Winter Wipeout – PREVIEW

It’s only a few days to go until the 2026 Winter Wipeout and the excitement is beginning to build.  This is race 3 of the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series and also a cracking stand alone race.  For quite a few years this has been in the calendar and people have braved all sorts of conditions to haul themselves to the top of Hedgehope and back.  Unlike the other Shadowlands runs this will be held in daylight which is a huge bonus as the views on a clear day are truly magnificent.  As soon as you climb Cunyan Crags the vistas open up around you and they only get better the higher you go.  Last year the snow was so deep we had to make the painful decision to shorten the course and turn people around at Dunmoor.  Andy was waist deep in snow marking the course the day before so we dread to think what it would have been like in the lee leading up to Hedgehope.  This year it does look like the high ground is going to get a dusting on snow on Friday so runners need to be prepared for icy/cold conditions.  Last time I looked it was looking like double figures minus temperatures at the highest point with the wind chill but luckily you’re not up there for long.  Let’s go over the route:

I highly suspect all will be nice and calm when registering at Ingram cafe.  Biddy and her crew will be there for anyone wanting a pre run sandwich or drink.  Registration will be inside the cafe where you’ll get a number and some safety pins.  Make sure your number is visible at the finish as there is a barcode that gets scanned and you’ll be logged in our system.  Those people who did the previous Shadowlands runs please take note as it’s a slightly different method.

After a brief safety talk from Drew you’ll set off from Ingram and head out towards Bulbys Wood westward on the road.  Now be careful here as some of you will want to set off super fast and the it’s very likely that the road will have some ice on it.  Make sure you stay rubber side up and soon enough you’ll be passing under the gaze of Brough Law, a hill that awaits you on the return journey.  Crossing over Peggy Bells bridge you almost reach the gamekeepers house at Greenside but fall just short by turning right.  Off the tarmac you go and begin the long and steady climb in the open.

Roving through the winter vegetation you unknowingly pass over an ancient settlement before turning left at a sharp incline and hitting the foot of Cunyan Crags.  This will have your heart racing and like a punchers quick one-two you then have an equally torturous ascent to the gate that leads onto Dunmoor.  It’s only after Dunmoor that the ground levels out and even gently descends but that is offset by the uneven nature of the ground underfoot.  Think carefully about where you place your trainers as the last thing you want to do is roll an ankle or similar.  We have a mandatory kit list for this race in particular because of the levels of exposure and the lack of easy access.  Please bring it.

By now you’ll have a good feel for what the temperature is doing and adjust your plans accordingly.  The route kisses up against Threestoneburn Woods that have all been cleared so now you get a brand new view to the north that hasn’t been there for years.  Once passing through the gate at the dip you then start a long drag to Hedgehope summit that stands proud and large on the landscape.  It’s a steady slog until the final gate where it rises up and becomes quite steep before eventually levelling out at the peat filled plateau.  If everything goes to plan then this is exactly where you will find myself and the dog waiting to point you on some extra journey over Comb Fell.  Only kidding, you turn round at the Cairn and head back to Ingram.  Expect it to be very cold on the top.  Don’t hang around for too long as your body temperature will plummet if you do.

The journey back down will be a lot quicker but please take haste on the first steep section as there are icy rocks to traverse.  Once you’re on the open ground get those legs pumping and eat up the ground all the way back to the road.  When you get to the far side of Brough Law we’ll have a cheery marshal waiting to guide you to the sting in the tail.  Straight up the steep track to skirt past the 4000 year old hill fort on Brough Law before tracking south and traversing Ewe Hill and butting up against another hill fort site and then turning left back to Ingram.  This last descent is a fast grassy path that rewards those brave enough to increase their stride.  Ease it off when you hit the road at the bottom then you’re only a short distance back through the village to the finish.  Through the river, not through the river, who knows…

Once back at base you’ll have your number scanned and then you can head inside for a mug of hot soup to get you back to life.  The warm food will feel like heaven after being exposed to the cold for so long.  It’s amazing that you never notice just how cold your extremities are getting until you’re back in the warmth of a building.  Presentations for those with category placings will be done as soon as practical with a wide range of categories of offer, both male and female:

OVERALL 1/2/3

V40 1/2/3

V50 1/2/3

V60 1/2/3

V70 1/2/3

Overall winners for both male and female will get a special Sarah Wilson Cup.  This is memory of Sarah Wilson who held Ingram and the Breamish valley so close to her heart when she was farming there.  Her son Ross and his family still farm the same land.

Nearly everyone taking part will be picking up points towards the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series.  There are a wide range of points to be picked up towards the overall series and a good result either overall or in your category can go a long way towards a final series placing.  With two races down and four to go including this one there is still plenty of time to make a move.  After this the remaining races are:

24th Jan – Lewis Burn Run

31st Jan – Osprey Run

7th Feb – Duergar Nightcrawler