Open to both runners and cyclists, the Dark Peak 60 crosses high, windswept moorland and beautiful, deep valleys, whilst passing through some of the most spectacular scenery in the northern Dark Peak region.

Following historic footpaths, dismantled railway lines and ancient bridleways, this unsupported, 60km time trial can be completed solo, in pairs or as a team.

With separate categories for both runners and cyclists, entrants can choose their own start time.

Runners: 08:00am to 09:00am

Cyclists: 09:30am to 10:30am

Whilst a GPX route file will be provided 2 weeks prior to the event, all entrants are required to carry map coverage for the whole route such as, OL21: The South Pennines and OL1: The Dark Peak.

Entry will be via the Si-Entries online system.

https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=11300

Please see full Terms & Conditions and Rules of Entry below.

Prizes

There are a range of category and spot prizes up for grabs.

The Scales of Truth

Have your fully loaded bike or running pack weighed for a chance to win some additional spot prizes. Will you be honoured with having the lightest bike or pack, or will your featherlite aspirations be found wanting by the scales of truth?

The Route

Setting out from the quaint Saddleworth village of Greenfield, you will initially follow the Pennine Bridleway along the course of a dismantled railway line to the historic village of Diggle, before crossing the great Pennine divide at Standedge cutting, which has been used as a crossing point of the Pennine hills for millennia.

Descending into the West Yorkshire village of Marsden, you will turn south along the Wessenden Valley crossing the high, rugged moors above Saddleworth. Dropping into the beautiful Holme Valley, you will once again cross the high moors before descending to Dunford Bridge, from where you will head west along the Trans-Pennine Trail, through the picturesque Longdendale Valley.

Reaching the Derbyshire village of Hadfield, you will rejoin the Pennine Bridleway for one final crossing of the moors, before returning to collect your hard-earned finishers T-shirt whilst enjoying a refreshing pint in the pub.

Find us on social media

Keep up to date and in the loop with news about the event on the Dark Peak 60 Facebook page.

You can also keep up to date with our other events on the Adventure Challenge Events Facebook page too.

Accommodation

Why not make a weekend of it and camp right next to the start-line the night before the event, and then again on the Saturday night and enjoy a post event social gathering in the Royal George, directly across from the campsite.

With its vast open moors and beautiful, deep valleys, Saddleworth is a wonderful area in which to spend the weekend. With a wealth of accommodation options available, including nearby campsites, hotels and bed & breakfasts, the area is ideally suited for the whole family to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities including, walking, running, biking, climbing and bouldering.

Camping, with toilets and free showers are available close the start/finish. Please book separately.

There are also a range of other campsites, hotels and bed & breakfast facilities in the area.

Terms and Conditions

By entering this event, participants are confirming that they have read, understand and agree to abide by the rules and terms & conditions of this event and by the terms & conditions set out on the Si Entries registration page. That there is an element of risk involved in an event of this nature and that the participant is fully responsible for themselves and their actions and that they will not hold the event organiser responsible for any loss, injuries or death as result of taking part in this event.

This is an unsupported, ultra-distance route and participants must ensure that they are suitably medical fit and healthy, and have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to complete the route without outside support.

Participants must have appropriate knowledge and ability to navigate themselves safely around the route, using a map and compass. Electronic navigation aids are allowed but only as a secondary means of navigation.

This is an unsupported, ultra-distance route and participants must ensure that they are suitably medical fit and healthy, and have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to complete the route without outside support.

Participants must have appropriate knowledge and ability to navigate themselves safely around the route, using a map and compass. Electronic navigation aids are allowed but only as a secondary means of navigation.

This is an unsupported event and all participants must have the ability to arrange their own recovery from anywhere on the route if they are unable to complete the event.

Whilst it is an unsupported event, participants can utilise their own support teams along the route. Runners must have a support crew to provide food and drinks as required and to collect their participant should they be unable to complete the route.

Event cancelation: If an event has to be cancelled/postponed for any reason, all entries and fees will be transferred to a re-scheduled event. If you are unable to participate in this event then your entry fee will be held in credit and can be used for any future Adventure Challenge Events. When using your credit to book onto a future event, you should do so by emailing [email protected] and not by using the SiEntries booking system, otherwise the system will not recognise that you have transferred to another event and will charge you full price. If you are unable to take part in any future events, then refunds will be made, less a 25% admin fee to cover outgoing costs.

Participant withdrawals or transfers: If you are unable to attend an event, transfer to another future event can be made up to 2 weeks before the event closing date. Your event fee, less a £5.00 administration charge to cover the SiEntries administration fee, will then be held in credit for you to book onto a future event. When using your credit to book onto a future event, you should do so by emailing [email protected] and not by using the SiEntries booking system, otherwise the system will not recognise that you have transferred to another event and will charge you full price. Transfers and withdrawals are not accepted beyond 2 weeks prior to the event date, and the entry fee will not be returned as the cost of hosting the event will have been made.

