2027 White Peak Marathon - May 15 Countdown

Q: What is the White Peak Marathon route?

The White Peak Marathon is a point-to-point off-road race from Thorpe to Cromford Meadows in the Derbyshire Peak District. It follows the Tissington Trail up the dales to Parsley Hay, then joins the High Peak Trail down to Cromford - both are disused railway lines on firm compacted limestone and cinder. Runners park at Cromford Wharf and a coach transfers them to the start at Thorpe.

Q: Is the White Peak Marathon flat? How hard is it?

It is not flat, but it is net downhill and gentler than most trail marathons. The first half climbs steadily on old railway gradients to a high point near Parsley Hay; the second half gives it back, with three descents around miles 21, 22.5 and 24.5 and a steep mile-long drop to the Cromford canal at the finish. Total ascent is about 395m over rolling, never-steep railway grades. Plan your effort with our pace calculator and study the climbs with our elevation profile tool.

Q: What surface is the White Peak Marathon and what shoes should I wear?

The course runs almost entirely on former railway tracks surfaced with firm compacted limestone and cinder, so it is dry and well drained rather than muddy or technical. The organizers say road running shoes are ideal - you do not need aggressive trail lugs. In wet May weather a road shoe with a little grip, or a light trail shoe, both work well on the rolling descents.

Q: How do I enter the White Peak Marathon 2027?

Entry is open to the public online through Matlock Athletic Club, with no ballot. Recent fees have been around 35 GBP (with a small early-bird discount and a lower rate for UK ARC club members), including the coach transfer to the start and a finisher's medal. Entries close a few days before race day and there is no entry on the day, so book ahead. Check the official Matlock AC race page for the confirmed 2027 date and fees.

Q: What time does the White Peak Marathon start and what is the cut-off?

The marathon starts at 10:00 from Thorpe, with the 2027 edition expected in mid-May (recent years ran on the third Saturday). There is a 5 hour 30 minute overall time limit, plus intermediate course-closure points - roughly Friden (13.1 miles), Minninglow (15.5 miles), Longcliffe (18.5 miles) and Middleton Top (23.5 miles) - so it suits runners comfortably under about a 12-13 minute mile.

Q: Is the White Peak Marathon a Boston Qualifier?

No. Although the firm railway-trail surface is fast, the course is an off-road trail rather than a UK Athletics road-certified, accurately measured road race, so a White Peak finish is not valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) or a London Good For Age (GFA) entry. Come for a quick, scenic point-to-point, not an official PB. If a qualifying time is your goal, check the standards with our Good For Age tool and pick a certified road race.

Q: How do I get to the White Peak Marathon, and where do I stay?

Race-day parking is at Cromford Wharf, near the finish, and an official coach takes runners to the start at Thorpe - so you only need to reach Cromford. Cromford and nearby Matlock have a mainline railway station on the Derby-Matlock line, making this trail race unusually easy to reach by train. For accommodation, Matlock, Cromford and the surrounding Peak District villages offer plenty of options; book ahead in spring as the area is popular with walkers.

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Race Information

Race	2027 White Peak Marathon - May 15
City	Thorpe
Date	2027-05-15 at 10:00
Time Limit	5 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace	7:49/km
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	Matlock Athletic Club
Registration	Register · 35 GBP

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	12°C / 54°F
Humidity	79%
Wind	22.4 km/h
Rain Chance	38%
Typical Conditions	A fresh, often cloudy mid-May morning in the Derbyshire Peak District. Expect around 11-13C (52-55F) at the 10:00 start, climbing into the mid-teens by afternoon, with around half the days in May seeing some rain and a breeze across the open limestone dales. Pleasant racing weather, but changeable up on the trail.

What to Prepare: Dress for low-to-mid teens Celsius and carry a light waterproof - weather on the exposed High Peak Trail can turn quickly. Because the trail is firm compacted limestone and cinder, road running shoes are ideal; you do not need aggressive trail lugs. The course is net downhill but the first half climbs steadily, so hold back early and use the long descents after mile 21.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 22.4 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	9.2°C	12°C	15.2°C
Dew point	4.8°C	8.6°C	11.5°C

Wet-day chance: 38% Runnability: 73/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point off-road on disused railway trails, Thorpe to Cromford
Elevation Gain	395m
Terrain	Trail
Profile	A net-downhill point-to-point with a steady climb in the first half. The route follows the Tissington Trail up the dales to Parsley Hay, joins the High Peak Trail, then descends in three stages around miles 21, 22.5 and 24.5, finishing with a steep mile-long drop to the Cromford canal. Total ascent is roughly 395m on gentle railway gradients - faster than a typical trail marathon but not flat.

Prepare for 2027 White Peak Marathon - May 15

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the White Peak Marathon route?

The White Peak Marathon is a point-to-point off-road race from Thorpe to Cromford Meadows in the Derbyshire Peak District. It follows the Tissington Trail up the dales to Parsley Hay, then joins the High Peak Trail down to Cromford - both are disused railway lines on firm compacted limestone and cinder. Runners park at Cromford Wharf and a coach transfers them to the start at Thorpe.

Is the White Peak Marathon flat? How hard is it?

It is not flat, but it is net downhill and gentler than most trail marathons. The first half climbs steadily on old railway gradients to a high point near Parsley Hay; the second half gives it back, with three descents around miles 21, 22.5 and 24.5 and a steep mile-long drop to the Cromford canal at the finish. Total ascent is about 395m over rolling, never-steep railway grades. Plan your effort with our pace calculator and study the climbs with our elevation profile tool.

What surface is the White Peak Marathon and what shoes should I wear?

The course runs almost entirely on former railway tracks surfaced with firm compacted limestone and cinder, so it is dry and well drained rather than muddy or technical. The organizers say road running shoes are ideal - you do not need aggressive trail lugs. In wet May weather a road shoe with a little grip, or a light trail shoe, both work well on the rolling descents.

How do I enter the White Peak Marathon 2027?

Entry is open to the public online through Matlock Athletic Club, with no ballot. Recent fees have been around 35 GBP (with a small early-bird discount and a lower rate for UK ARC club members), including the coach transfer to the start and a finisher's medal. Entries close a few days before race day and there is no entry on the day, so book ahead. Check the official Matlock AC race page for the confirmed 2027 date and fees.

What time does the White Peak Marathon start and what is the cut-off?

The marathon starts at 10:00 from Thorpe, with the 2027 edition expected in mid-May (recent years ran on the third Saturday). There is a 5 hour 30 minute overall time limit, plus intermediate course-closure points - roughly Friden (13.1 miles), Minninglow (15.5 miles), Longcliffe (18.5 miles) and Middleton Top (23.5 miles) - so it suits runners comfortably under about a 12-13 minute mile.

Is the White Peak Marathon a Boston Qualifier?

No. Although the firm railway-trail surface is fast, the course is an off-road trail rather than a UK Athletics road-certified, accurately measured road race, so a White Peak finish is not valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) or a London Good For Age (GFA) entry. Come for a quick, scenic point-to-point, not an official PB. If a qualifying time is your goal, check the standards with our Good For Age tool and pick a certified road race.

How do I get to the White Peak Marathon, and where do I stay?

Race-day parking is at Cromford Wharf, near the finish, and an official coach takes runners to the start at Thorpe - so you only need to reach Cromford. Cromford and nearby Matlock have a mainline railway station on the Derby-Matlock line, making this trail race unusually easy to reach by train. For accommodation, Matlock, Cromford and the surrounding Peak District villages offer plenty of options; book ahead in spring as the area is popular with walkers.