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Can anyone point me in the right direction please ? I'm looking for some fairly easy routes in the Peak District as I live in Northants and this would be the nearest and best place for me to get in some proper running. I'm doing about 50 miles a week off road at the moment but I need somewhere where I can travel to on my days off where I can get some hills in. Are there any races happening up there over the Xmas period? Any info greatly appreciated.
Happy Xmas all
Richy
Richy, how far do you want to run in the Peak? 50 mpw is a fair bit of training and presumably includes a longish weekend outingQuote:
Originally Posted by richyf
http://peaktrailrunner.freehostia.com/mambo/Quote:
Originally Posted by richyf
I always post this.. I think it has some great routes.. trail running more than pure fell, but great running and plenty of hills and loads of routes..
Not too much over the xmas period.. is whimberry Naze the classic one...
http://fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?m=december&y=2012
Great shout Route 5 over Derwent Edge is a classic outingQuote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Thanks for posting that Ian.
I was thinking somewhere around the 12 to 14 mile point but aslong as theres some hills and scenery I dont really mind. If Im going to travel up from home just for a run then Id like it to be worth my time and diesel money if you know what I mean.
Thanks Derby Tup.
Is route 5 easy to follow, it certainly looks like a decent run?
Yeah, 4-5 ca be a tad sketchy but nothing too bad.. and then dropping down to 8 there are a few options.. but do it on a clear day and its very obvious..Quote:
Originally Posted by richyf
Most of the routes on that site are pretty easy to follow..
I do 5 the most or variations of.. you can shorten it.. and also make it longer by going via crook Hill.. I always do the loop from the viaduct just to save a drive.
I've used that site for ages and was going to do the route 5 yesterday but couldn't be bothered to drive that far.
Currently working out a marathon(ish) distance that takes in R5, Win Hill, Lockerbrook, Alport and Margery Hill. I think I've got the route but the estimated elevation gain is a shocker.
BTW has anyone run up or down Parkin Clough? It leads to or from Win Hill and looks very technical from a couple of MTB videos I've found online. Bit steep too.
The High Peak Marathon goes straight down Parkin Clough in the middle of the night. Great fun :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegan Runner
Hi Rickyf,
I would think about the Edale area. You can park up in the village (the only issue here is that it will cost a lot). You then have loads of options on both sides of the valley. Maybe you could try the first or second halves of the Edale skyline route (or the full skyline).
If you start from mile 8 and go up Eastern side of res for 1.5 miles then up over Pike low and drop down Abbey bank its a much nicer run and an extra hill to boot. If you are coming up for the day keep going up M1 off at junc 35a and park at Langsett, it might be quicker as its only 15 mins from motorway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Mickledon Straddle race routeis goog but of lots of other runs from there.
The only problem with Edale is every one goes there. 2nd busiest Nat Park in the world and Edale is the bulls eye in the centre of the targetQuote:
Originally Posted by Truck
PC isn't too bad.. at night when you are closely following someone its a bit sketchy..Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegan Runner
But i've been up and down it numerous times.. there are more runnable routes up further to the right as you go up..
Hi Rickyf,
Depending on how far up you want to drive there is also Hayfield as a central point. Again it has lots of routes in and around that area either over towards Kinder or back towards Chinley. Easy to park with good pubs and you usually meet someone out from Pennine to pass the time with. Over Xmas in the area the "Festive Disorientation" is on 30th December which is an O type event so you get to see a lot of the area that way (Roughly 8 or 16 mile course according to the blurb). But as I say it depends on how much driving you want to do first.
the route of the Grindleford Gallop is highly recommended as a training run:
22M/3000ft
you can start/finish it from Bakewell on the A6
http://www.newlearn.co.uk/gallop2010...route_2009.jpg
you even get to run past Chatsworth House - how posh is that!
detailed route description here:
http://www.newlearn.co.uk/gallop2010...Route_2013.pdf
Thought about the Festive O.. but he's a beginner.. so unless he can Nav it may not be too suitable.. But if he has some nav skills I think the O/MMM events are superb training.. some of the few times we actually have to nav in a year...
Good point I never thought about that before replying. There is always someone to help on these if lost -Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
but its always different if your out of area.
Thanks for peak trail runner link. I have had for a few years a pdf book which must be an early version of this - as now there are 40 routes.
Thanks everyone for the info. I'll have a good look at that Peak Trail Runner site when Ive more spare time. Im not sure Im ready for the Grindleford run, 22 miles is a bit out of my league at the moment. Edale. Ive heard a bit about it. Is there a route map anywhere online or could anyone shed some light on it?
Wait one, Ive just found a route map on UK Hillwalking.
