This page lists long-distance challenges in the Westcountry which have been completed as a nominal run with individuals covering the whole distance on foot (so not as a relay). The times are based on trust (i.e. no attempt has been made to independently ratify them) and are from start to stop, not just moving time.
The amount of support is indicated after the time where known:
Clicking on the route name takes you to more info, any split times, etc. Clicking on names links to other websites.
Distances and ascents are very approximate; the latter may vary for linear routes depending upon direction (e.g. add 300' for Dartmoor Crossing south to north, subtract 300' for north to south).
GPS routes, interactive maps and other information for some can be found on GPS routes, GoFar and/or Fastest Known Time.
You can register a successful completion of any of these challenges (or a new route) by mailing me at anything @ this domain.
| 630m / 115,000' | South West Coast Path | Minehead-Poole Harbour | ||
| Jun-Jul 1997 | Damon Rodwell | 23 days | Minehead to Poole Harbour | |
| 17 Jun-03 Jul 12 | Mal Law (Running Wild, New Zealand) | 16 days 9:57 | S(P) | Minehead to Poole Harbour |
| 27 Apr-11 May 13 | Mark Townsend & Julie Gardener | 14 days 14:44 F | Minehead to Poole Harbour | |
| 7-21 Apr 15 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 14 days 8:01 | S(P) | Minehead to Poole Harbour |
| 17-28 May 15 | Mark Berry (North Devon Road Runners) | 11 days 8:15 | S(P) | Poole Harbour to Minehead |
| 14-24 May 16 | Damian Hall | 10 days 15:18 | S(P) | Poole Harbour to Minehead |
| 102m / ?' 117m / ?' | Two Moors Way Two Moors Way & Erme-Plym Trail | Lynmouth-Ivybridge Lynmouth-Wembury | ||
| 25-26 Nov 2017 | Ceri Rees (Wild Running)
Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 26:30 2MW | Lynmouth to Ivybridge | |
| 09-10 Oct 2020 | Jack Casey | 21:33 2MW 25:43 2MW & EPT | S | Lynmouth to Wembury; track on Strava. |
| 70m / 15,000'? | Dartmoor Round | Circuit of the moor | See also GoFar. | |
| There is no need to visit Meavy for a legitimate round. Nigel didn't originally run from the Royal Oak as was previously mentioned on this site and his original round started and finished at Sheepstor. He did the run as a personal challenge rather than to set a mark for others to follow but runners being what they are ...
The start/finish point can be anywhere convenient (tor, road crossing, etc.) and you can run in either direction. Some rounds have started from the pub, others from elsewhere but included the out-and-back to Meavy and others have skipped Meavy altogether. Tor list in Nigel's original order: Sheepstor - Sharpitor - Ingra Tor - Pew Tor - Cox Tor - Standon Hill - Ger Tor - Brat Tor - Branscombe's Loaf - High Willhays - Oke Tor - Cosdon Beacon - Rippator - Thornworthy Tor - Hameldown Tor - Hameldown Beacon - Rowden Ball - Wind Tor - Sharp Tor - Puper's Hill - Corringdon Ball - Butterdon Hill - Western Beacon - Hilson's House - Penn Beacon - Great Trowlesworthy Tor - Gutter Tor - Sheepstor. Note that all tors should be climbed to their highest point - just touching a convenient part doesn't count as them having been visited! (Consider it the same as touching summit cairns on other challenges like the Bob Graham Round.) If you really can't make it up one of them then run round all of the significant outcrops forming that particular tor. WARNING! There are three river crossings which can be challenging or even dangerous after heavy rain. The Dart is broad; the Tavy and West Okement are narrow but can still be very fast-flowing. Nigel swam all three on his original round! Nigel is happy to speak to anyone considering the round - see Immersion Fitness on Facebook for his contact details. | ||||
| Times are for complete cicruits not visiting Meavy except where noted. | ||||
| 31 Dec 1999 | Nigel (Zippy) Jenkins | 18:03 | ? | Clockwise (lots of darkness, poor weather). |
| 20 Jul 2008 | Steve (Plodder) Bradfield | 22:26 | ? | From Meavy; time from/to Meavy? |
| 2009 | Ian Bowles | ? | ? | Clockwise extended to 80m from Haytor. |
