Stanza Stones Ultra - Summer and Winter Editions
The Stanza Stones Ultra is a challenging 50-mile linear route with over 6,800 ft of ascent, connecting the towns of Marsden and Ilkley in the South Pennines. The route visits all six Stanza Stones, inspired by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, as well as the famous Haworth village, home of the Bronte sisters. The Stanza Stones (Snow, Rain, Mist, Dew, Puddle, and Beck) are poems carved into rocks and placed along the route.
The event runs in both summer and winter editions. Minimum age is 20 years.
The Details:
- Winter Edition: Saturday, 28th November 2026, starting at 9 am.
- Summer Edition: Saturday, 5th June 2027, starting at 9 am.
- Start: Marsden Cricket Club, HD7 6NN.
- Finish: Curly Hill Scout Camp, Ilkley, LS29 0DT.
- Registration: Friday evening (17:00 – 20:00) at Ben Rhydding Primary School, and Saturday morning (7 am – 8:30 am) at Marsden Cricket Club.
- Camping: Free camping available for the summer edition. Option to hire a bed for Friday and/or Saturday night for both events.
- Transport: Optional coach transfer from Ilkley to Marsden on Saturday morning.
- Support: 6 checkpoints providing food and water, with hot food at 3 indoor checkpoints in Mytholmroyd, Haworth, and Bingley.
- Tracking: Live tracking coverage available.
- Route Information: GPX file and segmented PDF maps for four legs are provided.
- Finishers: Receive a memento, with an optional quality cotton T-shirt, finishers meal, changing rooms, and showers.
The route covers high moorland and valleys, following parts of the Pennine Way, Stoodley Pike, and Ilkley Moor, featuring locally famous stones and circles alongside the Stanza Stones.
Visit the official website for the most recent information.