Official Spine recces (north)
Eliminate the hassle of DIY recces + benefit from contextual learning, with experts, Spine race veterans and your fellow runners
book NOW !
Pay the rest 6 weeks before the start of the event
5pm Fri Oct 30th – 4pm Sun Nov 1st 2026 (+ optional extra day – Mon)
CP2-CP4, Pennine Way. Accommodation at Almond Lodge
£375 includes accommodation, food, guiding (+£120 for extra day)
Recces can be an absolute joy, but also a mare to organise and execute. So get just the joy (and much more) by joining our official Spine Recces.
For this first one we have picked highlights of the start of the northern section from CP2 to CP4. If there is demand we will put on extra recces further North (where it’s even harder to DIY) but also potentially South from Edale (contact us to register interest in these alternatives).
We will take care of everything, just get yourself to Alston, we will feed you, house you, sort all the transport logistics, provide road support, expert guides & a few bonuses too (like running with 2025 race winner Kim Collison)… more details & itinerary
Is it for me? If you are in the Full or Northern challenger then definitely – we chose the dates to fit in with your training. We won’t be going fast, rather we will be steady, chatty, exploring the route and exchanging info.
Nervous coming on your own? Don’t worry we are an welcoming and inclusive bunch – you will find like minded people to share knowledge and fun with
Any questions? Please contact us we’d be happy to chat and tell you more
Full body adventure!
Brilliant organising and execution of a wonderful weekend. I was a bit nervous about the via ferrata bit, but the guides were encouraging and supportive – and the running was fantastic – first time up Helvellyn too!
I’m relatively new to trail running and I wanted to learn to good habits before I learnt the bad ones! The weekend gave me a fantastic grounding to trail running, not only from the instructors but from friendly people that were there as well. Could not have learnt what I did in the way I did from just reading. Highly recommend to anyone
Amazing company. Well organised, great food & a lovely friendly bunch of people.
I was nervous before coming but left having found new friends and a supportive community. I regularly ask for advice for my upcoming spine race and always receive excellent information!
Details
Jump to: Itinerary/activities | Your guides/hosts | Kit list | Accommodation & food
Itinerary / activities
Friday 30th October
- Arrive Friday afternoon/evening from 5pm
- 7.00pm optional Friday evening shake out run: out & back on race route north from Alston
- 8:30pm dinner – Alston Lasagna (what else) from Chris Taylor (CP4 catering team!)
- Socialising and exchanges of tips and tricks, informal kit check + advice
- Bonus session (for those that want/need it) ‘effective navigation using your watch’ by Jon Dodd (watches will also be available to borrow should you need them)
Sat 31st October
- 7:30am Breakfast
- CP3.5 (Dufton) – CP4 (Alston) 31K 1000m
- Bonus: guest guide Kim Collison (Winter Spine winner 2025)
- Highlights: Cross fell, brew (& possibly noodles) at Greggs hut, Angel Annie at Garrigill?
- 7:30pm Dinner at Alston
- After dinner
- Informal chats & exchange
- CP practice with drop bags (for those that want it)
- Bobbing for apples?
Sunday 1st November
- 7:30am Breakfast
- CP3 (Langdon Beck) – CP3.5 (Dufton) 20K 400m
- Bonus: intro to winter survival skills with Andy Rowlinson (Head of Spine safety)
- Highlights: High Cup Nick (during the day light!), Cauldron snout
- Inspection/explanation of potential likely winter diversion + safety monitoring
- 4:00pm (latest) finish Dufton
- recce of the Stag Inn/Post Box Pantry for those that want
- Wrap up for those not staying the extra night
- Those staying for the optional day return to Alston for dinner etc.
