Moors Traverse®

Sunday 6th April 2025

A runner on the final North York Moors section of the iconic Northern Traverse race

A 80KM ULTRA FOLLOWING WAINWRIGHT’S COAST TO COAST ROUTE between ingleby Cross and robin hood’s bay

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Distance

80 km

Height gain

1600 metres

Hours to complete?

15 hours

The Moors Traverse® is an 80km ultra following Wainwright’s coast to coast route from Ingleby Cross to Robin Hood’s Bay. The event has an adventurous ethos and culture of self-sufficiency.

Following the success of the inaugural 2024 edition, the Moors Traverse is back for its second year! Starting from Ingleby Cross and following the same route as the Northern Traverse, the Moors Traverse runs along the spectacular northern edge of the North York Moors National Park, before weaving through eastern Yorkshire to a stunning finish at Robin Hood’s Bay – the end of Wainright’s coast to coast trail.

This is an achievable and beautiful ultra and a great stepping stone for those aspiring to enter the more challenging Lakes Traverse.

THE ROUTE

Tip: click/tap on "Learn more" then expand the map to get more route details.

Average terrain type

  • The race route is not marked but it is usually straight forward to follow because it is a well established national hiking trail. Each year, more of the route is waymarked with official Coast to Coast signs.

    We provide the following options to assist participants:

    1. An official waterproof race map collected at registration.

    2. A digital version of the race map via the Avenza app, which displays your location in realtime on the race route.

    3. A downloadable GPX file of the race route to use with your preferred device (watch, phone) or mapping software.

  • We recommend using the Avenza App which can be downloaded HERE.

    Participants will be emailed prior to the event when the Avenza digital mapping is ready.

    It is available free of charge to participants.

  • The draft route dated 04/12/2023 is available to download HERE.

    Please be aware that this is a provisional route and subject change. It does not entitled you to any special access and if you are recce’ing the route please ensure that observe The Countryside Code at all times.

    A GPX file of the final version of the route will be emailed directly to participants about 10-days before the event.

  • There will be discrepancies between the GPX download, the Outdoor Active and Avenza digital mapping and the information on this website.

    The distance and height gain of the route change one year to next, because the route varies from one edition to the next, which is due landowner permissions and consultations.

    The headline 80km is a slight over estimation of the route distance in 2024, but the estimate height gain of 1,600m is accurate.

  • The route is mandatory and defined by Checkpoints and Support Points. Checkpoints are virtual (i.e. not manned) and help participant gauge their progress between Support Points and generate meaningful results.

    We do have some generous cut-offs in place, and allowing extra time for ascent.

    You must have left the respective Checkpoint or Support Point by the following time:

    • Lordstones Country Park Support Point

      Distance from start: 13km

      Height Gain since start: 511m

      Cut Off: Sunday 09:30

    • Lion Inn Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 32km

      Distance from Lordstones: 19km

      Height Gain since Lordstones: 549m

      Guidance time: Sunday 12:30

    • Glaisdale Support Point

      Distance from start: 46km

      Distance from Lion Inn: 15km

      Height Gain since Lion Inn: 53m

      Cut Off: Sunday 15:30

    • Hawsker Checkpoint

      Distance from start: 70km

      Distance from Glaisdale: 24km

      Height gain since Glaisdale: 473m

      Guidance time: Sunday 20:00

    • Robin Hood’s Bay Finish

      Distance from start: 77km

      Distance from Hawsker: 7km

      Height gain since Hawsker: 90m

      Cut Off: Sunday 22:00

  • We do have some generous cut-offs in place, based on roughly 4km/h, and allowing extra time for ascent.

    You must have left the respective support point by the following time:

    • Lordstones – 09:30

    • Glaisdale - 15:30

  • You must have reached the finish at Robin Hood’s Bay by 22:00 on Sunday – this is the course closure time and anyone arriving after this time will finish ‘non-competitively’.

  • It is only possible to retire at the Support Points.

    In an emergency, our professional event Response Team will assist participants whilst they are on the course.

  • The Moors Traverse® is worth THREE ITRA points and TWO mountain points.

    Find out more HERE.

Where and when?

  • SUNDAY

    05:35 - 06:30 – Registration open

    06:45 – Briefing (startline)

    07:00 – START

    15:00 First finisher expected in Robin Hood’s Bay

    22:00 Course Closure Time

  • We have arranged a coach transfer service from Robin Hood's Bay at 04:30 to Ingleby Arncliffe ahead of the start.  

    You can book your seat on the coach on your SiEntries account. There is a cost of £10. 

    Not using our bus transport? 

    Please just head straight for the registration venue in Ingleby Arncliffe. 

  • Ingleby Cross Village Hall, Ingleby Cross, Northallerton DL6 3NE (HERE)

  • The finish is on the shoreline at Robin Hood’s Bay (HERE)

    There will be a small group of the Event Team ready and waiting on the shoreline finish to welcome and congratulate all finishers. Finishers will need to return back up the hill to the Fylingdales Village Hall where all the post race admin is completed.

