Stroud Trails

Stroud Trails

Stroud Trails is a trail running event held in an area of outstanding natural beauty around Stroud. The course uses a mix of local trails, Cotswold hills, canal and towpaths, disused railway tracks and common land, and includes extended sections on the Old Cotswold Way and the Severn-Thames Canal towpath.

Distances offered include:

• Ultra 40 Miles
• Marathon
• Half Marathon
• Quarter Marathon

A typical route follows the Quarter Marathon to Checkpoint 9 (4.3 miles), then continues along the towpath through Stroud and westward on the Severn-Thames Canal towpath past Ebley Warf, Stonehouse and Ryeford to Kings Stanley (Checkpoint 10). The course leaves the towpath via Stanley Mill and Ryeford East Road onto the Old Cotswold Way, then ascends to Selsley Common via Manor Farm, Middleyard (Checkpoint 11) and Pen Woods. The final section includes about a 600 ft climb along the Cotswold Way to a high point with views across the Stroud Valley toward the Severn Estuary and the Forest of Dean.

Practical arrangements include a route map and course signage at the venue, chip timing mats at the start, water at start/finish and at checkpoints, marshals on course, and first aid at the start/finish area and at various checkpoints. Baggage is left at participants own risk inside the school hall. Portable toilets are in the school car park and public and disabled toilets are 50 m from the school opposite the church. Use of personal headphones is strongly advised against and earplugs must be removed at road junctions to avoid disqualification. A compulsory safety briefing is held before each race and all road crossings are at the runner's risk. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.