Ultra Tour Yorkshire Dales 100k
This is the full southern Dales in one enormous self-navigated loop: Malham Tarn, the summit of Buckden Pike, Trollers Gill, Simon's Seat and a string of the prettiest villages in the country.
Effort: Ultra distance and major ascent
Underfoot: Technical, navigation required
E5·T4 — how we grade routesThis is the full southern Dales in one enormous self-navigated loop: Malham Tarn, the summit of Buckden Pike, Trollers Gill, Simon's Seat and a string of the prettiest villages in the country.
A 97.9km self-navigated ultra from Grassington touring the southern Dales, taking in Malham Tarn, Littondale, Buckden Pike, Simon's Seat and Barden Moor. A huge day linking the best of Wharfedale and Malhamdale.
The route
This is a 97.9km ultra, the route of the Ultra Tour Yorkshire Dales, looping out from Grassington through the southern Dales and back. From Threshfield the line climbs to Weets Top above Malham and the shore of Malham Tarn, crosses the moor to Arncliffe in Littondale, then heads up Wharfedale through Litton, Buckden, Starbotton and Kettlewell, taking in the summit of Buckden Pike at 702m. The return sweeps through Burnsall, Trollers Gill, Simon's Seat and Barden Moor to Cracoe before dropping back to Grassington. It is a genuine tour, stringing together the finest ground in the region.
The high points
The route is a greatest-hits of the southern Dales: Malham Tarn, one of the highest lakes in England; the hidden gorge of Trollers Gill; the gritstone tors of Simon's Seat above Wharfedale; and the airy summit of Buckden Pike. Between the high ground lie the classic villages of the dale, strung along the Wharfe like beads. It covers limestone, gritstone and open moor, valley and summit, in one continuous line, which is exactly the point of it.
Why it works
This is a route for experienced ultra runners and no one else. It is self-navigated with no waymarking, so map reading, hill experience and full kit are essential, alongside the fitness for nearly 100km and a big total climb. The ground ranges from runnable trail to boggy moor and steep, sustained hill climbs, and the weather on the tops can be severe. Grassington is the hub, with everything you need. Complete it and you will have run the finest single loop the southern Dales can offer.
The full GPX records around 2,660m of ascent.
A self-navigated 100k with no waymarking over exposed high fells, so expert navigation, full kit and fuelling are essential. Boggy moor, steep climbs and severe summit weather, with long gaps between escape points. 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.
Common questions
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