Bob Graham Round – Lake District

The archetypal hard English fell running challenge over 72 miles and 8700m of ascent. To make the traverse in 24 hours is one of the most demanding set mountain challenges around. As such it is mainly included for interest only here as most folk with the fitness, navigational ability and determination to stand any chance of doing it will probably not need our help. However please read our article on one successful completion ‘A close run thing!’ and get in touch should you have any enquiries about this super tough UK mountain challenge.

The 3 Peaks - N.Yorkshire

This is a fairly popular 23.5 mile walk traversing the trio of summits Pen-y-Ghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m). Although this is not as tough as some of the other walks described here it has over 1500m of ascent and a variety of terrains. In mist the route finding is not always straight forward and although traditionally you ‘should’ do it in less than 12 hours many teams take a lot more.

Derwent Watershed – Peak District

This is the route of the classic High Peak Marathon following the high moorland terrain of the Derwent Watershed. It is a 42 mile round trip from Edale through some fairly featureless moors and bogs and across the aptly named ‘Bleaklow’ Plateau. It is just as much a test of navigation, determination and a stubborn willingness to keep going after 35 miles with blisters as it is speed and fitness. Although leading race times are around 9 hours a respectable walking time would be more like 14 hours. This is how long it took me to walk it with my dad in 1996….and I for one was rather stiff the next morning!

Edale Skyline – Peak District

This alternative Peak district route is about half as long as the Derwent Watershed. At 21 miles and 1400m of ascent it’s still no pushover although it is obviously a ‘path’ compared to some of the other routes mentioned here. Starting in Hope (literally and metaphorically!) the route takes in some of the finest bits of the Dark Peak including Lose Hill, Mam Tor, Edale Cross, the Southern edges of Kinder and Win Hill before returning to the fine pub at the starting point. It’s a good day on the hill – despite the peat bogs of Kinder, and highly recommended as an early Mountain Challenge. Around 7-10 hours walking.

Yorkshire Dales and Pennines: Tan Hill – Cat and Fiddle ‘Pub Run.’ (‘The hardest pub-crawl in the world!’)

This route covers 120 miles over some of the roughest ground in the land. It links the two highest pubs in England in one massive continuous leg. The level of fitness, navigational skill and determination required for a pub-crawl like this one really means it is included for interest only here. If you have all these attributes you probably won’t need our help doing it! However if you do have an enquiry please get in touch and certainly read our entertaining tale of one successful completion.