Stanza Stones Ultra

Event overview

The Stanza Stones 50 mile Ultra is a linear long-distance race between Marsden and Ilkley in the South Pennines. The route is 50 mile with over 6,800 ft of ascent. It visits six Stanza Stones - poems carved into rock on the theme of water - and passes through the historic village of Haworth. The course crosses high moorland and drops into the valleys that cut through it. Sections of the route follow parts of the Pennine Way and go near Stoodley Pike, Haworth Moor and Ilkley Moor, where runners encounter local stones and stone circles.

Race details

Minimum age to enter is 20 years. The event is held in winter and summer - Winter: Saturday 29 November 2025; Summer: Saturday 6 June 2026. The start is at Marsden Cricket Club, HD7 6NN. The finish is at Ben Rhydding Primary School, Ilkley, LS29 8QH. Maps and a GPX file are provided for four legs of the route. There is OpenTracking live coverage and food is available at three indoor checkpoints in Mytholmroyd, Haworth and Bingley. Other facilities listed include optional coach transfer from Ilkley to Marsden, free camping at the finish location, a finishers memento, an optional cotton finishers T-shirt, a finishers meal and changing rooms. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.