Pure Peak Grit

Pure Peak Grit is the UK’s hilliest long-distance road cycling event, created for riders who love relentless climbing and iconic British roads. Linking together more than 40 categorised climbs across the Peak District National Park, the route is designed to tackle each ascent by its hardest approach, creating one of the toughest endurance challenges on tarmac.

Starting and finishing at Barn Farm, Birchover, near Matlock, the main event covers approximately 640 kilometres with an astonishing 13,500 metres of elevation gain. The fully paved route winds through the Peak District’s steep valleys, gritstone moorlands, and quiet country lanes, taking in many of Britain’s most famous cycling climbs, including several featured in the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs.

Pure Peak Grit follows a strict self-supported philosophy. Riders are responsible for their own navigation, accommodation, food, and mechanical repairs, although the event headquarters provides a place to rest, refuel, and access drop bags when passing through. Success depends on pacing, resilience, and the determination to conquer climb after climb.

Despite being a road event, the challenge is anything but smooth. Constant gradients of 10–25%, minimal flat terrain, and rapidly changing Peak District weather combine to test even the strongest endurance cyclists. Completing the route is less about average speed and more about persistence, making Pure Peak Grit a true celebration of climbing and one of the UK’s most iconic ultra-distance cycling events.