Stanza Stones Ultra
Marsden, United Kingdom • 6 Jun 2026
Stanza Stones 50 mile Ultra
The Stanza Stones Ultra is a 50 mile linear route across the South Pennines with over 6800 ft of ascent, linking Marsden and Ilkley. The route passes all six Stanza Stones and the village of Haworth.
The Stanza Stones are poems about water carved into rock and placed along the route. The poems are titled Snow, Rain, Mist, Dew, Puddle and Beck. The route was devised to connect the poems with the Ilkley literature event and the area around Marsden.
Terrain includes high moorland and valley sections. Runners follow parts of the Pennine Way and pass landmarks such as Stoodley Pike, Haworth and Ilkley Moor, encountering other locally known stones and circles along the way.
Event logistics noted by the organiser include a minimum age of 20 years, winter and summer editions, a start at Marsden Cricket Club and a finish at Ben Rhydding Primary School. There is optional coach transfer from Ilkley to Marsden on race morning, Friday night and Saturday morning registration, and free camping at Ben Rhydding School on Friday and Saturday night. OpenTracking live coverage is used. Food is provided at three indoor checkpoints in Mytholmroyd, Haworth and Bingley. Finishers receive a memento and may opt for a cotton T shirt and a finishers meal. Route leg maps and GPX files are available. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.