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Dales Dazzler 51 Mile Ultra Marathon
Take on the ultimate late-summer challenge in the Yorkshire Dales. The Dales Dazzler 51 Mile Ultra Marathon is a spectacular, tough and rewarding journey that pushes you from the market town of Skipton right into the rugged heart of limestone country.
As the grand finale of the Punk Panther "50 Mile Series" (Race 7 of 7), this course is designed to test everything you've learned throughout the year. With over 1,915m (6,200ft) of elevation gain, it is a serious undertaking that rewards runners with some of the finest scenery in Northern England, including Malham Tarn, the Pennine Way, and the picturesque villages of Kettlewell and Burnsall.
Course
While the shorter courses cut back early, the 51 mile route commits to the long haul north.
Starting from Skipton, you head out via Gargrave to join the Pennine Way. The serious work begins as you climb up to the remote beauty of Malham Tarn (CP3), the highest limestone lake in England. From there, you traverse the high fells over to Kettlewell (CP4), dropping into the lush green valley of Wharfedale.
The return leg follows the Dales Way river path, winding through Burnsall and past the majestic ruins of Bolton Abbey before the final push back to Skipton. It is a route of two halves: rugged, exposed moorland in the north, followed by faster, greener trails in the south.
Please Note: The 50 mile extension (specifically sections around Malham and Kettlewell) is not taped. You must be competent with a map and compass or GPX device. Do not rely on following the person in front!
You can leave a small "drop bag" at registration (carrier bag size). The team will transport this to CP3 (Malham Tarn - 21 miles), allowing you to restock on specific fuel or change layers before the exposed section over to Kettlewell.
Dales Dazzler 51 Miler is the perfect end-of-season objective. You get the big-mountain feel of Malham and Kettlewell without the extreme technicality of the Lakes. The support is superb, the cut-offs are achievable (16 hours total), and the finish line food, homemade chilli and cheese toasties, is worth every mile. For the latest up-to-date info, including registration details, please visit the official Punk Panther website.
