Whether you want an experience day in the Peak District, a trail race in attractive Derbyshire settings, learn to navigate, or undertake a mountain skills course in order to fuel your own adventures, we’ve got something for you.
We pride ourselves on delivering a patient, friendly activity whilst never losing sight of the professionalism required to uphold the highest of standards. For the best of adventures, see the light, First Light. We are here to help you make the most of your time and create some great memories.
Now in its 9th year, the Spire Ultra was our first event. The route largely follows the Chesterfield Round Walk – a waymarked route that circles the town famous for its Crooked Spire. The route has introduced many people to the undiscovered countryside in the area, from the high moorland, ancient woodland, and reservoirs on the western edges to the rolling farmland and restored former mining areas of the eastern fringes. This route packs a lot of variety into its 33 miles.
What’s included? The race is under permit from the Association of Running Clubs. There are 6 checkpoints en route (4 drinks only and 2 are food and drink – proper food too – sweet and savoury). The trickiest sections are marked with race signage although for the majority of the route you will rely on map / gps / route notes and the Chesterfield Round Waymarks.
The finishers are rewarded with a medal and light refreshments back at the community resource centre. Prizes for the first male and female runners.
Free car parking is available at the centre and on the adjoining estate roads.
The race has a 9 hour time limit.
A summer trail run in North Derbyshire just on the edge of the Peak District. It is a lovely loop of challenging goodness on the beautiful trails, paths and woodlands of the Cordwell Valley with a little jink over into the neighbouring Linacre Valley for good measure.
The route is 20 miles with 950m ascent. The event is open to runners and fast walkers who can make the 6-hour cut-off time.
Starting at Holmesfield Village Hall at 9.00 am, you head north via woodland track before curving around in an anticlockwise direction over hilly farmland, woodland, and rural trails. The views from the high ground are terrific and the route conditions range from highly runnable trails and lanes to more involving single track and trods. The route will be marked on the less obvious sections and a GPX file and route notes will be available. Basic navigation skills are recommended.
There will be 2 fully stocked checkpoints (sweets and savoury goodies) out on the route with additional refreshments available at the village hall for finishers.
Registration:
From 8 am at Holmesfield Village Hall, Holmesfield, Dronfield S18 7WZ.
Car parking is free of charge to participants in the spacious village hall car park.
Enter via SiEntries.
Results 2024 Cordwell Colossus 2024 results
Results 2023 resultscordwell colossus 2023
A 31-mile trail run over undulating countryside paths and trails in the Amber Valley, Derbyshire, close to the eastern edge of the Peak District. Not up to an ultra? There's also the option of Petit Raid - the Northern Loop which offers 20 miles of quality trail, hills, and views.
Starting at Ashover Village Hall, the full route scribes a figure of 8 through the rural splendour of the Amber Valley. Highlights aplenty will greet you on your way. There are punchy climbs and engaging descents, expansive views and some of the most pleasant woodland trails you’ll find anywhere in the UK. This event has the makings of becoming one of the best “small” ultra trail races in England. Note, the route is largely unmarked (we do mark out a couple of the trickier sections). We provide route notes and gpx file as downloads however you will have to bring your own map with the route marked on (map can be a photocopy / screen print etc - anything to help you "not get lost")
The event has a 9-hour time limit.
Checkpoints. Each checkpoint has water, and checkpoint 2 and 4 has food too (granola and flapjack bars, bananas, crisps, individually wrapped savouries, pizza, etc).
CP1 - Tupton 7 miles
CP2 - Wessington 13 miles
CP3 - Fritchley 20 miles
CP4 - Wessington 26 miles
Additionally, there are a number of self-clips to pass through.
Every finisher receives a medal. Prizes for first M / F in each race.
Embracing physical activity in the fresh air is right up there for improving physical and mental health. Our guided runs and walks offer so much more than just exercise.
Check out our scheduled events or request bespoke guided adventures.
Jamie and Clare were such a great help when planning our first corporate challenge. They created a tailored route for us based on the varying levels of walking experience in our group and communicated everything we needed to know well in advance. On the day Jamie, Clare and the walk leaders were very supportive, ensuring that all the group were ok and able to continue. Couldn’t recommend First Light enough, we definitely hope to work with them again in the future.
Linacre Infini is an absolutely brilliant event. Well organised, with friendly and supportive staff and marshals who were always there to give you a wave and a cheer! A stunning location and just the right mix of terrain. I thought I would get bored doing loops but the scenery was so beautiful and there was always something new to see. Plus the snacks were fab too. Really looking forward to doing more First Light Adventure events in the future.
Linacre Infini is a wonderfully beautiful small event!!! Amazing setting, friendly race organisers and so much support all the way!!!! Please give this a go if you want to do some miles in a different way!!! Thank you again First Light!!!
Amberaid is a fabulous trail race exploring a beautiful part of Derbyshire. Lots of hills, mud & every weather possible to keep things interesting! A nice atmosphere at the start & finish (I particularly liked the ducks quacking around) and some good grub at the check-points. Thanks team!
