Silva Dales Traverse
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About the race
The Dales Traverse is a 55 km ultra run on Wainwright’s coast to coast route from Kirkby Stephen to Richmond, held Sunday 4 April 2027. The route passes through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, over the Nine Standards, and through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Swaledale to a finish below Richmond Castle. The event emphasises an adventurous ethos and a culture of self sufficiency. The route is not fully waymarked but follows a well established national trail.
Organisers provide a waterproof race map at registration, a digital map and a downloadable GPX file. Distances and height gain vary by year; the headline height gain for recent editions is about 1,400 metres. Aid stations define the mandatory route and provide support and interim guidance times. Main support points include Nine Standards Rigg, Tan Hill Road Crossing, Hard Level Gill, the Dales Bike Centre aid station and the Richmond finish.
The Dales Bike Centre offers indoor and outdoor covered space, toilets, hot soup, cakes and drinks, and usually has a medic; it is the only location on course where participants may retire. Mandatory kit is checked at registration and must be carried throughout the event; a survival bag is required. A finishers drop bag is transported from start to finish with a 5 kg limit and no access during the race. There are no sleeping provisions at the start, aid stations or finish.
Meals include gluten free and vegan options, and medics provide emergency care with clinical triage when required. The event contributes to UTMB and ITRA points and operates rules on external assistance, headphones on road sections, and race number display. Spectators are welcome but must not provide supplies or enter event-only buildings. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