    Fylingdales Village Hall, Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby YO22 4RA

    Friends and Family

    Specifically, on the Moors Traverse® we must stress that attempting to drive down to (never mind park at the bottom of) the steep hill to the shoreline in Robin Hood’s Bay is strictly prohibited.

    Fylingdales Village Hall becomes very busy with participants and therefore, friends, family and spectators are not allowed in this building.

    Returning to your vehicle

    There is 1km / 15 minute walk to return to Hooks House Farm Campsite where the event parking is located. We will provide a MPV shuttle service between these locations for finishers.

Support points

You can expect a warm welcome from our Event Team at each Support Point. A combination of our professional staff and volunteers are in attendance at each Support Point. There is almost always a medic at these locations to provide advice and emergency care. If you need to retire, the Support Points are the only place on the course where you can do this. Most importantly, you can expect hot food and plenty of it at each Support Point. There will be no rationing of this food, however, we are not expecting anyone to walk out the door with a loaf of bread!

Here is the kind of food you can expect at the support points on the Moors Traverse®:

  • A selection of hot and cold drinks including tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash and water, with milk alternatives available.

  • Sandwiches with various fillings such as cheese, hummus, egg, salad, peanut butter, or jam.

  • Hot and cold savoury snacks that might include chips, vegetarian sausage rolls, vegan bites, crisps and nuts.

  • A selection of cakes and traybakes, fresh fruit, porridge and a variety of other hot and cold breakfast options.

There is one supplementary cafe stop where we have arranged for participants to have a free drink during the normal opening hours of 09:00 - 16:00 at the farm shop. There is usually a range of excellent snacks, sandwiches and cakes available to purchase as well. This location is: Horseshoe Hotel, Egton Bridge (10km from Glaisdale)

There is a variety of food at support points ©No Limits Photography

Please see the menu below for the hot meal and soup options at each support point.

  • There is almost always a medic at these locations to provide advice and emergency care. However, the medics may be called away to deal with an emergency and they will always triage participants based on clinical need.

    Whilst the medics will endeavour to provide blister care at each Support Point this is not their priority and you should come to event ready to manage your own blisters in the first instance.

  • Facilities: Marquee space, toilets and showers

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: No

    Soup: A filling leek & potato soup

  • Facilities: Indoor space and toilets

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hot and cold

    Hot meal: No

    Soup: Yes TBC

  • Facilities: Spacious village hall with toilets but no showers.

    Finishers Bag: Yes

    Snacks: Wide range of sweet and savoury food

    Drinks: Hold and cold

    Hot meal: A warm vegetable and/or cheese & onion pasties, served with peas and a selection of sauces.

    Soup: Creamy tomato soup

  • As well as the food provided by us at support points (i.e. included in your entry), we would like to highlight a number of venues along the race route who will be able to provide you with additional food options from their regular menu. Of course, these are subject to the respective venues’ normal opening times:

    *** By special arrangement we have organised for the Horseshoe Hotel to provide Moors Traverse® participants with a free hot drink if you are luck enough to pass during normal opening hours. There is usually a range of excellent snacks, sandwiches and cakes available to purchase as well.

  • Sorry, there are no provisions for sleeping at these locations for Moors Traverse® participants.

    Please do not attempt to sneak into the blue tents we erect as these are strictly for Northern Traverse® participants only.

  • For all meals, there will be gluten-free and vegan alternatives available.

  • Any allergies/intolerances you tell us about in your entry will be noted, but we are otherwise unable to give special dispensation for participants with personal dietary preferences that fall outside our menu, with the exception of being able to provide gluten free options.

    We will of course do everything reasonably practicable to accommodate the requirements of the participants within the boundaries of the menu being offered.

  • Sustainable food is a fundamental component of our sustainability strategy. It affects everyone because our staff, volunteers and participants rely on the food we provide to fuel them through our events.

    We have served a meat and fish free menu to participants since our first event in 2012. Over the years, we have worked hard to develop the menus we provide for our participants, to ensure the meals are nutritionally balanced for their needs.

    A meat and fish free menu is the cornerstone of reducing the environmental impact of our event catering, because livestock production takes up around 80% of the world’s agricultural land and is one of the leading causes of deforestation, biodiversity loss and water pollution.

    Our ‘Food Sustainability Policy’ (HERE) covers this in more detail.

Kit requirements

Please download the following clothing and equipment checklist. The items listed are mandatory and must be worn by the participants or carried at all times for the duration of the Moors Traverse®. Your kit will be checked at registration. If we determine that your kit is not sufficient, you will not be able to start.

DOWNLOADABLE CHECKLIST

The current Downloadable Checklist is version 3, dated 17/06/2024.

We know that kit and clothing requirements can be a bit confusing and we hope that the downloadable checklist will help you select and pack the correct clothing and equipment. We would recommend that you read our comprehensive guidance article on clothing and equipment.

