New in 2023, the Stanza Stones Ultra is a 50 mile linear route, with over 6800ft of ascent, connecting the towns of Marsden and Ilkley in the South Pennines. The route visits all six Stanza Stones as well as the famous Haworth village, home of the Bronte sisters.
Welcome to the new Stanza Stones 50 mile Ultra
The Stanza Stones are the brain child of Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage. Born and raised in Marsden, Simon set out to create 6 poems about the theme of water and its different forms that influences life in the area.
Snow, Rain, Mist, Dew, Puddle and Beck are poems carved into rocks and placed along the route. Participants will visit all stones as well as the historical village of Haworth, famous for the Bronte sisters.
The route was devised as a link between Simon’s home town of Marsden and Ilkley Literature Festival, who commissioned Simon to create the poems in 2010.
All the poems were carved by stone artist Pip Hall and placed in locations selected with the help of landscape architect Tom Lonsdale. The route has become a firm favourite to many walkers and runners over the last 12 years.
The route covers high moorland as well as dropping into the valleys that carve through them. Along the way, as well as the 6 Stanza Stones, you will follow parts of the Pennine Way, Stoodley Pike, Haworth and Ilkley Moor where here you will come across more locally famous stones and circles.
The Details....
Minimum age is 20 years
Winter: Saturday 28th November 2026 at 9am
Summer: Saturday 5th June 2027 at 9am
Start – Marsden Cricket Club, HD7 6NN
Finish – Curly Hill Scout Camp, Ilkley LS29 0DT
Option to stay at the campsite (camping only in the summer)
Optional Coach transfer from Ilkley to Marsden Saturday morning
Friday night Registration at Ben Rhydding Primary School 17:00 – 20:00
Free camping available only for the summer but you can hire a bed for both Friday and/or Saturday night on both events
Saturday morning registration at Marsden Cricket Club 7am – 8.30am
OpenTracking live coverage
6 checkpoints providing food and water with hot food at 3 indoor checkpoints in Mytholmroyd, Haworth and Bingley
Finishers memento
Optional finishers quality cotton T-shirt.
Finishers Meal
Changing rooms and showers at the end.
VOLUNTEER
Unable to run? As runners it can be frustrating when you can’t join in the fun. But if you can spare the time, then volunteer to be a marshal at one of our races. You will be given race credit to use at any of our races once you are up and about again. Just contact us.