| 2 Sep 2017 | Jon (Minibar) Croome | 23:25 | P | Clockwise from Meavy; time from/to Meavy? |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) Tim Lenton (Axe Valley Runners) | ~17¾ | U | Clockwise from Belstone including Meavy dogleg; 18:45 Meavy-Meavy. |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | ~16 | ? | Clockwise from Meavy; 16:48 Meavy-Meavy. |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Andrew Connor | 15:21 | ? | Clockwise from Meavy; 16:11 Meavy-Meavy. |
| 24 Jul 2020 | Simon Barnett | 16:03 | ? | Clockwise from Meavy; 16:56 Meavy-Meavy. |
| 15 Aug 2020 | Jo Meek | 13:57 F | P | Clockwise from Meavy; 14:39 Meavy-Meavy. |
| 23 Aug 2020 | Andrew Reeve | 19:30 | ? | Clockwise from Shipley Bridge. |
| 5 Sep 2020 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 12:40 | P | Clockwise from Western Beacon. |
| 27 Mar 2021 | Adam Forest | 17:38 | ? | Clockwise from Hameldown Hill. |
| 7 May 2021 | George Domaille Mark Domaille | 21:43 | P | Clockwise from Lane End (below Ger Tor). |
| 14 May 2021 | Ed Gamble (Cheshire Hill Racers) | 19:44 | S | Clockwise from Dartmeet including Meavy dogleg; accompanied for 2 hours. |
| 2 Sep 2023 | Sam Waddy | 21:41 | U | Anticlockwise from Pew Tor (no stashes). Write-up here. |
| 70m / 12,000' | East Devon Round | East Devon Way and South West Coast Path. Nothing to do with the race of the same name which only started in 2019. | ||
| 21 May 2011 | John Keast (Sidmouth RC)
Don Cawthera (Sidmouth RC) | 20:25 | P | Clockwise from Sidmouth at 3am |
| 27-28 Jul 2012 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners) | 18:18 | P | Anti-clockwise from Lyme Regis at 6pm |
| 15 Jun 2014 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 11:39 | P | Anti-clockwise from Sidmouth at 7am. |
| 65m / 10,000' | Wessex Ridgeway - Dorset section | Ashmore to Lyme Regis (original footpath route, not the newer "multi-use" option) | ||
| May 2008 | Ines Braun (Gillingham Trotters) | 15:09 F | ? | Wessex Ridgeway Relay (Tollard Royal to Uplyme village hall) |
| May 2008 | Andy Horsley (Wimborne AC) | 15:18 | ? | Wessex Ridgeway Relay (Tollard Royal to Uplyme village hall) |
| May 2012 | Andy Horsley (Wimborne AC) | 14:22 | ? | Wessex Ridgeway Relay (Tollard Royal to Uplyme village hall) |
| May 2012 | Craig Dixon (Dorset Doddlers)
Ian Holmes (Gillingham Trotters) | 14:40 | ? | Wessex Ridgeway Relay (Tollard Royal to Uplyme village hall) |
| 04 Sep 2016 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 12:27 | (P) | Tollard Royal to Lyme Regis clock tower |
| 40m / 5,000' | East Devon Way Plus | Exmouth-Uplyme (EDW ends at Devon-Dorset border) then on to Lyme Regis | ||
| Apr 2004 | Nick Keast (Sidmouth RC)
Jim Pyne (Sidmouth RC) | 8¼ hrs | S? | Exmouth to Lyme Regis |
| Jun 2004 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
John Keast (Sidmouth RC) Neil Tubbs (Sidmouth RC) | 7½ hrs | S | Exmouth to Lyme Regis (Cobb Arms) |
| 2009? | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Eleanor Wood (Axe Valley Runners) Phil Bayliss (Axe Valley Runners) | 8½ hrs? | S | Exmouth to Uplyme (end of EDW) |
| 06 Aug 2011 | Tom Bland | 7:14 | U | Exmouth to Lyme Regis (clock tower) |
| 13 May 2012 | Jon Day (Axe Valley Runners)
Paul Johns (Axe Valley Runners) Tom Bland (Axe Valley Runners) | 7:55 | S | Exmouth to Lyme Regis (Cobb Arms) |
| 28 Dec 2012 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) Matt Clist (Axe Valley Runners) | 7:15 | (S) | Exmouth to Lyme Regis (Cobb Arms) |
| 27 Apr 2013 | Alex Todd (Axe Valley Runners)
Matt Clist (Axe Valley Runners) | 6:38 | U | Exmouth to Lyme Regis (end of The Cobb) |
| 17 May 2014 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 5:47 | P | Exmouth to Lyme Regis (end of The Cobb; 5:35 end of EDW) |
| 15 Jun 2014 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 6:31 | P | Lyme Regis to Exmouth (as part of the East Devon Round) |
| 31 Mar 2018 | James Green (Axe Valley Runners)
Matt Clist (Axe Valley Runners) | 7:20 | U | Lyme Regis to Exmouth |
| 40m / 4,000' | West Dorset Round | South Dorset Ridgeway and South West Coast Path (omitting Portland) | ||
| 05 Aug 2012 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Alex Todd (Axe Valley Runners) | 7:35 | (S) | Clockwise from Hardy Monument |
