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  The Harvey Howgill Tops                       North-west Yorkshire Dales

This informal outing is a circuit of the 40 tops of 400 metres or more that are named and identified by a separate contour ring on Harvey’s Howgill Fells map.  There are in fact 39 named tops but the distinctive spot height of 500 metres to the north-west of Docker Knott was added to make a round number!  It was first completed by Tony Wimbush and Colin Brooke in April 1985 in 11-58 starting from the Cross Keys on the A683, north-east of Sedbergh. It covers over 60 km with some 3500 metres of ascent.
Coincidently a month later Alan Evans of Kendal AC instigated a top to top, Wandale to Winder, traverse of 1500 footers.  It does not qualify as ultra-distance but certainly makes for a challenging training run. In 1987 there were notable completions by Mike Walford and Jon Broxap in 5-39 followed by Hugh Symonds in 4-49 and, in 1989, by Pete Simpson in 6-27. There is, of course, scope for devising further circuits or linear routes linking 500 metre, 600 metre or 2000’ tops!

Route

 Schedule

click icon for a schedule showing grid references and heights for each top.  Use in conjunction with the Harvey Superwalker Howgills Fells map (1:25000)

 Finishers

This is an informal challenge without registrations and time limits, although 12 hours is likely to be the target for most runners.  Why not share your experience on facebook to encourage and inspire other runners to have a go!


 Links and Further Information

 

 

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Sub-ultras (under 50 km)

COMPLETIONS

Where there is a recorder please contact them to log your completion. In addition, or if there isn't a recorder, you are invited to share your experience on the gofar facebook page to encourage and inspire other runners to have a go!

SAFETY WARNING

 

All the routes on this site require proven mountain running experience. You undertake them entirely at your own risk. Please take full mountain safety precautions at all times.  Always ensure you carry sufficient clothing, food and equipment to cope with dramatic changes in the weather conditions!  Appropriate insurance cover is recommended.

HAVE A GO!

The object of this website is to provide a single, ready source of information on the ultra-distance mountain challenges which have been developed over the past four or more decades. It now offers a diverse range of long and "short", old and recent, formal and informal routes from around the UK to encourage runners of all ages and abilities to have a go, subject to proven mountain experience in all conditions.

FRA LONG DISTANCE

RECORDS and NEWS

 

Please send details of any record-breaking runs and the like to Martin Stone who maintains records on behalf of the Fell Runners Association. Email:  martin.stone@sportident.co.uk

Please also refer to the guidelines and definitions in the FRA Handbook.

HELP WANTED

If you can improve on the accuracy of this resource, spot any errors in grid references, names, heights, spelling or punctuation, or find a link which does not work please email Tony Wimbush.: gofar99@gmail.com

Similarly, if you wish to submit any new (or old) routes for inclusion see the contact page for the information and format that is required:. 

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