most runners pass through but never string together.
Skipton Moor from SkiptonMODERATE
Skipton Moor from Skipton
6.3km · 254m climb · Out & back · 6.5km away
Twenty minutes from the station and you're on open moorland with a proper climb under your belt. This is the shortest and sharpest of the Skipton moor routes.
Checked Jun 2026
Skipton Canal and StirtonEASY
Skipton Canal and Stirton
8.3km · 67m climb · Loop · 6.5km away
Canal towpath running at its most accessible - flat, surfaced, and direct. Stirton sits quietly 2km south of Skipton and gives the route a reason to go beyond the park.
Checked Jun 2026
Skipton Woods and CanalMODERATE
Skipton Woods and Canal
11.5km · 111m climb · Loop · 6.5km away
Castle woods on the way out, canal on the way back. Skipton has better trail running on its doorstep than most people realise, and this circuit shows it.
Checked Jun 2026

All routes near Skipton →All North Yorkshire routes →

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Other races near here

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Races from other organisers starting within 30 km of Gargrave, North Yorkshire, nearest first.

How to enter

Sat, 15 May 2027 · Entries open · £18–£43

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Common questions

The Glorious Gargrave offers 4 distances: 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), Half Marathon (21.1 km / 13.1 miles), Marathon (42.2 km / 26.2 miles).