| 45m / 5,000' | Channel to Channel | Bristol Channel to English Channel | ||
| 08 Jan 2001 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners) | 8:45 | S | Quantoxhead to Seaton |
| 30m / 4,000' | Dartmoor Crossing | North-south or south-north traverse of the moor; various route variations but absolute minimum of road running. The pure approach starts and finishes at the northernmost and southernmost moorgates (Tor Cross near Belstone grid ref 610941 and Ivybridge grid ref 652569). Not the same route as The Crossing race (which started in 2017). | ||
| 15 Nov 2010 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Dan Booth (Mynyddr de Cymru) Jon Croome (Exmouth Harriers) Jim Pyne (Sidmouth RC) Graham Newton (Axe Valley Runners) Gordon Hathway Nick Bale | 7+ hrs | U | Ivybridge to Okehampton |
| 18 Apr 2011 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) Alex Copping (Team Bath AC) | 6½ hrs | U | Ivybridge to Belstone |
| 24 Aug 2013 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Matt Clist (Axe Valley Runners | 4:48 | U | Tor Cross to Ivybridge |
| 07 Sep 2013 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Matt Clist (Axe Valley Runners) Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 5:07 | U | Ivybridge to Tor Cross |
| 23 Mar 2016 | Ceri Rees (Wild Running) | 3:43 | U | Belstone to Ivybridge (gate to gate) |
| 30 Apr 2016 | Miriam Quick (Wild Running) | 5:19 F | (P) | Tor Cross to Ivybridge |
| 23 Aug 2016 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 4:27 | U | Tor Cross to Ivybridge |
| 16 May 2018 | Brennan Townsend | 3:14 | U | Belstone to Ivybridge |
| 23 Feb 2019 | Andy Connor | 4:09 | U | Ivybridge to Belstone |
| 28 Apr 2019 | Eleanor Wood (Axe Valley Runners)
Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners) Karen Eyre (Axe Valley Runners) Lee Moran (Axe Valley Runners) Matt Clist (Axe Valley Runners) | 6:01 | Tor Cross to Bittaford moorgate (gate to gate) | |
| 05 Sep 2020 | Tom Perry (Exeter Harriers) | 4:45 | S | Tor Cross to Ivybridge (gate to gate) |
| 01 May 2021 | Andy Connor | 3:31 | U | Harford moorgate (Ivybridge) to Belstone |
| 17 May 2021 | Oliver Perratt (Ludlow Runners)
Lee Moran (Axe Valley Runners) | 5:29 | U | Bittaford moorgate to Belstone |
| 17 May 2021 | Laura Perratt (Ludlow Runners)
Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners) | <7 hrs | U | Belstone to Bittaford moorgate |
| 17 Jul 2021 | Andy Connor | 3:24 | U | Belstone to Harford moorgate (Ivybridge) |
| 30m / 4,000' | Overnight Crossing | It's more challenging in the dark! | ||
| 01 Jul 2011 | Garry Perratt (Axe Valley Runners)
Alex Todd (Axe Valley Runners) Kevin Hawker (Honiton RC) | 7+ hrs | U | Ivybridge to Belstone; finished in daylight cos Garry conked out big time at Postbridge. |
| 60m / 8,000' | Double Crossing | There and back again! | ||
| 23 Aug 2016 | Patrick Devine-Wright (Axe Valley Runners) | 12:18 | U | Ran from Tor Cross to Ivybridge then walked back |
| Dartmoor 500s | Circular route from the Warren House Inn visiting all tors at least 500m elevation devised by Simon Evans. More at FastestKnownTime.com. | |||
| 22 Aug 2018 | Simon Evans Andrew Biffen | 16:32 16:35 | U | Separated towards the end. |
| 20 Sep 2019 | Jamie Stephenson | 15:56 | U | |
| 09 Apr 2021 | Robin Upton | 17:58 | U | |
| 05 Jun 2021 | Jack Edwards | 15:10 | S | |
| 18m | Dartmoor 600s | Circular route from the Dartmoor Inn visiting all five tops over 600m | ||
| See the challenge's Facebook page. | ||||
| 39m | Exmouth and Sidmouth Ten Trigs | A circuit of all ten trigs around Exmouth and Sidmouth: Summer Lane, exmouth - Black Hill Reservoir - Woodbury Common - Aylesbeare Common - (Fire) Beacon Hill - East Hill Strips - Buckton Hill (private land but can pass close to the trig) - Weston Cliff (private land but can get within metres from the "permitted access" meadow on the seaward side) - High Peak - Budleigh golf course. | ||
| 10 Jul 2020 | Jon Croome (Exmouth Harriers) | 8:26 | U | Clockwise from Exmouth |
A few ground rules should be followed to qualify for inclusion here:
Note also that planning is important for this challenge; in particular, don't underestimate how difficult and stressful the support job can be.
