Dovedale Big Daddy

Dovedale Big Daddy

Dovedale Big Daddy is a fell race held on 1 February 2026, starting and finishing at Ilam Primary School, DE6 2AZ. The race is a category AL fell event that includes nine steep climbs and descents around the Manifold and Dovedale valleys. The course distance is 20.4 km with 1370 m of ascent. It is licensed by the Fell Runners Association (FRA) and governed by FRA rules; the use of poles is not allowed. Recorded course times from 2025 are 02:03:45 (male record) and 02:23:13 (female record).

Practical information

Registration takes place at Ilam Primary School and will open and close on the day. Parking is available at the National Trust car park at Ilam Park (pay and display), a five-minute walk to registration. Public toilets are available at Ilam Hall and there are limited toilets at registration. All runners must carry full FRA kit. After the race, soup, cake, and a hot drink are provided for participants. The minimum age is 18 and the event has a maximum capacity of 250 runners. Entry fees are listed as £20.00 for FRA members and £22.00 for non-members. Entries open on 1 July 2025 and close on 29 January 2026; the entry list shows 158 participants so far. The event is organised by Wainwright Running Ltd. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.