This popular, well established moorland race starts below Haytor Rock and is challenging with several ascents, predominantly across rugged open moorland. This is a tough off-road event, not for the faint hearted!
Here's what Simon had to say about the event....
I'd run the Haytor Heller several times before, but never in such heat. The late afternoon start didn't help as it was almost the hottest part of the day, however it's such a fantastic course it wasn't to be missed.
This year had a staggered start and was chip timed, which actually made for better running as as there were fewer pinch points. You were asked to self select your own starting pen, and I managed to pick the right one for my eventual finish time!
The sixish mile race starts halfway up Haytor and heads you straight up towards the top and around the back of the stones. You then get the chance to stretch your legs on a fantastic downhill grassy slope.....although as on all of the course you have to watch your footing with plenty a hole or rock waiting to catch you out and send you tumbling. You are quickly climbing again up to Black Hill from where a steep descent carries you along.....if you can stay on your feet.
The route then takes you meandering down to Becka Brook, from where you find another tough climb up to Hound Tor and much of the way is narrow path with limited passing opportunities. A very narrow path overgrown with neck high bracken, which frequently hides your footing then takes you down to to another crossing of Becka Brook, from where you you begin the lung bursting ascent backup up to Haytor, around the rocks for a final mad dash down another grassy slope to the finish.
Most years there is camping in the the field at the bottom of Haytor with music and a barbecue. Sadly covid put paid to this part of the the event for this year.