I'd've thought on 50mpw that a 20ish mile long outing wouldn't be un-doable?Quote:
Originally Posted by richyf
suppose it depends on what you're training for - whether you want "time on feet" for long/ultra training - or whether you want "tempo" type stuff for medium/shorter races?
also, I thought if you were driving up from Northants you'd want your moneysworth! ;)
Its just pushing it a bit too far. Although Im putting in the miles per week at the moment, the terrain would be a damn site hillier than what Im running on now. Its certainly not flat by any stretch of the imagination where I run but its not fell or proper hills. Coupled with the possibiltiy that the weather conditions could be bad I just think it might be a step too far.
Thanks anyway Daztheslug.
Bamford Sheep Dog Trials fell race on late May bank holiday goes up Parkin Clough. MrRTS uses it as a training run loop from home too. He has not yet ran it all the way to the top though, he has to walk part of it. Let me know if you ever manage to RUN the whole Clough to the top :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegan Runner
Thanks for that link too IanR. Some wonderful routes on there :thumbup:
Im in Rugby richyf and do a bit in the derbyshire fells, maybe we can split the fuel cost if you fancy some company. Im self employed so any days/weekends will suit me. In a build up for the major cross-country events early in the new year but the offer is always open. I dont like to go slow though :D how fast are you?!
You want the proper OS maps, white peak area (number 24 i think) & dark peak area. im mostly running dark peak area currently
Massively tempted to try and run all the way up Parkin Clough sometime soon. Love a challenge, me.
I've run all the way up it before, but think it's actually faster to walk some of it as I overtook runners whilst walking in this year's race.
Nasty, nasty hill though!
Sounds ideal then. I do agree about walking. Even if you don't pass anyone on the climb you'll at least be able to run away from them at the top on fresher legs.
That's the theory although....
Parkin Clough in ice/snow is treacherous! passed a group trying to literally crawl up it last year!
Funny looking back but scary at the time!
Os maps all you need to go running the peaks. Although being spoilt for choice I often get in a stress for where to go!!
Vegan Runner have you got any vegan running ideas you can send me?!Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegan Runner
Thanks for the offer sebp, that would be good. As for how fast I am, I really dont know how quick Id be over the hills. Up to 10 miles between 7.30 and 8 min/miles, but over 10 Im probably averaging around 8.15 min/miles. I just want to get up there and have a good run in great surroundings. Im not really into blatting it out and not enjoying it. But if you are still up for it let me know and we'll see if we can sort something out.
What's a vegan running idea? Erm... don't eat cheese while running!Quote:
Originally Posted by MickTor
Oops I meant recipe ideas!!
is all good richyf, we'll sort something out in the new year..
im in glossop today, going up bleaklow later, but lots of rain has fallen yesterday and last night, so might be foul out there, at a wedding tomorrow in hope, missus told me it was in hope so was going to head up mam tor, turns out is more hope valley than hope, so than means... parkin clough/win hill here i come sunday morning! Ill take some pics if i can find it, running from Thornhill, compass will get me there, looking at the contour lines, parkin clough looks mean! only looks like 2.5k from where im staying so can always run up the road, unless you can run up the disused railway ? if you run from the bottom of parkin clough up to win hill it looks like 170 to 462m in only 1000m! thats about 900ft!! ouch!
You can certainly run up the railway line from where it crosses the rough track / road which runs from bamforc recreation ground / tennis courts towards Thornhill. This is essentially the route of the Bamford fell race (well one of them), fast start then up Parkin Clough. Comes down a bit further to the right as you look towards Bamford from Winn Hill but this may be partly on private land, I can't quite remember.Quote:
Originally Posted by sebp
Cheers for the info bigfella. Shame I had a few mishaps on bleaklow today so can't run Sunday. I've tweaked my Achilles in some way. Near the top I fell afew times and the left Achilles just started to ache every step. I pushed on to the top and struggled getting down. Bit of an error on my part. Could only see 20yards due to being in the clouds too. Walked the 3miles bk to hadfield from the bottom. Lucky I took all my gear in the bumbag.
On the other hand the route up there is fairly entertaining, If you fall off the edge it wouldnt be fun.Really steep up from the farm for the 1st half mile but then it's nice. A varied mix of terrains too. Few pics Attachment 6622
That's excellent sebp, I'll look forward to that and hope for some slightly better weather than we're getting at the mo. hope the injury clears up ok, treat it with kid gloves as Achilles injuries can be a real pain in the arse to sort.
Managed to get out and do route 33 from the Peak Trail Runner website on Boxing Day afternoon. Weather would have been better in the morning, but I had taxi duties to perform. Quite surprised not to come across any other runners given the number of people about.
Chris (Pitsea Running Club)
Does anyone know wether it is " Dogs must be under control", or " Dogs must be on leads " around the Edale and Castleton hills? I can't tell what the sign says on Google maps.
Thanks
Richy
On leads most of the signs I see say. Alot of farm animals that way too.