The East Devon Way is a waymarked inland route between Exmouth and Uplyme, although it is obvious to continue on down to Lyme Regis. It has about 5,000 feet of climb in the 40 miles so definitely isn't flat, but nor is it extremely hilly by East Devon standards.
One of the reasons for Patrick's fast time (other than him being a very fine distance runner, of course!) was that he was fully supported with at least one pacer on each leg, carrying food & drink, opening gates, etc. Other runs tend to be either groups of various size with road support, or unsupported solos/small groups with a few water stashes.
| Leg | End point | Dist | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 08:00 | ||
| 1 | Hulham Road | 3.4 | 08:28 |
| 2 | Lympstone Common | 6.6 | 08:55 |
| 3 | Hawkerland | 9.6 | 09:18 |
| 4 | Harpford Church | 13.4 | 09:50 |
| 5 | White Cross | 16.1 | 10:17 |
| 6 | Hatway Hill | 19.2 | 10:45 |
| 7 | Middle Knapp Farm | 22.4 | 11:16 |
| 8 | Northleigh Church | 25.9 | 11:44 |
| 9 | Chantry Bridge | 29.4 | 12:13 |
| 10 | Musbury | 32.7 | 12:44 |
| 11 | Above Uplyme | 36.1 | 13:21 |
| 12 | End of EDW | 37.8 | 13:34 |
| 13 | End of Cobb | 39.4 | 13:47 |
The East Devon Round follows all of the East Devon Way, the section of the South West Coast Path between Exmouth (Starcross ferry terminal) and Lyme Regis (clocktower), plus a link between the two alongside the River Lim. It's roughly 70 miles long with 12,000' of ascent.
It's quite roady with about 20 miles of hard surface between all the roads, drives and tarmac paths. The off-road going is largely good and the routes are reasonably well waymarked although a map or local knowledge is essential in places. There are some fantastic views (given good weather).
Two legs can be quite miserable - the long, flat boring road through Exmouth (very tedious when you're knackered) and the Lyme Regis Undercliff (a very twisty, hilly, technical trail which can likewise be a real chore when very tired).
| GPS routes and interactive maps | East Devon Way
South West Coast Path |
Night legs are darker yellow. Blue items show further notes when you hover the mouse over them.
| Leg | End | Distance | Time | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | Total | Rest | Leg | Total
| |||
| 1 | Musbury | 6.0 | 6 | 1:06 | 1:06 | ||
| 2 | Colyton | 3.5 | 10 | 8 | 48 | 2:02 | 15-minute error |
| 3 | Northleigh | 3.9 | 13 | 6 | 40 | 2:48 | |
| 4 | Farway Wood | 2.7 | 16 | 10 | 32 | 3:30 | |
| 5 | Sidbury | 5.3 | 21 | 15 | 1:02 | 4:47 | |
| 6 | Harpford | 4.3 | 26 | 8 | 57 | 5:52 | |
| 7 | Joney's Cross (A3052 crossing) | 2.9 | 29 | 33 | 42 | 7:07 | 25-minute sleep |
| 8 | Four Firs | 3.8 | 32 | 8 | 53 | 8:08 | |
| 9 | Exmouth - A La Ronde | 3.7 | 36 | 9 | 50 | 9:07 | |
| 10 | Exmouth - end of East Devon Way | 2.9 | 39 | 10 | 37 | 9:54 | |
| 11 | Exmouth - Orcombe Point | 2.2 | 41 | 0 | 32 | 10:26 | 5-minute error |
| 12 | Budleigh Salterton - prom | 3.6 | 45 | 19 | 55 | 11:40 | 15-minute doze |
| 13 | Sidmouth - sailing club | 7.0 | 52 | 9 | 1:39 | 13:28 | |
| 14 | Branscombe Mouth | 5.8 | 57 | 22 | 1:43 | 15:33 | |
| 15 | Beer | 2.1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 16:03 | |
| 16 | Seaton - Fisherman's Gap | 1.4 | 61 | 2 | 17 | 16:22 | |
| 17 | Lyme Regis - Cobb Arms | 6.7 | 68 | 2 | 1:53 | 18:17 | |
This challenge is to visit all tors at least 500m above mean sea level. Tors should be ascended where possible but going the "long way round" is an acceptable alternative where climbing them is beyond your ability or comfort zone. The older and creakier ones among us will understand how much this helps!
