Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
After just 43 hours and 21 minutes, Kerry MacPhee of Scotland became the first woman to finish the 2025 Dales Divide, setting a new women’s FKT in the process. Find a post-race recap from Kerry and learn more about her ride here…
Feature photo by Gavin Kap
Kerry MacPhee has participated in a total of three ultra-endurance bikepacking events. Last year, she was the first woman (and sixth overall) to finish the Highland Trail 550, completing the rugged 550-mile route in just 3 days, 23 hours, and 18 minutes. Outside of bikepacking, she has a wealth of professional racing experience, including competing at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games mountain bike race for Team Scotland. The 2025 Dales Divide was Kerry’s first race of the year and marks the beginning of the newly formed UK Triple Crown, made up of the Highland Trail 550, Dales Divide, and North Wales 400.
Kerry took an early lead in the women’s race, pulling ahead and holding her position. At just 15 hours into the race, Kerry held a solid 50-kilometer gap in front of second-place finisher Amanda Wishart and was over 100 kilometers ahead by the time she finished. Her final finish time was 43 hours and 21 minutes, over an hour faster than Sally Oxanne’s 2021 record time. Next up is the 2025 Highland Trail 550, and according to a recent Instagram post, she’s considering taking on the Mother North Ultra in Norway in August, which would be just a few weeks ahead of the North Wales 400.
Lessons Learned at the 2025 Dales Divide
Words by Kerry MacPhee
I came into Dales Divide quite tired with the aim of using it as the final block of training for Highland Trail 550 and woof, I felt it! The start was so fast and furious, and I tried to get myself amongst the stronger riders knowing there was a headwind for the first 300 kilometres, but in the end, the group split up pretty quickly come the off-road sections. I made the foolish mistake of not packing my rain jacket, and I got very cold and miserable on day one. My first proper stop was Boroughbridge Morrison’s. They had no jackets, but I did buy a thick man’s pyjama top to wear under my puffer, which worked like a treat!
In Scarbs, I was still feeling okay albeit low in energy from the cold and was sure I’d get back to Arnside in 40 hours, but I fell apart coming into Northallerton. I hadn’t given the route the level of research I normally would and thought Northallerton was at 230 kilometres. It wasn’t. And that was a tough run into Northallerton. I plugged away after this, delighted to reach the Restrap Ramen hut for hot food and some craic with the lads. It got so miserable after this for me. It was Baltic up high and really windy. The last section was tough, especially as I’d slowed down so much.
Happy in the end and surprisingly okay feeling today albeit smashed quads and sleepy. The bivi sleep next to my wagon at 4: 30 a.m. was something else after Dales. Pure amateur hour not bringing a rain jacket, and I paid the price. Still trying to warm up now! Really need to work on my eating strategy too, but I’m loving the learning and sussing out as I go.
Congrats, Kerry! We look forward to following your dot along at the Highland Trail 550 next month.
Further Reading
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