Edale Skyline — Route Guide & Guided Trips
A complete circuit of the skyline around the Edale valley: Kinder, Lose Hill, Mam Tor, Rushup Edge and back. The Peak District's benchmark long day.
The Skyline is the route Peak District runners measure themselves against. It stays high on the ridge line the whole way round the valley, which means you are almost never on flat ground and almost always exposed.
It works brilliantly as a target for anyone building towards ultra distance: long enough to matter, close enough to a road to be sensible, and split naturally into four distinct sections.
At a glance
| Distance | Approximately 34 km |
| Ascent | Approximately 1,400 m |
| Terrain | Moorland, gritstone edges, peat, some rough pathless ground |
| Best season | Late spring to early autumn for the best chance of firm ground |
| Difficulty | Very hard — a full fell day and a genuine test of endurance |
| Start point | Edale |
| Region | Peak District |
| Guided | Yes — quoted against dates and group size, request a quote |
The route, section by section
| Section | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Edale to the Kinder plateau | Steep climb and a long stretch along the northern edges |
| Across to Lose Hill | Moorland and a drop before the eastern ridge begins |
| The Great Ridge to Mam Tor | Fast, firm, popular ground — the most runnable part of the day |
| Rushup Edge back to Edale | A final long ridge, then the descent home |
Route notes and safety
This is a long exposed day with limited water and limited escape routes once committed to the northern side. Plan food properly and check the forecast for wind on the tops, not the valley. Many runners split it into two halves the first time.
Running it guided
We guide this route for individuals and small groups. That means route planning, navigation, pace matched to you, safety kit and first-aid cover carried by the guide, and a kit list sent before you travel. Price is quoted against your dates and group size.
- A guide on every run, with route planning and navigation
- Pace grouping, so nobody is dropped and nobody is held back
- Safety kit carried by the guide, plus first-aid cover
- A personalised kit list before you travel
- Technique and pacing coaching on trail, at no extra cost
- Accommodation and transfers bundled in if you want them
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Edale Skyline?
Genuinely hard — around 34 km with 1,400 m of climbing, almost all of it exposed. Treat it as a mountain day, not a long trail run.
How long does the Edale Skyline take?
Four to seven hours for most trail runners, depending on conditions and how much of the climbing they run.
Can I run the Edale Skyline guided?
Yes, and it is one of our most requested Peak District days. We can also split it across a weekend if you would rather build up to it.
Where to go next
- Peak District trail running routes
- Kinder Scout run
- Long distance trail running
- Trail running in the Peak District
Ready to run?
Tell us your dates, your rough weekly mileage and where you'd like to run. We'll come back with the routes we'd recommend, availability and a price.