Dartmoor Winter Traverse.
The Dartmoor Winter Traverse crosses Dartmoor from south to north over 50 km, almost entirely off road and without way markings. So the climbing is only part of the question: the rest is whether you can hold your line and your rhythm through a long February day of limited daylight and difficult ground.
Dartmoor Winter Traverse 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
It starts in the south of the moor at a little over 120 metres and wastes no time: from kilometre 3 it climbs for more than four kilometres to around 450 metres. Up there begins the long middle section to Princetown, a constant up and down between 400 and 470 metres that takes in Red Lake and the sources of the Erme and Plym. The ascent comes in small portions here, but it never stops.
Beyond Princetown, after almost 20 km, the character changes. The rolling gives way to two deep cuts: first the course drops to just over 300 metres and climbs back at around ten per cent near kilometre 25, then it falls to about 250 metres before the longest climb of the second half begins at kilometre 35. The high point of the day, a little above 540 metres, arrives only after some 40 km, and from there it is almost 300 metres down to Meldon.
The final third is where the names change: Roos Tor, Tavy Cleave, Chat Tor and the dismantled Rattlebrook railway. Between them lies wild open moor with nothing to mark the way. The traverse is fully supported, yet holding the line is your job, and that is what separates this winter crossing of remote ground from a signed trail race.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.2 | 0.8 km | 7.8 % | 9.3 % | +64 m | — |
| km 3.4 | 4.2 km | 5.9 % | 11.4 % | +246 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 11.2 | 1 km | 5.8 % | 6.9 % | +57 m | — |
| km 19.7 | 1.4 km | 7.3 % | 12.4 % | +98 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 24.8 | 1.5 km | 10 % | 14.9 % | +152 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 28.6 | 1.2 km | 4.5 % | 4.8 % | +52 m | — |
| km 34.6 | 2.2 km | 7.7 % | 11.6 % | +168 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 37 | 0.5 km | 12.2 % | 14.5 % | +61 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Dartmoor Winter Traverse.
Start under control
Plan this traverse by time and effort, not by minutes per kilometre. On open moor the ground and your choice of line set the speed, so a target pace borrowed from the road means nothing. That is why you walk the steeper parts of the first long climb, however fresh you feel.
Hold your rhythm
The real trap is the rolling section to Princetown. No single hill there looks threatening, yet by that point you have collected almost half of the day's ascent, and running everything that looks runnable carries tired legs into the hardest part.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between kilometres 25 and 38: two deep descents, two climbs back out, and the steepest short ramp waiting at the very end of them. If you can still jog at the top, you gain more on the high kilometres and the final descent to Meldon than on all the ramps put together. Check your position more often here too, because with no markings a tired mistake in the line soon costs more than a climb.
Training plan for Dartmoor Winter Traverse: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes should expect seven to ten hours depending on conditions, a good share of it walking. The effort stays mostly easy aerobic, with only the steep ramps pushing briefly above that. This asks less for speed than for the ability to stay on your feet for a very long time and still make clean decisions.
Train race pace
Because the biggest climbs come in the second half, your long sessions should do the same: put the ascent in the final third and practise brisk uphill walking on tired legs. Add a block of hill work where a descent leads straight into the next climb, since that pattern shapes the stretch before the high point.
Rehearse the course
The ground is the other half of the preparation. Run regularly on pathless, uneven terrain rather than only on forest tracks, and add strength work for ankles and thighs. Both pay off on the long final descent, when concentration starts to slip.
Arrive fresh
With nothing marked, navigation belongs in every long session: follow a route on a watch or device even when tired, and learn to notice errors early. Put some sessions deliberately into dusk so you know your kit and your pace in fading light, and test your fuelling over six hours and more. Even on a supported course, energy remains your job.
Courses
Download the Dartmoor Winter Traverse course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Dartmoor Winter Traverse dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Dartmoor Winter Traverse.
How long is Dartmoor Winter Traverse?
Dartmoor Winter Traverse is 50 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Dartmoor Winter Traverse have?
Dartmoor Winter Traverse has around 1,140 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Dartmoor Winter Traverse?
Dartmoor Winter Traverse is classified as Hilly, averaging 24.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 16% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 10% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Dartmoor Winter Traverse have?
The hardest climb of Dartmoor Winter Traverse starts at kilometre 3.4, runs for 4.2 km at an average of 5.9% and gains 246 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Dartmoor Winter Traverse a loop course?
No, Dartmoor Winter Traverse is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Dartmoor Winter Traverse course?
Yes. The Dartmoor Winter Traverse course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Dartmoor Winter Traverse?
Preparation for Dartmoor Winter Traverse should account for 50 km, 1,140 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Dartmoor Winter Traverse?
The pacing strategy for Dartmoor Winter Traverse should reflect 50 km, 1,140 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Dartmoor Winter Traverse take place?
Dartmoor Winter Traverse takes place on February 20, 2027.
Where does Dartmoor Winter Traverse take place?
Dartmoor Winter Traverse takes place in Meldon, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Dartmoor Winter Traverse offer?
Dartmoor Winter Traverse offers 2 distances — Dartmoor Winter Traverse 50 km: 50 km; Dartmoor Winter Traverse 30 km: 30 km.
How do I register for Dartmoor Winter Traverse?
Registration runs through the organiser: ultratrailevents.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
