Over The Hill Club

The club was founded in 2002 to encourage greater participation in ultra-distance challenges by all age groups, particularly the over 50's.  It was partly inspired by the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge but with a more informal approach and generous time limits to encourage anyone to have a go.  

Full membership of this prestigious club (!) is free but is restricted to over 50's.  Under 50's may complete the route and will be recognised as Associates of the club on the understanding they repeat the route when senile enough!  Membership is achieved by completion of the Over The Hill route: a roller-coaster circuit linking together seven summit pillars in the Howgills and Great Shunner Fell areas.  All completions must be registered using the registration form which can be printed from the Over The Hill route page.  

The Challenge Series

Since the initial Over the Hill route was inaugurated in 2002 several new routes have been pioneered to create a diverse and rewarding series of runs.  This now includes the Dark Peak 4 County Tops (2005), the Tan Hill Inn to Kirkstone Inn (2006), The Canary Island 3 Peaks (2007) and The Bowland Dozen (2008). The series is open to any age group and there are generous limits to encourage runners of all abilities to have a go.  In addition there are a range of first class times offered as a sporting challenge to fell runners in the 50 to 65+ age groups.

Please note acceptance of registrations and the issue of certificates is entirely at the discretion of The Over The Hill Club whose decision is final on all matters.

Proposed new routes

New routes may be proposed; the general criteria are outlined below.

o   The proposer must have completed the route in daylight hours.

o   It is at least 35 miles with at least 6000' of ascent.

o   90% is off road and is mostly mountain, moor or fell preferably with sections off paths.

o   Route details should be provided on similar lines to those shown for other routes in the Over The Hill challenge series.

o   It is capable of completion in 20 hours by steady runners/strong walkers in order to encourage anyone to have a go.  

o   A good, but not elite, v50 fell runner should be capable of completing it in 12 hours.

o   First class times should be proposed for the v50, v55, v60 and v65 age groups.

Please note that there is no obligation to include any proposed route on this website.