Hamsterley Forest Winter Trail Races
Hamsterley, United Kingdom • 10 Jan 2026
Hamsterley Forest Winter Trail Races
The event takes place on 10 January 2026 at Hamsterley Forest Park, Bishop Auckland DL13 3NL. Races start and finish at the visitor centre near the main car park and follow well marked footpaths, forest trails and woodland tracks through an undulating forest landscape with valley views.
- Half Marathon
- 10k
Practical information
Entry fees are: Half Marathon £30 (affiliated) / £32 (unaffiliated); 10k £23 (affiliated) / £25 (unaffiliated). The minimum age is 16 or older. Included with entries are a bespoke event mug, hot soup and a roll, a packet of mixed wild flower seeds, and free downloadable event pictures.
Terrain is a mixture of hard packed gravel tracks, single twisting dirt tracks and occasional muddy bridleway. The route will be fully waymarked and there will be a race HQ with toilets. There are plenty of car parking spaces; discounted parking charges apply and participants may need to walk about 10 minutes to registration. Medical support will be on the course throughout the event. Aid stations with water, gels and sweets are provided around mile 4, around mile 9 and at the finish. Due to likely below-freezing temperatures, a mandatory kit list will be required for safety and communicated before the event. The organiser does not use disposable plastic cups and collects pre-loved running kit for an up-cycling scheme. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.