The 2026 Peak Rail 7 - Runner versus Steam

Matlock Athletic Club in conjunction with Peak Rail PLC are pleased to announce the details of the 2026 Peak Rail 7, our annual charity race in which runners are challenged to beat the steam-hauled heritage rail service from Peak Rail Rowsley South station to Matlock Riverside station and back in the beautiful setting of the Derbyshire Dales.

The Peak Rail 7 special-service train will be reserved exclusively for runners’ supporters and will take approximately 53 minutes to travel the return journey from Rowsley to Matlock, which includes stops in both directions at Darley Dale station together with a longer stop at the halfway point in Matlock. The event provides runners with an exciting cat-and-mouse race, usually being overtaken by the train shortly after the start, but with runners passing the train at the station stops before being overtaken again as the train steams by with supporters on board.

The scenic 7 mile course will see the runners racing on the White Peak Loop Trail, which runs from Rowsley to Matlock, and the close proximity of the Peak Rail track will give supporters on the train a number of prime photographic opportunities. The course is almost exclusively off-road and provides excellent walking and cycling opportunities to supporters who wish to be more active in following the race.

The entry fees are £18 EA/ARC affiliated and £20 if unattached (both including booking fee). There is a limit of 250 runners, so be sure to enter early to secure your place. All runners will receive a race memento, and a generous prize list will be on offer for male and female 1, 2, 3 overall, along with male & female V40, V50 & V60+ categories, plus ‘team versus steam’ prizes.

It is online entry only through Bookitzone. This race will once again be the Matlock AC “not for profit” event; all proceeds remaining after the costs of staging the race have been met will be donated to local charitable causes or community projects. Since the introduction of the event to our race calendar, we are delighted to have donated over £17,000 to charities.

NOTE: BOTH RACE AND RAIL TICKETS ARE REFUNDABLE ONLY UNTIL 23 MARCH 2026, AFTER WHICH TRANSFERS WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 1 APRIL 2026. WE ARE UNABLE TO REFUND INDIVIDUAL RAIL TICKETS HOWEVER.

For those in need of post-race refuelling, Peak Rail offer food and refreshments from the Northwood Buffet at race HQ in Rowsley South station, where there is ample free car parking.

Please note that securing a race entry does not guarantee places on the train, as we only have finite seats to distribute. Similarly, purchase of a train ticket does not guarantee an entry to the race!

Please note that U3s do not need their own rail ticket provided that they sit on their parent's knee.

Minimum age is 16 on race day for the race, and please note that in order to keep the race adjacent to the rail line for much of the route as possible, there will be three flights of steps and a narrow footbridge that have to be negotiated. Unfortunately, this means the course is unsuitable for wheelchair users. We are grateful to Derbyshire County Council and the Pedal Peak project for granting us access to the trail, and we advise all competitors that we will be sharing the trail with other runners, cyclists and walkers, so please show courtesy and good manners at all times. Also, we regret that due to public liability limitations on our race permit, we will not be able to accept entries from runners wishing to be accompanied by their dog.

 

Peak Rail 7 – Runner versus Steam race details:

• Date: 6 April 2026, race commences 09.30 am
• Race Distance: 7 miles
• Minimum Age: 16 on event date
• Entry Fee: £18 UKA affiliated or £20 unattached
• Race Limit: 250

Deferrals: Deferrals will not be available to the 2027 or any future years’ event.

Refunds & Transfers:

We will allow refunds up until 23 March 2026. Please note that we cannot refund the booking fee paid to process your original entry. After this date, transfers will be permitted up to 1 April 2026.
If you require a refund, email info@bookitzone.com and include the following information:

RACE NAME: 2026 Runner vs Steam
Refund(s) required for: [FULL NAME(S)]