Expected October 2027
Distance
Climb
Start Time
Cutoff
Terrain
Rowbotham's Round Rotherham is a 50 mile cross country ultra that traces the approximate line of the Rotherham boundary through the South Yorkshire Forest. Runners cover footpaths, canal towpaths, tracks and quiet roads across an undulating landscape that adds up to roughly 800 metres of climb, all inside a 20 hour limit. The 2026 edition is the 43rd running, starting from Wath-upon-Dearne at 4am on the first Saturday of October. Rotherham Harriers and Athletics Club organises the race and has published route maps and runner reports from earlier editions. More than 5,300 runners have finished the event over its history.
Route follows the approximate line of the Rotherham boundary
South Yorkshire Forest trails
Canal towpaths, footpaths and forest tracks
Around 800 m of climbing
20 hour time limit
Start / Finish
Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire
Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire (the route loops back to the start area)
Terrain
Route
Getting There
Race Day
What to bring
Torch (for 6am starters and those finishing after 6:30 pm)
Mobile phone (required to carry; save the emergency number 07754 5823788)
SI card, which must be handed in at the Finish
What you get
On the day
Before you enter
Other questions
The event page does not cover support crews or drop bags, so ask the organisers when you enter. If crew support is allowed, plan to meet your team only at the points the organiser publishes rather than at random places along the route.
The race is run in early October in South Yorkshire, so expect cool and changeable conditions, wet ground underfoot and the chance of rain or wind. Weather can shift quickly across a 50 mile route, so pack for the worst of it and carry layers you can add or remove.
Yes. The course loops around the Rotherham boundary, so friends and family can drive to places where the route crosses a road or passes through a village. The 4am start means the busiest viewing hours come later in the morning as runners work back towards Wath-upon-Dearne.
The event page does not set out a refund, transfer or deferral policy, so contact the organisers as soon as you know you cannot start. Many UK trail ultras allow a place to be transferred to another runner or carried over to the following year at the organiser's discretion.
The route is long and undulating, but the 20 hour limit is generous and the field has always mixed experienced ultra runners with newcomers. First timers should be comfortable running and walking for many hours on mixed terrain before lining up.
Entry fee
Registration isn't open yet. We'll show pricing when the organiser confirms.Wath-upon-Dearne, United Kingdom
Expected October 2027
Provisional date, around Oct 2Are you the organiser of 43rd Rowbotham's Round Rotherham - 50mi?
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