Gritstone Grind 2026

The Gritstone Grind is a 35-mile ultramarathon on the Gritstone Trail in Cheshire, run in September with a 12-hour limit. It starts with registration at Kidsgrove Sports Centre and sends runners along the full trail to Disley, turning what guidebooks describe as a three-day walk into a single-day race. The organisers offer it as a straightforward challenge with live GPS tracking, a route guide, and a participant handbook, eschewing a large-scale event format. The route is well way-marked with “G” markers, but runners are still expected to bring a GPS, phone, or paper map and pay attention. The event suits first-time ultrarunners because the cutoff works out at under 3 mph, though the distance still makes it a steady grind rather than an easy day out. Parking is available at Disley, with an optional coach to the start at Kidsgrove, and medals are optional so entry costs and waste stay lower. Places are limited and sell out fast, fitting the small, practical feel of the race.