Monday 2nd November
- 7:30am Breakfast
- Car logistics
- CP2 – Tan Hill or A66 (to conquer Sleightholme moor)
- Highlights: Great Shunner fell, Keld village hall (winter sanctuary!), Tan Hill inn, Sleightholme Moor (aka the bog from hell)
- 5pm (latest) finish
Your guides / hosts
Kim Collison- special guest guide (sat only)
You probably heard about Kim’s stunning win at the 2025 Winter Spine race. As well as the challenges of the course he overcame a number of issues that ultimately resulted in 3 previous DNFs. 4th time lucky? Well of course it wasn’t luck but outstanding execution that got him to the finish line in the third fastest time ever – the two faster runs coming the previous year in more favourable course conditions.
Kim will share his insights of the race and his wider fell, trail, ultra and skyrunning experience with you during the recce
Andy Rowlinson - guide + winter skills
Andy is the overall head of safety for the Spine races – he coordinates and controls the 12+ teams that look after you during the spine race. He is a mountain leader, winter skills expert, and is a training consultant for high risk emergency situations.
Andy will deliver a speacial introduction to winter skills session on the Sunday
Jon Dodd - organiser & host
Jon is the owner and operator of Almond Lodge Helvellyn, Almond Lodge Brecon Beacons & Experts in Wow. Before that he ran a design consultancy which he sold in 2018 – this allowed him to pursue his passion for the outdoors and pretend to be an athlete.
2024 was a big running year with an accidental completion of the Winter Spine (he won his place in the volunteer lottery), and a successful completion of the Dragons Back race the following September. This was then followed up with a Northern Traverse completion, and then a revisit to the Winter Spine (with intent this time) where he took 30 hours off his 2024 time). Since then he has completed the Cape Wrath Ultra and Beacons Way Ultra.
Jon was employed by the Spine race to work in HQ as a Safety Manager for the summer 26 race, and will continue to be involved with the race moving forward.
It’s fair to say he represents the keen mid to back packer, having completed the Winter Spine over both 160 hours and 130 hours – he is also a kit nerd.
Kit list
Spine race kit – what you would normally wear out on the trails/hills in November – but it would be a good idea to bring as much of your final racepack kit as you can – that way you can check/test it in-situ, get feedback and advice
Spine drop bag – why not bring as much of your drop bag as you have assembled too? Again you can test it out (in a real checkpoint), get feedback and advice
Other – evening clothes, wash stuff etc. – or you could go full immersion and stay in your spine kit for the duration!
Accommodation & food
We will be staying at CP4 Alston
All food from Friday evening until Sunday Breakfast is provided. There will be Vegetarian and vegan options (GF options too). Catering provided by Chris Taylor – the supremo Spine caterer at CP4 (if you are lucky you will see her again on race!)
Tea and coffee and soft drinks in plentiful supply throughout.
You may wish to bring alcoholic drinks, extra snacks, gels etc.
Included
- Accommodation at Alston*
- All food From Fri evening until Sunday Breakfast (vegetarian & Vegan options)*
- *optional extra Sunday night for Monday recce (+£120)
- Tea, coffee, soft drinks
- Guiding by qualified guides/leaders
- Kim collison on the Saturday recce
- Bonus sessions on winter skills and navigation as well as informal advice and guidance throughout
- Logistics & road cover
Not included
- Travel to and from the venue (although if by public transport we can pick you up in Penrith)
- Trail snacks / nutrition
- Alcoholic drinks – bring your own
Activity summary
- Friday shakeout run north of Alston
- Saturday recce CP3.5 – CP4 – with guest guide Kim
- Sunday recce CP3 – CP3.5
- optional Monday recce (CP3 – Tan Hill/A66)
- Watch Nav session
- Winter Skills session
- Informal advice throughout from experts
Why Book?
- No hassle recces
- Contextual learning
- Run with winners, completers, and your fellow racers
- Test your kit in situ – get advice and feedback
- Have fun with likeminded people in a supportive environment
book NOW !
Pay the rest 6 weeks before the start of the event
Any questions? Please contact us we’d be happy to chat and tell you more