Comprehensive Clothing and Equipment Guidance

Finishers Drop Bag

A ‘Finishers Drop Bag’ will be transported from the start to the finish for each runner. There will be no access to this Drop Bag during the race at any of the Support Points. The maximum weight of a Finishers Drop Bag is 5kg (they will be weighed!) and they can be dropped off during registration hours at Ingleby Cross on Sunday morning (see timings above). This bag should be robust and waterproof to withstand handling and outside storage. At registration, we will attach a sticker to this bag so that we know it is yours. 

Kit Recommendations

A common mistake we see at kit check is participants bringing a survival blanket rather than a survival bag. A survival bag is far superior in an emergency and is mandatory. We recommend the SOL survival bag, which is available for purchase in our shop.

Whilst the built-in whistle on your rucksack or vest is acceptable we do recommend a purpose-made device such as the Lifesystems Whistle.

Finally, if you want to enjoy a warm drink at our Support Points, you’ll need to be carrying your own mug. We recommend the Lifeventure mug.

Exceptional Weather Kit

We are prescriptive about the clothing and equipment that we will mandate that participants carry in the event of exceptionally cold and/or wet, or hot weather. When notified, these additional items must be carried in addition to the standard mandatory kit, and are included on the downloadable checklist linked above. Please ensure that your vest pack or rucksack is large enough to fit everything in!

We will notify Moors Traverse® participants 24 hours before registration whether they need to carry this kit with them.

Additional recommendations

Finally, we would like to share some further recommendations and insights, which we have seen participants successfully employ over the years. These items are not mandatory but might help you to critically appraise your clothing and equipment choices.

RECOMMENDED COLD WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

  • Heavy-weight mountaineering-style waterproof jacket. Especially if you are likely to be walking rather than running.

  • Waterproof cap. Brilliant for keeping driving rain off your face - worn under the hood of your waterproof jacket.

  • Second waterproof jacket. Layering two lightweight waterproofs is an old trick that keeps you drier whilst adding warmth.

  • Winter underwear. Windproof and/or insulated underwear for staying comfortable in very cold conditions.

RECOMMENDED HOT WEATHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

  • Sunblock. Factor 50 and waterproof. We recommend the Lifesystems Sports Suncream

  • Long-Sleeve Top. A loose-fitting and lightweight long-sleeve top to keep the sun off your skin, and reduce sunburn risk.

  • Sunglasses. Helps reduce fatigue in bright conditions.

  • Headband. Salty sweat running into your eyes is seriously unpleasant.

  • Thin socks. In hot weather, your feet will swell, and swapping for thinner socks helps with comfort.

EVENT RULES

We are keen to keep these simple. If you have any questions about these rules please query them before the event rather than after you have broken them. It is the participant’s responsibility to understand and follow these rules:

  • Participants must follow the >> universal event rules << applicable to all events organised by Ourea Events.

  • • Retiring: if you retire, you must inform race control (the number is on the race map).

    • Race numbers: participants must display one race number (supplied at registration) on their front at all times and a second race number (supplied at registration) must be attached to their rucksack. Race numbers can be obscured by waterproof clothing only. Race numbers must not be folded (or cut) to obscure any logos or information.

    • Route safety: the route, within a corridor of 200m, is mandatory, but we understand that sometimes the safest course of action might be to deviate slightly from the prescribed route, such as at a river crossing. Please prioritise safety and then return to the route as soon as safely possible.

    • Sleeping: strictly no sleeping inside any of the venue buildings.

    • Headphones: participants must NOT wear headphones or listen to music on any road sections/crossings along the route.

    • SOS button: the SOS button on participants’ GPS trackers is for true emergencies only (e.g. a life or limb threatening incident) – if it is pressed in order to alert us to a participant’s condition, then it will be assumed that the participant in question will not be able to continue with the event.

    • Race briefing: the briefing given before the start is compulsory – a register will be taken and any participant not in attendance will not be allowed to start.

    • Healthcare professionals: the event medics must maintain oversight of the health and wellbeing of everyone on the event and keep accurate records of all medical treatments. Therefore, unless it is an emergency situation, any healthcare professional alien to the event’s medical team that provides prescription-only medication (or any other significant medical intervention) to another participant will be disqualified from the event. The participant receiving the medication is also likely to be penalised for having accessed a service which is not available to all participants equally.

  • • Participants may take advantage of certain facilities that are available to all participants – this means that you may make purchases from shops, hotels, pubs, bars, cafés (where they might occur on the route, and are open). The exception is that you may not purchase or negotiate for showers / accommodation / cleaning / laundry at any facility.

    • Participants may not access any services that are not commercially available to all i.e. you cannot take any support from supporters, public, and stores by friendship, arrangement, bartering or coercion!

    • Participants may not leave (or arrange to have left for them) equipment or food along the route.

    • Participants are not allowed support runners. Any person attempting this will cause their officially entered associate(s) to be disqualified immediately and all the runners involved may receive life bans from Ourea Events Ltd. events.

  • We encourage participants’ supporters, as long as they and the participants follow all of the event rules – i.e. they may not run with the participant, carry any equipment for them, or give them any food, drink, kit or other supplies.

    Supporters must not enter Support Point buildings and facilities used exclusively by the event.