Dormouse Challenge
Northampton, United Kingdom • 21 Nov 2025
Dormouse Challenge : event format
The Dormouse Challenge is a six-hour timed event held at Salcey Forest. Runners complete as many laps of a loop as they wish within the six-hour limit. The loop is 3.5-mile off-road, so total distances depend on laps completed; a marathon requires seven laps plus a little out-and-back, and a half marathon is four laps (about 14 miles). Canicross entries are included; canicross runners start with the main field and must keep leads short.
Location and logistics
The event takes place at Salcey Forest, postcode NN7 2HX. Salcey is a Forestry England site with a café and toilets. Parking is charged and a negotiated day rate of £3.50 applies for entrants. The number 33 bus stops inside Salcey Forest and the closest train station is Northampton. The site is about 18 minutes from Northampton and about 9 minutes from M1 Junction 15.
Course, equipment and entries
The route uses well maintained forest paths with no asphalt. Surfaces are mainly crushed stone or trodden forest floor; narrow sections can be covered in tree detritus and become muddy when wet. On dry days road shoes are acceptable; on wet days trail shoes may be preferable. A GPX of the route is available. Entry fees are tiered: £37 before 21/10/2025 and £42 after; unaffiliated entrants pay an additional £2. The event supports Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity and offers an alternative tree token instead of a medal through Earth Runs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.