The SILVA Traverses - who to watch in 2024!
Excitement is building for the 2024 SILVA Traverses - happening this weekend!
Ultra runners are preparing to tackle a series of races across the north of England, starting Saturday morning! Over the course of five days, almost four hundred athletes will take part in the SILVA Northern Traverse™, SILVA Lakes Traverse™, SILVA Dales Traverse™ and SILVA Moors Traverse™. Among the competitors will be several leading ultra runners!
Running along the shores of Ennerdale ©No Limits Photography
the silva northern and silva lakes traverse
The SILVA Northern Traverse™ is a continuous 300km footrace from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay. The race, which has to be completed within five days, follows the well-established coast-to-coast route created by Alfred Wainwright, through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors. Meanwhile, participants in the SILVA Lakes Traverse™ must tackle a 100km route ending in Shap.
two new additions in 2024!
This year, two new races have been introduced to the SILVA Traverse series, both of which offer entry points into ultra running. The SILVA Dales Traverse™ will take place on Sunday 7th April. Its distance of 55km will trace the section of Wainwright’s coast-to-coast route from Kirkby Stephen to Richmond.
On the same day, the 80km SILVA Moors Traverse™ will follow Wainwright’s route from Ingleby Cross to Robin Hood’s Bay, hugging the spectacular northern edge of the North York Moors National Park, before winding through eastern Yorkshire to the finish.
A glorious blue sky in the North York Moors ©No Limits Photography
where and when do the races start?
The SILVA Northern Traverse™ and SILVA Lakes Traverse™ will both start at St Bees, on the morning of Saturday 6 April. Runners in the SILVA Lakes Traverse™ will set off at 7:30am and the longer race will begin at 8:30am. The SILVA Moors Traverse™ will start in Ingleby Cross at 7:00am on Sunday 7 April, and on the same day, runners in the SILVA Dales Traverse will set off from Kirkby Stephen at 10:00am.
Enjoying the incredibly beautiful scenery ©No Limits Photography
WHO’S ON THE START LINE?
Several well-known ultra runners will line up for the start of the SILVA Northern Traverse™.
They include: Mark Darbyshire, record holder for the Arc of Attrition race and joint winner and record holder of the SILVA Lakes Traverse™; ultra-running legend Eoin Keith, who has taken part in every edition of the race to date and has won the Spine Race multiple times; David Parrish, winner of the 2023 Cape Wrath Ultra®; Hannah Rickman, who was second in the women’s 2024 Montane Winter Spine Race; Eddie Sutton, co-host of the Tea & Trails podcast; and James Elson, founder of Centurion Running and host of the British Ultra Running Podcast.
Author and ultra runner Allie Bailey will take on the SILVA Lakes Traverse™, while Gavin Dale, last year’s other joint winner of this event, will shift his attention to the SILVA Dales Traverse™. All four races will feature other competitive runners who are likely to challenge for honours, along with athletes who are testing themselves in ultra races for the first time.
Lakes Traverse record holders Mark Darbyshire (left) and Gavin Dale (right) will be trying their hand at different races this year ©No Limits Photography
HOW TO FOLLOW THE PARTICIPANTS ALONG THE COURSE!
Planning a weekend of dot-watching? You can follow the participants along their journey, via the links below!
SILVA Northern Traverse™ tracking link
SILVA Lakes Traverse™ tracking link
SILVA Dales Traverse™ tracking link
SILVA Moors Traverse™ tracking link
We’ve also written an article with information about each route and how to follow the participants. Click on the link below to have a read and familiarise yourself with the colour keys!
Entries open for 2025 on 12th April
Feeling inspired by these incredible athletes? You can join the adventure in 2025! Entries will open for all SILVA Traverses on 12th April!
Plus, sign up to the SILVA Northern Traverse in the first 24 hours and get a discount – put the date in your diary.
Join us next year and achieve something truly special ©No Limits Photography