Stanza Stones Ultra
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About the race
The Stanza Stones Ultra is a 50 mile linear trail race across the South Pennines with over 6800 ft of ascent. The route links Marsden and Ilkley and passes six carved poem stones titled Snow, Rain, Mist, Dew, Puddle and Beck, as well as the historic village of Haworth. Events are held in summer and winter; the listed dates include a winter edition on 28 November 2026 and a summer edition on 5 June 2027. Minimum age is 20 years.
The start location is Marsden Cricket Club (HD7 6NN) and the finish is at Curly Hill Scout Camp, Ilkley (LS29 0DT). A GPX file and four leg maps are available for the route, which uses sections of the Pennine Way and visits features such as Stoodley Pike and Ilkley Moor. Support includes six checkpoints supplying food and water, with hot food at three indoor checkpoints in Mytholmroyd, Haworth and Bingley. The event offers live OpenTracking coverage, changing rooms and showers at the finish, a finishers memento, an optional finishers cotton T-shirt, and a finishers meal.
Camping is available in summer and a paid sleeping option is offered on Friday and Saturday nights. An optional coach transfer from Ilkley to Marsden is available on race day morning. The stones and poems were placed on the landscape with input from a stone carver and a landscape architect. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
