Haytor Heller – Dartmoor Fell Series

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A truly classic race hosted by Teignbridge Trotters, has the most hill climb of the series at 450m and is just under 10k but it feels more like 8 miles. Really well organised with lots of marshals at all key points.

This is a late afternoon start and that last year still meant starting at a little cooler 25deg.

Fab course sharp ascent straight up to the iconic Haytor, a sharp right turn takes you across a fast path along a ridge to cairn turn. Now undulating downhill to valley floor and start of sharp rise to Hound tor. This has a very welcome water station.

a run across the ridge then takes a steep narrow fern lined path ( you may not be able to see your feet- which is interesting at pace) back down to the river. . Then you realise you have to gain all that height back for what seem s a very long slog past a quarry and then back up to Haytor to finish alongside the road at the bottom.