This is a challenging course with very tight cutoffs. You will need to maintain almost 7kph for the entire event to have a chance of completing within the cutoff.
The 100miles route is a lapped course, following the 100km route in it’s entirety, before going back out following the bronze 50km route. After Calver, 100mile entrants will switch to the Copper route, finishing their challenge on the eastern edges, and descending in to Hathersage within 24 hours. There is approximately 4800m of elevation.
This is a fast and challenging route with very tight cutoffs, suitable for those who’ve already successfully self-navigated 100km runs. The 100 miles in 24 hours Ultra is the ultimate Peak District Challenge, and should be attempted by teams of fit and experienced trekkers or runners who want to see the best that the Peak District has to offer, and want to push themselves to maintain a fast pace over all terrain for a 24-hour period. You’ll leave Hathersage at 9pm on Friday night. Night navigation experience is essential, and you must have previously successfully completed a 100km Ultra.
Cutoffs and pace
To be successful, you’ll need to maintain over 7kph to complete the 100 miles in 24 hours Ultra. If you fail to meet a cutoff, you will be able to continue on the 100km Gold Ultra route, which cuts off a final loop of the 100 miles in 24 hours course.
The route
Detailed route information is be provided to entrants seven days before the event, but a broad overview of the provisional route is below. The terrain is a mixture of trails, grassy footpaths and under 15% tarmac minor roads.
Your challenge begins crossing the Dark Peak moors by night. You will cross Stanage edge and Strines edge on your way to the climb over Derwent Moors and Back Tor. Next it’s a descent to Ladybower Valley and a loop to the geological oddity of Alport Castle.
Descending into Edale, you’ll loop along Rushop Edge and descend Jacobs ladder before your second visit in to the village. The Great Ridge and Mam Tor preceed your descent down to Castleton. You are given a short break in navigational difficulty as tracks and lanes lead to Peak Forest in the white Peak and the valley nature reserve at Hay Dale. Your map will come out again as a mixture of paths and tracks lead between a string of pretty villages in the undulating limestone landscape, finally leading to Calver on the river Derwent. As dawn breaks, you’ll pass popular climbing venues on the eastern gritstone edges above Curbar, Froggatt and Burbage as your first loop ends back in Hathersage.
You’ll rejoin the Derwent Valley Heritage trail for a flat start to your second loop, to Castleton via the towns of the Hope Valley, where there’s a chance to revisit by day the route section you previewed by night through the white Peak.
After Calver, your final loop extends eastwards again, taking in Padley Gorge and Millstone edge, before the final grassy slopes down home to Hathersage.
ITRA and UTMB (r) points
We have applied for the 100 miles in 24 hours Ultra to be worth ITRA points and be included in the UTMB (r) index. (https://itra.run)