The Dales Two Thousands - south and north                    UK Ultras

The South Dales Circuit was devised and completed by Rick Ansell in 2004 followed by the more rugged and remote North Dales Traverse in 2006. The southern circuit starts from Horton-in-Ribblesdale and covers 18 peaks in some 65 miles and 14,000 feet of ascent while the northern route ascends 21 peaks in some 55 miles and 12,000 feet between Hawes and Sedbergh.  George Bridge's 1973 book of two thousand foot tables was, again, the inspiration.  The combined routes are different to the Yorkshire Two Thousands as they include several summits in the Howgills and other parts of the Cumbrian Pennines.

Both routes are intended to be informal runs without time limits, rules or registration although Rick would be pleased to hear about any attempts (see below).

Route

North Dales Traverse

South Dales Circuit

Schedules

Click on the icons below to view/print schedules of actual times for Rick Ansell's inaugural solo, self-sufficient runs. These include summit names, grid references and heights which correspond with George Bridge's tables. Use in conjunction with OS Explorer maps OL 2 - Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western areas, OL 30 - Yorkshire Dales Northern and Central areas or OL 19 - Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley.

South Dales Circuit - 65 miles and 14,000'

North Dales Traverse - 55 miles and 12,000'

Completions

No formal register is kept but Rick Ansell would be interested to hear from anyone considering an attempt or wishing to report one.  Email: rickansell@hotmail.com

Links and Further Information

□   South Dales Circuit - Rick Ansell's brief report on his July, 2004 solo, self-sufficient run

□   North Dales Traverse - Rick Ansell's brief report on his June, 2006 solo, self-suficient run

□   The Mountains of England and Wales, George Bridge (West Col Productions, 1973).  Tables of mountains of two thousand feet or more in altitude. The Dales and Howgill summits are covered under the Central Pennines section. Now out-of-print but probably available through second-hand bookshops.

□   On High Yorkshire Hills, Phil Clayton (Dalesman, 1993). An informative survey of Yorkshire's thirty-six two thousand footers which recognises neither metrication nor the "new" county boundaries which allowed Cumbria and Durham to hijack some of it's finest hills!  Now out-of-print but probably available through second-hand bookshops.