How far is the Goyt Valley Challenge?

The Goyt Valley Challenge offers 2 distances: 26.2 Mile (42.2 km), 14.3 Mile (23.0 km).

Is the Goyt Valley Challenge course marked?

No. The Goyt Valley Challenge is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

When is the next Goyt Valley Challenge?

Sat, 3 Oct 2026, 07:30. Entries open.

LDWA High Peak Goyt Valley Challenge

Buxton Community School, College Road, BuxtonSat, 3 Oct 2026

A 26.2 or 14.3 mile loop of the western Peak from Buxton over Axe Edge, the Goyt Valley, Shining Tor and Lamaload. Moorland, so carry the kit for it.

Distance	Ascent	Per km
26.2 Mile	—	—
14.3 Mile	—	—

moorhillreservoirNavigation required

Nobody has reviewed this one yet

No reviews of the Goyt Valley Challenge, and nothing on what people wore. Both are things no organiser publishes and every runner wants before they enter — how it actually went, and what was on your feet.

Ran it? Write the first review

Running it soon? Connect Strava and we will ask you about it the day you finish, so you do not have to remember to come back.

Pick your distance

What you’re in for

A 26.2 or 14.3 mile loop of the western Peak from Buxton over Axe Edge, down the Goyt Valley, up Shining Tor and round by Lamaload, all to finish by six. Early October. An LDWA challenge event, which means walkers and runners together, a route description to navigate by rather than tape, checkpoints with food and drink, and a meal at the end. Entry is through the LDWA's own system, places are limited, and the ones in this list tend to fill early.

Terrain and trail

Moorland: peat, heather and flagged path on Axe Edge and Shining Tor, reservoir track in the Goyt, and exposed on the tops — the organiser says to carry the kit for it, and means it. A trail shoe with grip.

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Cut-offs

All to finish by 18:00.

Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Buxton Community School, College Road, Buxton, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

HARD

The Roaches and Lud's Church

12.4km · 539m climb · Loop · 12km away

Two of the most distinctive bits of the whole Peak District back to back. The Roaches ridge has proper exposure and Lud's Church is one of those places that makes you stop and look twice.

Checked Jun 2026

VERY HARD

Edale Skyline

29.5km · 861m climb · Loop · 13km away

You spend almost the whole loop on the skyline itself, linking gritstone edges and summits with the Edale valley dropping away below you the entire way round.

HARD

Mam Tor and the Great Ridge

12.6km · 502m climb · Loop · 13km away

You run the entire Great Ridge end to end, a paved skyline with the Hope and Edale valleys falling away on either side, then loop through Castleton beneath the caves and old road.

VERY HARD

Kinder Scout from Hayfield

13.9km · 469m climb · Loop · 15km away

You get onto the highest ground in the Peak District on a route steeped in access history, with the plateau edges giving fast, airy running once you are up.

VERY HARD

The Grand Edale Circular

28.7km · 1,344m climb · Loop · 16km away

The full Peak District experience — deep peat bog, gritstone edges, and those big Kinder views. Earn the ridge on the way back in.

VERY HARD

White Peak Six Dales Loop

42.5km · 442m climb · Loop · 17km away

You connect a whole run of limestone dales in one loop, swapping the gritstone moors of the Dark Peak for clear rivers, green valleys and dry-stone-walled plateau.

All routes near Edale →All Peak District routes →

How to enter

Sat, 3 Oct 2026 · Entries open · £17–£23

Enter on their website ↗

Entries are handled by SiEntries, not by us. We take nothing for sending you there.

Add to your calendar · with the start time

Common questions

: The Goyt Valley Challenge offers 2 distances: 26.2 Mile (42.2 km), 14.3 Mile (23.0 km).
: No course file for the Goyt Valley Challenge yet, so there's no measured climb here. When LDWA High Peak publish one, this fills in.
: 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 Goyt Valley Challenge yet.
: No. The Goyt Valley Challenge is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.
: We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Goyt Valley Challenge. LDWA High Peak confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.
: All to finish by 18:00.
: We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Goyt Valley Challenge. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the LDWA High Peak race information rather than turning up expecting food.
: Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Goyt Valley Challenge. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.
: Sat, 3 Oct 2026, 07:30. Entries open.