Punk Panther Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs

What runners wore

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

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What you’re in for

Seven reservoirs and barely a hill: the flattest, fastest course Punk Panther put on, and the one they point first-timers at. From Otley you head up the Washburn Valley past Lindley Wood, then Swinsty, Fewston and Thruscross, before swinging east to John O'Gaunt, Beaver Dyke and Scargill. Stainburn Forest and Almscliffe Crag are the landmarks in between. The 15 Mile is 24.1km with 523m of climb; the 20 Mile 32.9km and 634m; the 32 Mile 52.3km and 1,061m. None of it is steep for long — the climbing comes in short pulls between water. A runner who holds a course record here says it would make a great first ultra, and that is about right.

Terrain and trail

Reservoir perimeter paths, forest track and farmland, with short stretches of quiet lane between. The Washburn reservoirs have well-made gravel paths that drain fast; the field sections towards Otley and around Almscliffe hold mud after rain and are where you will slow down. Taped and flagged the week before, but the organiser is clear that tape is confirmation, not navigation — it gets moved. Carry the route description they send you and have the GPX on a watch. Ultra runners wear a tracker.

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Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Otley, West Yorkshire, 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 · 5.1km 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 · 7.2km 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 · 7.2km 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.

EASY

Fewston Reservoir Loop

5.2km · 21m climb · Loop · 8.1km 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 · 8.8km 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 Nidderdale 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

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Mandatory: Waterproof jacket with taped seams

Rab Downpour Waterproof Jacket

Rab·waterproof

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Mandatory: A cup

Lifeventure Ellipse Collapsible Cup

Lifeventure·other

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Mandatory: Survival bag

Lifesystems Survival Bag

Lifesystems·other

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Mandatory: Whistle

Lifesystems Mountain Whistle

Lifesystems·other

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Mandatory: Personal first aid kit

Lifesystems Light & Dry Micro First Aid Kit

Lifesystems·other

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How to enter

Common questions

How far is the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

The Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs offers 4 distances: 15 Mile (24.1 km), 20 Mile (32.2 km), 32 Mile (51.5 km), 50 Mile (80.5 km).

How much climbing is in the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

The 15 Mile has 523 m of ascent. The 20 Mile has 634 m of ascent. The 32 Mile has 1,061 m of ascent. No figure yet for the 50 Mile.

How hard is the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

15 Mile: Hard. 20 Mile: Hard. 32 Mile: Very Hard. Distances are measured off the course file. Where the file carries no elevation, the climb is the organiser's published figure. The 50 Mile isn't graded yet.

Is the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs course marked?

No. The Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs is not a marked course. You are expected to navigate it yourself.

What kit do I need for the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

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 Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

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: Swinsty Reservoir 10:30, Blubberhouses 14:00, Stainburn Forest 16:00.

What is at the checkpoints on the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

Water, coke, energy bars and crisps at every checkpoint. Three checkpoints: Swinsty Reservoir, St Andrew's Church at Blubberhouses and Stainburn Forest car park. Stainburn Forest is on all three distances, Blubberhouses on the 20 and the 34, Swinsty on the 20.

Can I download the Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs 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 Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs?

No date announced. When Punk Panther confirm the next Yorkshire Reservoir Dogs, it appears here and on the race calendar.

Past runnings