Don Morrison Edale Skyline Fell race
Race date: March 22nd 2026
Race report by Richard Carter

Edale Skyline is an AL category fell race (meaning very hilly and very long) usually held in March and organised by Dark Peak Fell runners. It covers 21.1 miles with around 4500 feet of climb over high and often rough terrain. The course leaves Edale and goes anticlockwise taking in the edge of the Kinder plateau, up to Grindslow knoll, the flagstones of Brown knoll and then going past Mam Tor, up and over Back Tor, Lose Hill, Win Hill (gulp!), and then a long final drag back onto the edge of Kinder and down into Edale. Conditions this year were good, sunny towards the end, dry and clear, very little wind – even up on the high terrain.

Race registration is at Edale village hall and the start line is around 1km up into the village and into Grindsbrook meadow. We set off at 10.30 and it started with zig zag climb up past Ringing Roger and to the path of the edge of the Kinder plateau. I probably went a bit quick (and paid later) but I tend to favour climbing over descending. In any case a rest was soon enforced when a small group of us stopped to help a runner who’d fallen and checked they were going to be ok. The paths were quite good for running at this point – some boulder hopping and nothing too technical. We crossed a couple of streams and navigated through the Woolpacks. By the time we got onto the quad busting flagstones from Brown knoll to Rushup edge I was glad I’d prioritised comfort over grip with trail rather than fell shoes. If it had been very wet then maybe the extra grip would come in handy later in the course but this year it wasn’t really an issue.

Going along Rushup edge you get some good views over the vale of Edale and before long we were soon at the water station at Mam nick. Top tip – bring a foldable cup or equivalent to top up here. From Mam nick you then have to navigate a fair bit of traffic (walkers/dogs) along the Great ridge up to Back Tor and then Lose Hill. I started to notice a bit of fatigue at this point and this wasn’t helped by the thought of Hope brink, a relentless steep climb awaiting us all at Win Hill. I’d recced the last section from Win Hill to Edale in icy conditions and it had gone ok. However in the race itself, it was a fair old slog involving a time honoured variation of slow run/walk. The final stretch coming down Ringing Roger again was more enjoyable as were the lashings of pie and peas on offer at the village hall.

Overall, an enjoyable event, a classic local race and one I’d wanted to do for a while. You learn plenty of things at these events. I need to learn a bit more regarding proper fuelling during long events. Mars bars aren’t going to cut it for much longer and also tend to perish in warmer conditions (!)

The race was won by Linton Taylor of Leeds City AC in 2:36:54 and Emily McNicol of Carnethy Hill Racing Club in 3:08:05.