Hardmoors 110.
The Hardmoors 110 takes on the Cleveland Way in a single stage, 111 miles across the North York Moors and down the coast. For 2027 only it returns to its original direction, Helmsley to Filey. That means preparing for a night outside and for steep coastal ramps that arrive once the high ground is already in your legs.
Hardmoors 110 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Helmsley stays quiet for only a few kilometres before the first long climb lifts you to around 250 metres from km 7. You now stay high for some 85 kilometres, following the national trail past White Horse, Square Corner, Clay Bank and Kildale Village Hall to Roseberry Topping. This section is at its hardest from km 44: three climbs arrive within eleven kilometres, the first with ramps above 20 percent. Around km 60 you reach the highest point of the race at just over 400 metres.
Near km 90 the route drops to about 50 metres and changes character. The moors fall behind, and from Saltburn the Cleveland Heritage Coastline carries you through Runswick Bay, Hornblower and Ravenscar to Scarborough. Reaching the bottom feels like an ending, yet almost exactly half the distance is still in front of you.
The coast stays low without ever being flat. The path rears up at km 102 and again at km 115, the second time with pitches of about 22 percent. The last substantial climb comes at km 144 and adds almost 130 metres more. After that the course stays low on its way to the finish in Filey.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 6.8 | 2.4 km | 4.9 % | 15.1 % | +119 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 43.8 | 2 km | 8.7 % | 23.4 % | +176 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 49.2 | 1.1 km | 11.1 % | 21.3 % | +125 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 54.3 | 0.9 km | 11.9 % | 20.7 % | +107 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 69.9 | 1.1 km | 9.2 % | 15.8 % | +103 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 101.6 | 1.1 km | 9.1 % | 16.9 % | +97 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 115.1 | 0.8 km | 10.9 % | 22.3 % | +90 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 143.6 | 1.8 km | 7.2 % | 19.8 % | +127 m | Cat. 4 |
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 Hardmoors 110.
Start under control
Only about a seventh of the course is flat, yet even the biggest climbs barely exceed 170 metres in one go. The well over 4,000 metres of ascent come from relentless up and down, so no single hill decides your day; the question is where you walk and where you run. Settle that from the start and hike the steep pitches during the first 40 kilometres too, while they still feel runnable.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided after km 100. The coast looks harmless because it barely rises above 100 metres, but its ramps meet quads that already hold every descent of the moors. If you ran the steep downhills hard up there, walking is all you will have left by the sea.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap sits at the drop near km 90. The sense that the worst is over tends to coincide with nightfall for many in the field, and that is where people linger too long or let the pace slide. Plan this transition in advance: eat, head torch on, keep moving.
Training plan for Hardmoors 110: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 28 to 36 hours, which with a Saturday morning start means a full night out and a Sunday arrival. The effort stays almost entirely aerobic, an alternation of brisk hiking and easy running. The only hard spikes come from the short ramps, and the demand there is not speed but repetition.
Train race pace
Two phases matter most: the three tightly stacked climbs from km 44, where you must not overreach, and the coastal ramps from km 100, which reveal what your legs have left. Both ask for the same ability, climbing steeply on foot when you have already been moving for a long time.
Rehearse the course
Build the plan around long sessions on hilly ground, ideally as back-to-back long days, because that puts you on tired legs without overcooking any single run. Practise strong uphill hiking on steep slopes and run longer descents regularly: nearly a tenth of this course drops steeply, and you pay that bill on the coast. With the race on 22 May, the longest sessions fall in March and April.
Arrive fresh
The night belongs in training as well. Schedule some long runs to continue into darkness, test your head torch and clothing on them, and practise eating while walking. Over more than a day, fuelling decides as much as fitness does, and the way from Saltburn to Filey is too late to start learning.
Courses
Download the Hardmoors 110 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hardmoors 110 dynamically
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Everything about Hardmoors 110.
How long is Hardmoors 110?
Hardmoors 110 is 178.64 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 Hardmoors 110 have?
Hardmoors 110 has around 4,313 m of elevation gain over 178.64 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hardmoors 110?
Hardmoors 110 is classified as Hilly, averaging 23.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 14% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hardmoors 110 have?
The hardest climb of Hardmoors 110 starts at kilometre 43.8, runs for 2 km at an average of 8.7% and gains 176 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hardmoors 110 a loop course?
No, Hardmoors 110 is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Hardmoors 110 course?
Yes. The Hardmoors 110 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 Hardmoors 110?
Preparation for Hardmoors 110 should account for 178.64 km, 4,313 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 Hardmoors 110?
The pacing strategy for Hardmoors 110 should reflect 178.64 km, 4,313 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 Hardmoors 110 take place?
Hardmoors 110 takes place on May 22, 2027.
Where does Hardmoors 110 take place?
Hardmoors 110 takes place in Helmsley, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Hardmoors 110?
Registration runs through the organiser: hardmoors110.org.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
