Peak District Challenge | Gold Ultra 100K

Corporate groups

Discounts for groups of 10 or more.

Are you and your colleagues looking for a challenge? Perhaps a new way of getting to know each other outside of the office? Or a way of making a contribution to a charity of your choice?

Thank you so much for all your help on this – it was a great day. [The instructors] were excellent – really helpful and supportive – please do pass on our thanks. I would absolutely recommend your team to anyone. I was very happy with the organisation and your patience. Please do keep me informed about activities and events – we all loved the Peak District and would certainly come up again. Paula

Kit list

A solo and team kit list will be readily available when you sign up.

Guided group pace

Guides will lead their group at “on-target” pace, (ie 9 hours for Copper, 12 hours for Bronze; the first 25km in 8 hours for Silver. If you chose to join a led group with a guide, you will need to walk at the group’s pace and stay together with your guide, so guided groups are not suitable for those looking for a fast time.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs on leads, accompanied by responsible owners, are welcome however there is no support for dogs at all which includes the drop-out bus.

Event HQ

Hathersage Memorial Hall
Oddfellows Road
Hathersage
Hope Valley
Derbyshire
S32 1DU
UK

Drop bags

For 100-miles-in-24-hours, Gold, Silver and Bronze challengers, there will be a drop bag facility during the second half of the challenge at The Cressbrook Checkpoint.

Overview

Featuring 3300m of ascent, the 100km Gold Ultra route 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. You’ll visit high points and viewpoints on your way between checkpoints, and there is a lot of climbing involved. You’ll leave Hathersage at 9pm on Friday night. Night navigation experience is essential.

Cut offs & pace

To be successful, you’ll need to maintain over 4kph to complete the Gold Challenge inside your 24 hour target. If you fail to meet a cutoff on the Gold challenge, you will be able to continue on the 75km Silver route, which follows the shortest, flattest distance between checkpoints. 

Terrain

The terrain is a mixture of trails, grassy footpaths and under 15% tarmac minor roads.

Map

Detailed route information is be provided to entrants seven days before the event, but a broad drescription of the provisional route is below.

Description

Your challenge begins with a walk up on to the Dark Peak moors. You will cross Stanage edge, site of Robin Hood’s cave, and Moscar Cross Road to reach and start your climb over Derwent Moors. Next it’s a descent to Ladybower Valley and an easy flat section around Ladybower reservoirs where the Dambusters trained for their bombing missions in WWII.

Next is a climb to the geological oddity of Alport Castle, before descending into Edale and the next climb of Jacobs Ladder and stunning views over Hayfield. Turning back towards the Great Ridge, as dawn breaks, you’ll pass Mam Tor on your way to Hollins Cross and descend 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.

The final section of the challenge takes you past popular climbing venues on the eastern gritstone edges above Curbar, Froggatt and Burbage. Your challenge draws to a close with dusky views over the river Derwent and a final climb over Owler Tor before the final grassy slope down home to Hathersage.

Cut off

The Silver, Gold Ultra 100km, and 100-miles-in-24-hours routes all start at 9.00pm on Friday evening, so their 24 hour finishing target is 9.00pm on Saturday.

All entries include a stew supper, goody bag on completion, bag care, and full safety support.

Self-navigating

• Route guide booklet
• GPS tracker for your team
• Drinks and snacks
• Hot meal and goody bag

Guided walking group

• Mountain Leader
• 12 people per group (approx.)
• Safety equipment
• No navigation
• Drinks and snacks
• Hot meal and goody bag

Support and refreshments

Motivation and encouragement are provided at Checkpoints with water top-ups and refreshments. Checkpoints are spread out every 10km around the course on average. The exact locations of checkpoints will be confirmed 7 days before the challenge. A stew supper on Saturday evening is all included in the price of your entry.

The professional, qualified safety teams monitor teams' safety throughout. Each team’s GPS tracker allows HQ to see each team’s exact location at any time, at any point around your challenge route, not just at checkpoints.

Age

• 20-year olds must be part of a team including at least one person 21+
• 21-year-olds + can enter as solo entrants
   

Entry fees

Organisers of the Original Peak District Challenge™ since 2013!

Wilderness Development is an adventure activity provider, offering Peak District adventures since 2013 - the original and best!

Highlights

• Safety

  Staff are qualified professionals, and a real-time GPS tracker covering the whole route is included for all entries. 2025 is the 13th year of organising the Peak District Challenge.

• Quality

  From guides, to food hygiene, to printed mapping, quality is everything. The drop-out bus is available to everyone, and all signage is removed within 24 hours.

• Fair and ethical

  Pricing is fair, transparent, and represents the real cost of putting on a great event to ethically-led; professional standards. Charities always keep all of their fundraising.

A brilliant event [...] The 50k was my first ultra distance event and I honestly loved every minute of it. Beautiful route, excellent organisation, friendly and helpful volunteers and tasty snacks - all the the ingredients for a superb day out. The lack of a mass start made it much more chilled, and helpfully, you managed to get perfect weather conditions too. Well done! Helen

I completed the 50km Bronze course last Saturday. What can I say? Such a lovely location and a well thought course options. There is a strong element of self navigation, and with 1,100m of ascent it's a fairly demanding event. The organisers and crew are all so friendly; It's impeccably organised, and there is a such a laid back attitude. Its an event and an adventure, not a mindless race! Seth

Exceptional check points in stunning locations, choice of supplies to help fuel along the route. Great public transport links, also off road parking for those that choose to drive. The ‘cafe’ gives you the option of a drink/food pre race and again at the end where a delicious hot meal was served, all included in the entry price. This race has a lovely calm feel about it, very friendly event with several distance options. Maggie