Was up in the Peaks last week having a run/walk round the Skyline route, and was wondering for the actual race is it anti clockwise permanently now,or do they alternate it each year?
Was up in the Peaks last week having a run/walk round the Skyline route, and was wondering for the actual race is it anti clockwise permanently now,or do they alternate it each year?
I think it's permanent. It was only clockwise the first time I did it in 2017. It was anticlockwise in 2019 when I next did it and has been every time since when I've returned.
Yes I think you're correct, just purchased an official route map, says it changed to anti clockwise in 2018, not sure of the reasong though. Also it seems the detour to avoid the summit of Mam Tor happened the following year in 2019.
I remember that change too. I think the reason given was minimising erosion, but there wouldn't be any on that paved path. There's more erosion on the unpaved path that's mandated now. A more likely reason is avoiding clashes with members of the public because that summit is a honeypot for walkers and amblers.
That sounds a bit over cautious to my mind especially as the rough exposed part of the route is nowhere near as rough as it used to be. Surely no one can get lost trying to find Brown Knoll now its a paved super highway.
I always enjoyed the second half of the route much more, the first half just being a race to avoid the cut-off at Mam Nick.
Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
I agree,the paving slabs over Brown Knoll have certainly sanitised the route, just seems strange to run the race anticlockwise once these where laid. I could fully understand if it changed to the anticlockwise route prior to the slabs but not after