Amberaid 30 is a scenic, challenging route covering a mixture of terrain and surfaces. Perfect for those who want to test themselves or are looking to take on their first ultra distance event. Great support team and very well organised, I’ll certainly return and hope to try more of First Light’s races.
I highly recommend anyone interested in trail running to enter a First Light Adventure event. They always put on well organised and friendly events and the Hunters Moon half was no exception.
This was my second time running this beautiful race. Cordwell Colossus is a definite favourite of mine, not only for the variety of scenery and paths, but also for the few short sharp inclines. I hope to be back next year without so much walking! Great friendly organising team whose races always feel so welcoming.
Second time of running Cordwell Colossus, loved it so much I came back for more! Low key but well organised. Lovely route, great to be on edge of National Park away from crowds but with amazing scenery and views. Great route, mix of terrain so you never get bored. GPX really helpful. Food/aid stations well stocked with sweet and savoury and range of drinks. I'm never going to win these races as I'm too old and slow but I can honestly say it was a pleasure to take part!
It was hotter than hell and it was brutal but the Spire Ultra remains one of my favourite races in the calendar. If you want bling, swag and mucho kudos then maybe go and spend £80 plus at a fancy event. If you want a more reasonably priced, super friendly, inclusive, low key, well organised event with amazing race crew then get entered. The course is so beautiful and is a great mix of trails, hills, woods, paths and short road sections covering the perimeter of Chesterfield. Food stations are great and a cheesy chip butty and mug of tea at the end was just awesome. After 3 years on the trot, I can’t recommend enough. Thanks First Light Adventure, you smashed it again.
This was my second time running the Spire Ultra and it was even better than the first time. The marshals were friendly, the aid stations super encouraging and the route is so lovely with bluebells, wild garlic, hills and streams.
Attended the navigation course recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Jamie was a font of knowledge and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. I left feeling loads more confident in my map reading skills. Would definitely recommend this to anyone.
I have just done the Foundation Navigation course with First Light Adventure and can highly recommend to anyone who likes to spend time outdoors. The course was well presented, very informative with lots of time (and patience) for questions, and very "hands on" with plenty of time to become familiar with maps and a compass. The course exceeded my expectations. In the past I have shied away from navigating but now I can't wait to put my new skills into practice. A huge thank you to Jamie and Clare for a wonderful experience.
I had the pleasure of attending a Navigation Skills course with First Light Adventure last weekend. Jamie is a great teacher, hugely knowledgeable and passionate about his subject and he really helped me build on the limited nav skills I already had. The split between classroom-based theory and then getting out into the beautiful countryside to put it all into practice was spot on. I learnt so much and I would highly recommend this to anyone whether a complete novice or looking to brush up on your skills. All in all a great fun day out with brilliant tuition in a friendly informal setting. Thank you!
Fantastic, grass roots events run by great people. Homemade cakes at checkpoints and soup at the end. Can't recommend enough!
I took part in a foundation navigation course for runners/walkers on 11th December 2021 with Jamie. I'd been excited about this course for a while and the chance to tap into Jamie's wealth of knowledge on navigation for ultra running. Having not used a paper map and compass for years, it was great to be reintroduced to 'real' navigation. Jamie was great at explaining things in simple terms and I certainly had a few light bulb moments along the way. Not yet put it into practice (need Santa to deliver my compass) but look forward to getting outside and trying out my new skills. Highly recommend this friendly and useful course. Can't wait to sign up for another course or race with First Light Adventure. Thanks Jamie & Clare.
Totally loved Amberaid 30 by First Light Adventure. Their low environmental impact ethos, with eco toilets, no plastic cups, no plastic navigation markers or unnecessary bling shows their absolute respect for the beautiful area the race covers. A tough but enjoyable challenge with amazing and enthusiastic marshalls throughout. Looking forward to next year!
Ran the Amberaid 30 last week. Fantastic course with great views. Really well managed event with excellent aid stations and lovely volunteers. Will definitely be running more of their races next year.
Amberaid 30 - Can’t recommend this race highly enough. Super friendly, great course, quality feed station and plenty of support around the course. Thanks to Jamie and the First Light Adventure team for a great day and to Jamie’s mum for the fantastic pumpkin soup at the finish!
I attended the Navigation Foundation course last week and can highly recommend it. I was looking for a course that would go over skills that I had forgotten over the years but I also learned lots of new tips and techniques to give me renewed confidence in navigating using OS maps when running and walking. I'll definitely be getting out and about now with my map and compass to practise. Thanks Jamie.
I just wanted to thank you for an absolutely brilliant day yesterday. It was my first proper endurance event and I was pretty nervous but from the moment I arrived you were all so welcoming and friendly that it put me straight at ease. The course was beautiful and great to run (until the hills at the end!) The marshals were just so encouraging and cheerful, even when they had already seen us lots of times already. The snacks at the checkpoint were perfect for keeping me going and the welcome I got each lap was what helped me keep running even when I was exhausted. It was a brilliantly organised event and I hope to sign up for more races with First Light Adventure again in the future. Thank you so much for a fantastic day.