As locals will be aware, there can be much discussion (or outright argument!) about what constitutes a tor but this site defers to Ken Ringwood's excellent book "Dartmoor's Tors and Rocks" which essentially includes any distinct outcrop, regardless of its name or whether or not it's annotated on OS, Harvey's or indeed any other map.
| Beardown Tors | 513m | SX60277731 |
| Black Tor | 502m | SX56818924 |
| Braddon Tor | 514m | SX62337990 |
| Branscombe's Loaf | 538m | SX55308912 |
| Chat Tor | 542m | SX55528528 |
| Conies Down Tor | 533m | SX58907912 |
| Cosdon Beacon | 550m | SX63619149 |
| Crow Tor | 501m | SX60637878 |
| Devil's Tor | 549m | SX59647962 |
| Dinger Tor | 542m | SX58658814 |
| East Mill Tor | 513m | SX59938987 |
| Flat Tor | 541m | SX60898153 |
| Fordsland Ledge | 585m | SX57598884 |
| Fur Tor | 572m | SX58758306 |
| Great Kneeset | 567m | SX58898587 |
| Great Links Tor | 591m | SX55078676 |
| Great Mis Tor | 538m | SX56267690 |
| Green Tor | 543m | SX56198643 |
| Gren Tor | 516m | SX55118796 |
| Hameldown Beacon Rocks | 517m | SX70837875 |
| Hameldown Tor | 529m | SX70318057 |
| Hampster Tor | 618m | SX57968949 |
| Hangingstone Hill | 596m | SX61588622 |
| Hare Tor | 531m | SX55088424 |
| Herne Hole Tor | 500m | SX57857450 |
| High Willhays | 621m | SX58028924 |
| Higher Dunnagoat | 562m | SX55748649 |
| Higher White Tor | 527m | SX61977859 |
| Hunt Tor | 562m | SX55688753 |
| Kit Rocks | 520m | SX61318275 |
| Kitty Tor | 579m | SX56718745 |
| Little Crow Tor | 500m | SX60697876 |
| Little Kneeset | 506m | SX58588409 |
| Little Links Tor | 520m | SX54728698 |
| Little Tor | 531m | SX58789062 |
| Little Whiten Tor | 501m | SX61487869 |
| Longaford Tor | 507m | SX61577794 |
| Lower Dunna Goat | 557m | SX55778636 |
| Lower White Tor | 507m | SX61937923 |
| Lydford Tor | 510m | SX59927816 |
| Lynch Tor | 517m | SX56568054 |
| North Hessary Tor | 517m | SX57877423 |
| Rough Tor | 547m | SX60607982 |
| Sharp Tor | 519m | SX55058480 |
| Sittaford Tor | 538m | SX63328299 |
| Steeperton Tor | 532m | SX61848888 |
| Steng-a-tor | 541m | SX56778801 |
| Thirlestone | 526m | SX62918713 |
| Watern Tor | 537m | SX62938672 |
| West Mill Tor | 541m | SX58769094 |
| Wild Tor | 531m | SX62308764 |
| Yes Tor | 619m | SX58089014 |
The West Dorset Round follows all of the South Dorset Ridgeway (inland alternative to the coast path avoiding Weymouth) and part of the South West Coast Path. It's roughly 40 miles long with 4,000' of ascent excluding Portland; the latter adds nearly 15m and 1,000' of climb.
It's mainly off-road with good going and the routes are reasonably well waymarked although a map or local knowledge is essential in places. There are some fantastic views in various places (given good weather!).
The long, flat boring road through Weymouth can be tedious.
| Leg | End | Distance | Time | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | Total | Rest | Leg | Total
| ||
| 1 | Osmington (farm shop) | 9.8 | 10 | 1:40 | 1:40 | |
| 2 | Ferrybridge (pub) | 9.5 | 18 | 15 | 1:30 | 3:25 |
| 3 | Abbotsbury (swannery car park) | 10.4 | 29 | 15 | 1:45 | 5:25 |
| 4 | West Bexington (car park) | 3.7 | 32 | 10 | 0:35 | 6:10 |
| 5 | Hardy Monument | 6.1 | 39 | 10 | 1:15 | 7:35 |