Skipton Round
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.
Effort: Ultra distance and major ascent
Underfoot: Open fell or rough terrain
E5·T3 — how we grade routesYou 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.
A 96.5km round from Skipton through the lower fells and valleys of Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale. A vast local loop of moor edge, river and pasture, staying below the high tops but big on distance.
The route
This is a big local ultra: 96.5km looping out from Skipton through the surrounding country of Craven, Airedale and the fringe of Wharfedale. Rather than tagging the high Three Peaks, the line stays on the lower fells, moor edges and river valleys, linking a long chain of paths, tracks and lanes into a continuous round. The climbing is spread over the huge distance rather than concentrated in big ascents, so the challenge is endurance and route-finding as much as vertical.
The country
The round threads the gentler landscape around Skipton: the moor edges of Rombalds and Barden, the wooded valleys of the Aire and the Wharfe, and the pastoral country between. It takes in old drovers' tracks, riverside paths and quiet lanes, the kind of ground locals know piece by piece but rarely join into a single loop. Bolton Abbey, Embsay Moor and the reservoirs of the fringe all sit within its sweep, giving a varied, understated tour of the country that most visitors drive straight through on their way to the honeypots.
Why it works
This is a route for experienced distance runners who want a big day close to home rather than a dramatic mountain outing. The ground is largely runnable, but the sheer distance, the many path junctions and the mix of terrain make navigation and pacing the real test. Weather is less extreme than the high fells but still matters over so long a day, so carry kit and fuel. Skipton is a proper base with everything you need. As a way to knit together the quiet country you usually only glimpse, it is hard to beat, a proper local adventure on your own doorstep.
A very long round where navigation and pacing are the main challenge, with many path junctions across mixed ground. Moor edges are exposed and boggy, and river sections flood after rain. Grouse shooting affects the moors from August to December.
Summits on this route
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
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