The Dovedale Dipper
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Event Overview
The Dovedale Dipper is a trail event for runners and walkers set in the Peak District National Park. The event is based in the village of Hartington. Participants can choose from two distances, exploring the White Peak area. The event has been held since 2003.
Distances and Routes
- The Big Dipper: A long route, described as comfortably a marathon distance, closer to 27 miles. It is an anticlockwise route exploring the Dove and Manifold valleys.
- The Little Dipper: A shorter route of approximately 15 miles.
Both routes travel through hills, valleys, and villages on the Derbyshire-Staffordshire border. The courses use well-trodden paths but are not waymarked; participants are responsible for their own navigation using provided descriptions and GPX files. Participants must follow the designated route.
Event Details
The event will take place on Saturday, 1st August 2026. There are separate mass starts for runners and early start windows for walkers and slower runners. The final deadline for all participants to finish is 20:00, with interim cut-off times at checkpoints.
The event includes refreshments at aid stations, a hot meal at the finish, and a finisher's certificate. A detailed event guide, route description, and GPX files are provided. Medical support is available. Prizes are awarded for the fastest male and female participants in each distance who start with the mass start.
Requirements and Logistics
Participants must be at least 18 years old. There is no formal qualifying criteria, but prior experience with long-distance hiking or running on strenuous terrain is recommended. A printed map, whistle, emergency bivi bag, compass, waterproof jacket, and other mandatory kit must be carried.
Event headquarters and race base is Hartington Village Hall. There is no parking at the venue; a designated event parking field is available on the edge of the village, requiring a parking pass. The event operates under a UK Athletics permit issued by the Trail Running Association. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
