Ladybower Reservoir Trails 52k & 21k September 2026

Join us for Ladybower Reservoir Trail Running Festival 2026 on Saturday 26 September 2026

Set out from Hope Village for a day of Peak District trail running with wide views, classic climbs, and flowing forest paths. Choose your challenge and enjoy clear waymarking, enthusiastic marshals, stocked aid stations, and a welcoming finish beside friends and family.

21K Route: The Ladybower Reservoir 22K is a scenic trail half marathon set in the heart of the Peak District, taking runners on a clockwise loop around the iconic Ladybower Reservoir and surrounding hills. The route combines reservoir-side paths, forest tracks and rolling trails with a number of challenging climbs that reward runners with spectacular views across Ladybower, Derwent Reservoir and the Upper Derwent Valley. With a mix of runnable terrain, beautiful woodland sections and classic Peak District scenery throughout, this course offers an ideal balance of challenge and enjoyment, making it a memorable introduction to trail running in one of the UK's most picturesque national parks.

52K: The Ladybower Reservoir 52K is a scenic and challenging clockwise trail ultra starting and finishing at Hope Showground, taking runners through the heart of the Peak District around Bamford, Ladybower Reservoir and the Upper Derwent Valley. Covering 52.5 km with approximately 1,500 m of elevation gain, the route combines reservoir-side trails, woodland tracks, moorland paths and rolling hill sections, with much of the climbing coming in the early stages before opening into long, runnable stretches with spectacular views across Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs. Offering a mix of rewarding climbs, flowing trails and iconic Peak District scenery, it is a highly runnable but demanding ultra that showcases some of the region’s most impressive landscapes

Race Distance & Start Times

08:00 - 52k
10:00 - 21k

Included in the entry:

Unique themed medal

Free race photos

Chip-timed results

Post-race goodies

All routes will be marked using trail flags and tags, along with A5 arrows and signage. Our friendly marshals will also be on hand to guide you at major junctions and cheer you all the way to the finish. However, please note with all trail races, routes can be disrupted by many things: the weather, disgruntled walkers and wildlife, to name a few! To keep you safe, we provide the GPX for your race route so you can check you’re on track throughout the race and course correct/self-navigate if necessary.

With RunThrough, you can expect a friendly team of marshals to help guide you around the course and cheer you on to the finish, a lively and well-serviced event village with plenty of food and drink options, including free goodies from our partners at the finish line after your hard effort.

We have been extensively researching what runners consider important, and sustainability is fast becoming the top issue. Click here to see what RunThrough is doing for sustainability.

You can now grab your Ladybower Reservoir event t-shirt for more than 30% off when you buy it as part of your entry on checkout! With the event logo printed on the chest, it’s the perfect keepsake to celebrate your race and wear your achievement with pride!

We can do this with our partner RT Kit as part of a strategic decision to raise awareness about the quality of the product, whilst reducing the overall cost of events for those who would prefer not to have a t-shirt included.

Come and enjoy the day with us. Once you enter, you will receive a confirmation email. More information will be sent closer to the event. We can’t wait to see you on the start line.

Please note, this event is licensed under the TRA and will follow UKA rules.

Please use your EA or TRA number at checkout to receive a £2 discount on this race.