The Star Backyard Holmbury St Mary
Dorking, United Kingdom • 23 Jan 2026
Event overview
The STAR Backyard Holmbury St Mary is a no-frills, three-hour trail running challenge held at Holmbury St Mary Village Hall in the Surrey Hills on 23 January 2026. Participants run repeated 5 km laps and aim to complete as many laps as they can within the three-hour period. Entry fee is £20 per person and includes a bowl of chilli or curry. There is no chip timing; runners wear a race number and receive a wristband for each completed lap. A headtorch is required because parts of the event take place after dark. Prizes are awarded to the first finishers.
Route and logistics
The route sets off from Holmbury St Mary Village Hall and goes out through the countryside in an anti-clockwise direction via Felday Glade to the summit of Holmbury Hill. The course begins with a long, gentle ascent, levels out mid-route, then follows a short steep track to the top. From the summit there is about 2 km of mainly downhill running before a short ascent returns runners to the village hall to register each lap. The course may be altered depending on weather conditions. Parking at the village hall and in the village is free but fairly limited. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.