to different parts of the Dales before running back over the hills to the start of the route. Many of the routes in the south-west Dales and Three Peaks section can be run from this line.
Steam train on the Settle–Carlisle line (Route 19)
Maps
OS maps of the Yorkshire Dales are printed in two scales: 1:50,000 and 1:25,000. The detail provided by the larger scale map is useful in poor weather conditions and if you are unfamiliar with the area. Harvey’s also produce maps of the Dales in two scales: 1:40,000 and 1:25,000.
Maps are available from the many outdoor equipment shops in the Dales and online. They are also available as downloads from the Ordnance Survey (OS) and other apps, such as ViewRanger. However, when using maps on a phone or mobile device it is imperative that you are aware of battery life and signal strength in remote areas. Runners need to be able to navigate accurately using whichever maps they choose.
RUNNING IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES
A brief history
Running is a relatively old sport in the region, with Burnsall being the oldest recorded fell race in the Dales, dating back to 1882. Many of the agricultural shows, large and small, would feature a race to the summit of a local fell, where locals competed against each other for the prize of returning first to the show field. Fell races sat comfortably with other local competitions, such as dry-stone walling, horse jumping, stick dressing and the showing of livestock, especially sheep, against a backdrop of a largely agricultural economy where betting was a large part of the event. Over the years, many of the greatest fell runners of their generation, including Ernest Dalzell, Bill Teasdale, Fred Reeves and Tommy Sedgwick, competed in these races. They brought an air of eager anticipation to the late afternoon, as the front runners ascended the fell at great speed before descending, even faster, steep and sometimes rocky escarpments to finally sprint across the show field to rapturous cheers and applause. Fred Reeve’s 1977 Burnsall record of 12min 47s still stands. Many of these races are still run today, organised by either the show committee, BOFRA (British Open Fell Runners Association) or the FRA (Fell Running Association). Other races have also taken place for many years, including the Fellsman Hike, which originated in 1962. Organised by the Keighley Scout Service Group, this linear route starts from Ingleton and traverses the Dales, with the winners finishing the 61 miles in Grassington, just over ten hours later.
Runners competing in the Pen-y-ghent race
Tracks and trails
Trail running has recently become a popular addition to our sport, and the Dales provides an extensive network of paths, bridleways, tracks, trails and roads, offering some of the finest fell and trail running. Many of these routes follow ancient drove roads that were once used for transporting vital supplies between one dale and another. The rise in popularity of trail running has led to an increase in organised events covering a range of distances, from 10km to over 50km; many of which are low-key, non-competitive events. Participants navigate the course using a map and a written route description, via well-stocked checkpoints, to the finish.
In recent years walking, mountain biking and running for leisure have grown enormously, with many more people taking up the sport of running and visiting the Yorkshire Dales to pursue their hobby. The popular tourist centres of Settle, Sedbergh, Hawes and Reeth cater for outdoor sports and increasingly for runners, with shops and guiding services readily available.
Crossing the Dales are several long distance trails; the most well known of which are the Pennine Way and the Dales Way. The Pennine Way runs from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish borders. The Spine Race, which is held each January, runs the length of the Pennine Way, the completion of which is a fantastic achievement. The Dales Way, which runs through the Dales, traverses Wharfedale from Ilkley before crossing the Cam High Road into Dentdale, finishing at a point overlooking Lake Windermere at Bowness. At 81 miles, this route makes a good multi-day running (otherwise known as ‘fastpacking’) trip.
Signpost: ‘Hawes’
Three Peaks race
The most famous long race in the Dales is the Three Peaks Race. Held annually in April, the race comprises the Yorkshire Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, starting and finishing in Horton in Ribblesdale. In common with most races, the winners complete the course in superhuman times. The current women’s record stands at 3hr 9min (Victoria Wilkinson, 2017), while the men’s record is 2hr 46min (Andy Peace, 1996). The mid-pack usually takes between four to five hours to reach the finish. Route 4 in the South-West Dales and Three Peaks section of this book describes a route that takes in these three famous peaks. Be aware it does not describe the classic Three Peaks race route. Sometimes criticised as more of a trail race by fell runners, the Three Peaks Race is a hard route with fast running on good tracks, many of which have recently been improved, between each of the peaks. The final run-off, from the summit of Ingleborough, seems much longer than normal, even though from early on the finish marquee can be seen in the distance. The final run-in, across the field, under the railway, around someone’s garden, across the road and over the final few metres of grass, is accompanied by cheers from the large crowd and the announcement of your name over the tannoy system. This is markedly different to other fell races. As a local runner, the support you receive throughout the race is unbelievable and well worth all the hard miles of training.
The badge of the Three Peaks Club (Image trademark of the 'Three Peaks Cafe')
Other events
The Yorkshire Dales offers a wide range of different races, from the short and fast races at Burnsall and Kilnsey Shows to the longer classic events like the Three Peaks Race. Equally, many challenge events are held in the Dales each year, often raising money for charities, such as mountain rescue teams, allowing them to continue their superb work.
For details of other races and events, visit the following websites: FRA (www.fellrunner.org.uk), BOFRA (www.bofra.org.uk), the Trail Running Association (TRA) (www.tra-uk.org) or YDNP (www.yorkshiredales.org.uk).
Running clubs
The Dales offers many well-attended running clubs. Most of the larger towns have a club that trains on the fells, and they are always open to new members and visitors. For further details visit www.fellrunner.org.uk.
The author representing Settle Harriers in the FRA Relays Kettlewell (photo: Alex Pilkington)
Equipment
Running, at its heart, is about a pair of trainers, a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. This simplicity is what many runners crave and partly why many of us choose to run.
The weather, the time of year and the length and difficulty of the route often make this simple approach more complex. A runner’s equipment and clothing are a personal choice that reflects experience, ability and general mindset. Suggestions of what to wear or carry (depending on
