Skipton Round

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.