Looking for a challenge to get you out during the dull winter days and embracing our fine British weather? Look no further than the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras: An ultra challenge designed to make the most of the limited winter daylight. The Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras event consists of two consecutive point-to-point ultra-marathons circumnavigating the city of Leeds via local footpaths.

Day One is the longer 58km LCW South which starts at The Garforth Miners Welfare Hall and follows the LCW in a clockwise direction passing Swillington, St Aidan's RSPB, Methley, Swithen's Farm, Carlton, Lofthouse, East Ardsley, Woodkirk, Batley, Morley, Drighlington, Tong, Fulneck, Pudsey, Woodhall Hills and finishes in Greengates. This day packs a punch but if you are running both days it means that you have broken the back of the Leeds Country Way.

Day Two is the LCW North. Coming in at just over the marathon distance this is an ideal fisrt winter ultra for anyone. The 43km race starts at Greengates and heads through Apperley Bridge, Horsforth, Cookridge, Golden Acre Park, Eccup, Harewood, Bardsey, Thorner, Barwick in Elmet and finishes back at Garforth.

EVENT DETAILS

Terrain Leeds Country Way Footpath / Trail

Entry Limit 150

Minimum Age 20

ULTRA SOUTH - DAY ONE

Route Garforth - Greengates (LCW Clockwise)

Race Start Miners Welfare Hall, 56 Main St, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AA

Race Finish St John's Community Church, 19 Carr Bottom Rd, Greengates, Bradford BD10 0BB

Distance ~59km / 36 miles

Elevation ~800m

Registration 07:00

Start Times 08:00 & 09:00

Course Close 18:00

ULTRA NORTH - DAY TWO

Route Greengates - Garforth (LCW Clockwise)

Race Start St John's Community Church, 19 Carr Bottom Rd, Greengates, BD10 0BB

Race Finish Miners Welfare Hall, 56 Main St, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AA

Distance ~43km / 27 miles

Elevation ~650m

Registration 07:00

Start Times 08:00 & 09:00

Course Close 18:00

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

A Hot Meal at the end of each day

Bag Transfer to the finish

Drop bag transfer to the halfway point

Hot Drinks at start / halfway / finish

Wooden Finishers Medal

Finishers Poster

ABOUT LEEDS COUNTRY WAY

A very popular long-distance walk of 100km / 62 miles which makes a complete circuit around the city of Leeds and visits many of the neighbouring towns, villages, parks and nature reserves.

It is never more than 7 miles from Leeds City Square. Despite being so close to the city the route is mainly rural with much to enjoy including extensive views to the West and North Yorkshire countryside in the outlying areas of the Leeds metropolitan district. It follows public rights of way including footpaths, bridleways and minor lanes, with just a few short sections along roads.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

You must have completed at least one marathon or ultra-marathon within the last 4 years and be able to give an example upon entering.

KIT REQUIREMENTS

MANDATORY

Hat and Gloves

Waterproof Jacket with taped seams

Minimum of 500 ml water/sports drink to be carried

Headtorch/Torch

Whistle

Emergency food supply (chocolate/energy bar)

Map and route description

Survival Bag

Foil blanket

Mobile phone

Cup for drinks at aid stations and the finish

RECOMMENDED KIT

Spare Gloves

Buff or similar

GPS

Full leg cover (eg running tights)

TIME LIMIT / CUT OFFS

DAY ONE - 18:00 (9 / 10 hours)

DAY TWO - 18:00 (9 / 10 hours)

We will have a strict but generous and fair procedure in place to ensure the safety of our volunteers. There will be a cut off at the approximate half way point each day. We want the race to be completed in full by as many participants as possible and we will have two start times with an early start reserved for entrants with longer predicted finish times.

CREW / PACERS / SAFETY RUNNERS

Crews are allowed

Crew vehicles must not park on any private property / roads and must not obstruct the official checkpoint vehicles. We ask that any crew vehicles find a safe and quiet place to park when meeting their runners.

Pacers are allowed but must not accompany at the start or the finish line of the race.

ALL Runners must carry all mandatory kit themselves and any runners found to have used pacers as mules will be disqualified.

NAVIGATION

Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras will not be marked and require self navigation - However The Leeds Country Way is a well trodden footpath and is marked with green plates with a yellow owl icon. Any deviations from the footpath will be signposted.

The GPX files are available and it is recommended runners carry a printed race map. It is ultimately the runners responsibility to navigate the course successfully. Recces are recommended.

RECCE DAYS

We will be hosting some recce days in 2026, info TBA

CHECKPOINTS / AID STATIONS

The Winter Ultras will all have a number of manned checkpoints and aid stations with basic food and drink and an indoor aid station around the half way mark. Exact locations tbc. The route itself also passes many local amenities, shops and pubs etc. Runners will be informed of which checkpoints will have toilets ahead of race day.

PRIZE CATEGORIES

Prizes TBA for LCW Winter Ultra South / North and Overall

VOLUNTEERS

This race will require plenty of volunteers, and plenty of roles are available including some running roles. Roles include fully mobile checkpoint teams, aid station crew, finish crew, race timing, tail running crew, drivers. If you are interested please get in touch.

COURSE RECORDS

OVERALL

2025 Tim Brook 9:39 / Ella Bishop 12:24

2026 Charlotte Corner 10:33 / Richard Ewing 11:42

*2025 LCW Ultra North distance 5km approx shorter than current course.

Description supplied by the event organiser.