Punk Panther Skipton Skedaddle

What runners wore

From 1 runner who told us, not from the organiser.

Add what you wore and it appears here.

Pick your distance

What you’re in for

Out of the market town and into the Dales. The route picks up parts of the Dales High Way, the River Aire Ultra and the Pennine Way; both ultra distances reach Malham Tarn and Gordale Scar, and the 50 Mile carries on along the Pennine Way over Fountains Fell to Pen-y-ghent, drops into Horton-in-Ribblesdale, follows the Ribble Way back onto the fells and returns to Skipton along the Aire. The 13 Mile is 22.7km with 394m of climb, the 20 Mile 32.4km and 603m, the 34 Mile 55.4km and 1,225m, and the 50 Mile 84.6km with 2,264m. The two ultras are proper Dales days: the 34 has the limestone of Malhamdale, the 50 adds a Yorkshire Three Peaks summit. A runner who did the 34 in 2023 called the trails through to Malham great and the return along the Pennine Way to Gargrave pretty flat, which is a fair summary of the shape of it.

Terrain and trail

Canal towpath and field paths out of Skipton, then limestone: the pavement and scars around Malham, Gordale and the Tarn, which run fast and grippy dry and are slick wet. The 50 Mile adds open fell over Fountains Fell and Pen-y-ghent, exposed, with the Pennine Way's flagged and worn sections. Taped and flagged the week before as confirmation only. Carry the route description and the GPX. Toilets at the Feizor checkpoint only, and support crews are not allowed at checkpoints. Ultra runners wear a tracker; the 50 Mile finishes after dark for most.

Partner · affiliate policy

Train for it: routes near the start

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

MODERATE

Skipton to Malham via Canal and Pennine Way

17.7km · 189m climb · Point to point · 0.2km 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

HARD

Skipton to Saltaire Along the Canal

25.6km · 0m climb · Point to point · 0.2km 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

EXPERT

Skipton Round

96.5km · 2,428m climb · Loop · 0.8km 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.

EASY

Skipton Canal and Stirton

8.3km · 67m climb · Loop · 0.9km 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

MODERATE

Skipton Woods and Canal

11.5km · 111m climb · Loop · 0.9km 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

MODERATE

Skipton Moor to Bradley and Canal Back

11.2km · 255m climb · Loop · 0.9km away

Three distinct sections in one run: moor, village, canal. This is the most satisfying of the Skipton circuits - proper climbing followed by a flat, fast return.

Checked Jun 2026

All routes near Skipton →All Yorkshire Dales routes →

Mandatory kit

• A proper bag to carry it all in — Their words: not a carrier bag
• Waterproof jacket with taped seams
• Enough fluid to reach the next checkpoint
• A cup — There are none at the checkpoints
• Energy bar or other food
• Survival bag — A bag, not a sheet
• Whistle
• Mobile phone, switched on, with the race director and medic numbers saved
• Tracker — Supplied by the organiser for ultra distances, worn at all times
• Hat or buff
• Gloves
• Personal first aid kit
• Printed map and route description — Sent by the organiser before the race

Kit for this race

Picked against the list above. Check the organiser's final instructions before you buy anything.

Mandatory: A proper bag to carry it all in

Rab Veil 6L Running Vest

Rab·vest

Buy now

Mandatory: Waterproof jacket with taped seams

Rab Downpour Waterproof Jacket

Rab·waterproof

Buy now

Mandatory: A cup

Lifeventure Ellipse Collapsible Cup

Lifeventure·other

Buy now

Mandatory: Survival bag

Lifesystems Survival Bag

Lifesystems·other

Buy now

Mandatory: Whistle

Lifesystems Mountain Whistle

Lifesystems·other

Buy now

Mandatory: Personal first aid kit

Lifesystems Light & Dry Micro First Aid Kit

Lifesystems·other

Buy now

Some links earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you — affiliate policy.

How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Skipton Skedaddle?

The Skipton Skedaddle offers 3 distances: 13 Mile (20.9 km), 20 Mile (32.2 km), 34 Mile (54.7 km).

How much climbing is in the Skipton Skedaddle?

The 13 Mile has 394 m of ascent. The 20 Mile has 603 m of ascent. The 34 Mile has 1,225 m of ascent.

How hard is the Skipton Skedaddle?

13 Mile: Hard. 20 Mile: Hard. 34 Mile: Very Hard. Distances are measured off the course file. Where the file carries no elevation, the climb is the organiser's published figure.

Is the Skipton Skedaddle course marked?

No. The Skipton Skedaddle is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

What kit do I need for the Skipton Skedaddle?

The organiser's compulsory list is: A proper bag to carry it all in, Waterproof jacket with taped seams, Enough fluid to reach the next checkpoint, A cup, Energy bar or other food, Survival bag, Whistle, Mobile phone, switched on, with the race director and medic numbers saved, Tracker, Hat or buff, Gloves, Personal first aid kit, Printed map and route description.

What are the cut-offs for the Skipton Skedaddle?

No overall time limit is published. The cut-offs are the checkpoint closing times — arrive after one closes and you are retired. Course closes 19:30. Checkpoints close: Hetton 11:00, Gargrave 13:30, Malham Tarn 12:30, Rainscar 13:45, Feizor 16:30, Airton 20:30. Airton's time is after the advertised course close, so take the final instructions as the version that counts.

What is at the checkpoints on the Skipton Skedaddle?

Water, coke, energy bars and crisps at every checkpoint, plus a box for vegan and gluten-free runners — ask when you get there. Six checkpoints: Hetton, Gargrave, Malham Tarn, Rainscar, Elaine's Tea Rooms at Feizor, and Airton. Which you see depends on your distance: Rainscar is 50 Mile only, Malham Tarn and Airton are on the 34 and 50, and Airton sits just off the course. Toilets at Feizor only. No support crews at checkpoints.

Can I download the Skipton Skedaddle route?

Yes. The GPX for each distance is free to download here, with no sign-up, the same as every route on Trail Running Planet.

When is the next Skipton Skedaddle?

Sat, 10 Apr 2027. Entries open.

Past runnings