Route Navigation

For 2025 we want people to take navigation as seriously as they take their physical training, being able to make your way around the route will make your day more enjoyable and safer, and save precious energy.

We will no longer be giving out safety maps at registration the day before the event, as people will need to be comfortable with their navigation far before this. You wouldn’t try and your trainers the day before the event (we hope), so why would you look at the map for the first time then?

There are 5 recommended ways to help you navigate your event at the Altra 13 Valleys Ultra, and we ask that you are familiar, and have practiced 2 of them. These are:

  1. Way Marking – The full 5 Valley and 2 Valley routes are way marked, with bright, clear signage that will reflect head torches for those moving at night. These way markers can also aid those in the 7 Valleys and 13 Valleys events, meaning they have some extra assistance in the final 55km of their event.
  2. OS Maps app – This digital mapping tool means you can have the whole of the route downloaded and in your pocket, on your mobile phone. The benefit over a standard map is that your location can always be pinpointed using your phones GPS, but please make sure you plan ahead and carry a reserve battery pack. You can download the OS Maps App via a link from the 13 Valleys Ultra website, and all entrants benefit from a free 3 month subscription.
  3. A wearable GPS enabled sports watch. There are a wide variety of watches that can help you navigate your way around a pre-loaded route, which you can download from the 13 Valleys Ultra website. There are a wide range of brands out there, and our partners Suunto offer great options. It is important that participants are familiar with their own devices, the corresponding apps, and how they can upload gpx (route) files. If the event needs to use a contingency course, we can send these out via SMS.
  4. A physical, paper map – Many people prefer to plan with a physical map, and carry this on the day. This needs to be marked up with the event route, for whichever distance you are doing. The entirety of the 13 Valleys Route is marked on a dedicated OS Map, and can be purchased here.
  5. A handheld GPS device – If you prefer to keep your mobile phone and navigation devices separate then this could be a good option for you. It would need to be pre-loaded with the event route.

We will be checking at Kit registration that you have a map – either a hardcopy paper or digital one.

Don’t forget over and above your 2 chosen navigation methods, our safety teams will be keeping a close eye on you at all times, through the GPS tracking that you will collect from registration.

If you stray from the route you may well get a call from one of our team, who will help you find your way back!