Participants must carry with them or wear, at all times throughout the route, the following minimum kit requirements, and must present themselves for a full kit inspection, at the start, finish and during the event if requested by any event official or volunteer marshal. Failure to do so will result in the participant being disqualified.

Runners:

1. Suitable clothing and footwear for the route and conditions
2. Suitable load carrying running vest or rucksack capable of carrying all required items
3. Full waterproof body cover, with attached hood and with taped seams
4. Hat, gloves and a buff/snood
5. Additional warm clothing to suit the weather conditions
6. Head-torch (fully charged) with spare batteries
7. Compass, emergency whistle, route card and map covering the whole of the course.
8. Have appropriate knowledge and ability to navigate yourself safely around the route
9. Food – suitable quantity of food for the duration of the route
10. Water
11. Water purification tablets or a suitable water filter for collecting water along the route
12. Emergency food – To be kept separate to trail food and to be in a sealed bag
13. A fully charged phone for emergency purposes, with the number of the event control and emergency contact numbers for family/friends stored in it, who can collect you should you be  unable to complete the route.
14. Emergency first aid kit
15. Survival bag or bothy-style shelter (no foil blankets or foil bags)
16. Spare money, including a mixture of notes and lose change

Cyclists:

1. Suitable clothing and footwear for the route and conditions
2. Suitable load carrying vest, rucksack and/or panniers or bike packing luggage capable of carrying all required items
3. Cycle helmet
4. A suitable, fully road legal, gravel or mountain bike in suitable condition to complete the route
5. Suitable tools and spare parts to conduct emergency repairs
6. Possess appropriate knowledge and skills to be able to complete emergency bicycle repairs
7. Full waterproof body cover, with attached hood and with taped seams
8. Hat, gloves and a buff/snood
9. Additional warm clothing to suit the weather conditions
10. Head-torch (fully charged) with spare batteries
11. Fixed front and rear lights
12. Compass, emergency whistle, route card and map covering the whole of the course.
13. Have appropriate knowledge and ability to navigate yourself safely around the route
14. Food – suitable quantity of food for the duration of the route
15. Water
16. Water purification tablets or a suitable water filter for collecting water along the route
17. Emergency food – To be kept separate to trail food and to be in a sealed bag
18. A fully charged phone for emergency purposes, with the number of the event control and emergency contact numbers for family/friends stored in it, who can collect you should you be  unable to complete the route.
19. Emergency first aid kit
20. Survival bag or bothy-style shelter (no foil blankets or foil bags)
21. Spare money, including a mixture of notes and lose change

Rules and Regulations

1. This is an unsupported, ultra-distance route and participants must ensure that they are suitably medical fit and healthy, and have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to complete the route without outside support.
2. Participants must have appropriate knowledge and ability to navigate themselves safely around the route, using a map and compass. Electronic navigation aids are allowed but only as a secondary means of navigation.
3. Whilst it is an unsupported event, participants can utilise their own support teams along the route. Runners must have a support crew to provide food and drinks as required and to collect their participant should they be unable to complete the route.
4. Participants must carry or wear, at all times throughout the route, the minimum kit requirements as detailed in the kit list.
5. Participants must present themselves for a full kit inspection, at the start, finish and during the event if requested by any event official or volunteer marshal. Failure to do so will result in the participant being disqualified.
6. At the start of the route, all participants will be issued a tag, with their own personal identification number on it. This tag must be carried throughout the route and handed in to control at the end of the route.
7. All participants must report to the event control at the start and finish of the route. Anyone who is unable to complete the route, or is expected to return after their estimated finish time, must inform event control immediately and must return to event control in person. Anyone failing to do so, will be banned from entering future events.
8. Participants must be polite, courteous and show consideration to other participants and members of the public throughout the route.
9. Participants must adhere to the Countryside Code and only use legal rights of way and access land
10. Participants must not drop any litter. All litter must be placed in a suitable bin or carried and disposed of appropriately at the end of the route. Anyone found to be discarding litter inappropriately will not be allowed to enter future events.
11. Event cancelation: If an event has to be cancelled/postponed for any reason, all entries and fees will be transferred to a re-scheduled event. If you are unable to participate in this event then your entry fee will be held in credit and can be used for any future Adventure Challenge Events. When using your credit to book onto a future event, you should do so by emailing [email protected] and not by using the SiEntries booking system, otherwise the system will not recognise that you have transferred to another event and will charge you full price. If you are unable to take part in any future events, then refunds will be made, less a 25% admin fee to cover outgoing costs.
12. Participant withdrawals or transfers: If you are unable to attend an event, transfer to another future event can be made up to 2 weeks before the event closing date. Your event fee, less a £5.00 administration charge to cover the SiEntries administration fee, will then be held in credit for you to book onto a future event. When using your credit to book onto a future event, you should do so by emailing [email protected] and not by using the SiEntries booking system, otherwise the system will not recognise that you have transferred to another event and will charge you full price. Transfers and withdrawals are not accepted beyond 2 weeks prior to the event date, and the entry fee will not be returned as the cost of hosting the event will have been made.