High Peak 40.
The High Peak 40 is an ultramarathon around the Peak District: 40.5 miles on a loop that starts and ends in Buxton, with the Goyt Valley, Mam Tor and Cave Dale as its landmarks. Preparing for it means getting ready not for one big mountain but for dropping into valleys and climbing out of them, over and over.
High Peak 40 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop from Buxton links the Goyt Valley, Eccles Pike, Mam Tor, Cave Dale, Tideswell and the Monsal Trail, with a climb out of yet another deep dale along the way. Altitude is not what gives this course its character: the high point sits at around 500 metres, and four times the route drops to about 200 metres or lower. Dales and high ground trade places until the circle closes back in Buxton.
Most of the climbing comes in the first 35 kilometres. Two kilometres in, the path already gains around 100 metres before falling into the first valley by kilometre 10. Five more climbs follow, with the high point near kilometre 25. Then the route goes all the way back down, and at kilometre 31.5 the longest climb of the day begins: 276 metres of gain in a little over three and a half kilometres, with short ramps above 20 percent.
From kilometre 35 the rhythm changes. For 13 kilometres the course falls almost without a break to its lowest point at kilometre 48. From there, around 200 metres of gain over some seven kilometres lead back up, and the final stretch undulates around the 300-metre mark into Buxton.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2 | 1.1 km | 9.3 % | 16.9 % | +100 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 12.6 | 1.9 km | 8.2 % | 14.4 % | +151 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 17.5 | 2.6 km | 7.6 % | 19.1 % | +198 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 21.9 | 1.5 km | 7.1 % | 25.4 % | +108 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 23.8 | 1.4 km | 8.4 % | 12 % | +119 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31.5 | 3.7 km | 7.6 % | 28 % | +276 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 49.8 | 2.9 km | 5 % | 15.8 % | +144 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 54.1 | 1.4 km | 3.4 % | 5.4 % | +46 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 High Peak 40.
Start under control
This course will not give you an even pace: only about a sixth of it is flat, roughly a fifth is steep, split evenly between up and down. Run the day on effort rather than kilometre splits, and hike the steep sections from the very start, including that first climb two kilometres in, when your legs still feel like running.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 31 and 57. The long climb arrives on legs that have already been through several valleys, and overcooking it costs you the stretch that follows, the one with the most time to give.
Spend what is left
That stretch is also the trap. Thirteen kilometres of downhill invite you to let go, but the bottom is no finish line, only the start of the way back up: a loop that ends where it began returns every metre it lost. The last ascent is too gentle to justify walking, so it wants to be run. You will only manage that if you took the descent under control and left something in your quads.
Training plan for High Peak 40: 12-week build
Build the base
Depending on fitness, age-group athletes will be out for roughly eight to twelve hours. The effort is aerobic, punctuated by many short hard spikes on the steep ramps and broken up by descents where the work shifts from lungs to muscles. A base of long, easy running carries the day, but it will not be enough on its own.
Train race pace
The key phase asks for two things on tired legs: climbing nearly 300 metres in one go after more than 30 kilometres, then running cleanly downhill for a long time straight afterwards. The real demand is having both arrive together, and no short hill session reproduces that.
Rehearse the course
So build long runs with the climbs in the second half, and treat fast uphill hiking as a skill of its own, because you will be walking the steepest ramps. Regular downhill running conditions your quads for the sheer volume of descent. Finish the occasional long run on a gentle climb at a running stride, since that is what the way back to Buxton demands.
Arrive fresh
A mid-September date puts your longest sessions in summer. Use them to test food and kit over eight hours and more, ideally on similarly hilly routes. Two long sessions on consecutive days get closer to the race duration than one single run that costs you the following weeks in recovery.
Courses
Download the High Peak 40 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for High Peak 40 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 High Peak 40.
How long is High Peak 40?
High Peak 40 is 65.18 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 High Peak 40 have?
High Peak 40 has around 1,571 m of elevation gain over 65.18 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of High Peak 40?
High Peak 40 is classified as Hilly, averaging 24.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 17% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 10% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does High Peak 40 have?
The hardest climb of High Peak 40 starts at kilometre 31.5, runs for 3.7 km at an average of 7.6% and gains 276 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is High Peak 40 a loop course?
Yes, High Peak 40 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the High Peak 40 course?
Yes. The High Peak 40 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 High Peak 40?
Preparation for High Peak 40 should account for 65.18 km, 1,571 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 High Peak 40?
The pacing strategy for High Peak 40 should reflect 65.18 km, 1,571 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 High Peak 40 2027 take place?
High Peak 40 2027 takes place on September 18, 2027.
Where does High Peak 40 2027 take place?
High Peak 40 2027 takes place in Buxton, United Kingdom.
How do I register for High Peak 40?
Registration runs through the organiser: highpeak40.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
