Simons Seat Blast

The route

From Skipton, this heads north into Wharfedale on farm tracks and quiet lanes before climbing onto Barden Fell to reach Simon's Seat, a distinctive gritstone outcrop at 485m with views back down the dale toward Bolton Abbey. From the top, the route retraces broadly the same line back to Skipton, giving the day a there-and-back shape built around one clear high point.

Simon's Seat

The rock formations at the top are the payoff for the climb, a jumble of weathered gritstone that's unusual for this side of the Dales and makes for a proper summit moment rather than just a high point on a map. It sits on the Bolton Abbey Estate, and the approach paths are well used, so expect company on the final climb even on a quiet day elsewhere on the route.

The rest of the day

Away from Simon's Seat itself, this route is mostly valley and lower fell running - farmland, drystone walls, and the kind of steady Wharfedale scenery that makes the climbing feel earned rather than punishing. At 918m of ascent over 54.9km, the effort is spread out rather than front-loaded, so pacing the flatter sections properly matters as much as managing the climb itself.

Why runners come back to it

Simon's Seat gives this route a clear identity that a lot of ultra-distance loops lack - ask anyone who's done it and they'll talk about the summit rocks, not just the total distance. That makes it a good choice for anyone building toward a longer event who wants a definite landmark to aim for partway through.

Getting it right

This is a genuine ultra distance day, and the out-and-back structure means you'll cross tired ground on the way back that felt easy on the way out. Plan food and water accordingly, and treat the climb to Simon's Seat as roughly the psychological and physical midpoint of the run.