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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONGB / RACE GUIDE

Kielder Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

GBOctober 202742.195km · 21.1km · 10km +2 more events

Race date Oct expected: October 2027
City · Distance: Kielder · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km +2 more events
Entry fee: Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date October 2027 · expected · Soon

2026Date Oct 4, 2026 · Entry ~ Sep 30, 2026 · Entry fee £27.50 · Start 10:15

Official website ↗

Instagram

D-day as of Oct 6, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The Kielder Marathon and its supporting events take place over the weekend of 3–4 October 2026.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

FelicityRan in 2017 · Finish time 4hrs 35 minutes

“We finished in a respectable time of 4hrs 35 minutes and honestly, I am super proud of this achievement.”

Felicity fought through nausea and calf cramps around mile 14, plus tingling in her arms, to finish the hilly Kielder Marathon in 4:35.

Read the original on Newcastle Sports Injury Clinic

Leyla

“There was pure silence except for the odd occasional runner slowly catching you up.”

Leyla ran through the forest and along the lakeshore with her headlamp on during the night-time Kielder Dark Skies Marathon. She vividly described the hills and stillness of the dark course, the aid stations, and the final stretch to the finish, and reported an official time of just over 6 hours.

Read the original on This Day I Love

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

One of the HARDEST Half Marathon's around?! It's the BRILLIANT Kielder Half! - Al Pepper Runs

Al Pepper Runs

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 10:15

Time limitRunners are stopped after 3:45 pm at the Dam checkpoint and after 4:00 pm at the Tower Knowe checkpoint

Runners are stopped after 3:45 pm at the Dam checkpoint and after 4:00 pm at the Tower Knowe checkpoint

Event	Start
Marathon42.195km	10:15

START

Kielder Waterside, Kielder

Start · Google Maps

The Kielder Marathon is a trail marathon that circles Kielder Water in Northumberland, England.

The route follows the Lakeside Way around the largest artificial lake in Northern Europe, and course is almost entirely off-road, with no public roads at all.

The race starts at Kielder Waterside on the lakeshore.

The paths are well maintained, so trail shoes and standard running shoes are both suitable.

However, steep climbs and frequent ups and downs continue throughout the route, making it difficult to maintain a consistent pace as on a flat marathon.

In the latter stages, the course passes The Dam at approximately 17.25 miles and Tower Knowe at approximately 19 miles;

both are time limit points.

The event began in 2010 and held its 15th edition in 2025.

It is known as Britain's most beautiful marathon.

It has now grown into a two-day running festival comprising Saturday's 10 km and gravel duathlon,

and Sunday's half marathon and junior races, with the marathon as the final event.

In 2026, it takes place on 3 and 4 October, with the marathon on Sunday, 4 October.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Finisher medal 2026

Timing chip 2026

Bag drop 2026

This may change for the next edition.

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Race packs are posted from four weeks before the event.
Runners who register after the postal deadline must bring their registration confirmation to the event venue on race weekend and collect bib by 45 minutes before the start.
The marathon starts at 10:00 am on Sunday.

Race Information Cabin

10K and marathon at Kielder Waterside; half marathon at The Dam

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Newcastle Central Station (via dedicated event coach)

There is no train station near Kielder, and public transport is very limited.

The organizer runs a dedicated return coach from Newcastle Central Station for £12 per person.

On arrival, free shuttle buses (bib = ticket) run from the dedicated car parks to the start;

allow at least 90 minutes.

Because of the remote location in Northumberland near the Scottish border,

at Kielder Water & Forest Park, a car or the organizer's coach from Newcastle is essentially required.

Getting to the finish

Return coach to Newcastle Central Station (same booked service)

The Kielder Waterside car parks serve the 10K, duathlon, marathon and junior races;

The Dam serves Half Marathon.

Free shuttle buses connect the car parks with the start and finish.

Road closures

The free parking shuttle runs from 07:15;

arrival 90 minutes before the start is recommended

More details

Yes — free shuttle buses run between the car parks and the start, and a paid £12 coach service runs between Newcastle Central Station and Kielder.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The marathon starts at 10:15 am on Sunday, 4 October, and the time limit is 7 hours.

You must stop racing if you reach the dam at approximately 17.25 miles after 3:45 pm or Tower Knowe at approximately 19 miles after 4:00 pm.

There is no race-day registration, and entries close earlier if the capacity is reached.

Bib and the timing chip are sent by post from 4 weeks before the race.

Applicants who register after the postal deadline must collect them from the race information desk in the Kielder Waterside tipi tent by 45 minutes before the start.

The Sunday information desk opens at 7:45 am.

If you have received bib in advance, gather at the start line by 20 minutes before the start.

Public transport is very limited, so you must either drive or book a return bus from Newcastle Central Station when registering;

the fare is 12 pounds per person.

A free shuttle runs from the car park to start line from 7:15 am, and you should allow at least 90 minutes from arriving at the car park.

Toilets are available at every aid station, and sports drink is also provided after 10 km.

A baggage-storage tent is available, but there are no shower or changing facilities.

Times are local to Kielder. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easy

5 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Old Kielder Castle Cottage

Accommodation · 619m

10.0/10(17)

View on Booking.com

Catcleugh Bridge View

Accommodation · 952m

9.9/10(19)

View on Booking.com

Kielder Northumberland - Beautiful Spacious House Overlooking Village, Next to Observatory, Forrest , Reservoir and all attractions

Accommodation · 792m

8.3/10(15)

View on Booking.com

2 Bed in Hexham oc-89299

Accommodation · 713m

8.6/10(6)

View on Booking.com

3 Bed in Kielder oc-s45857

Accommodation · 24m

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

40 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

SIT-DOWN TOURS2CARB LOADING5LOCAL TRANSIT6FAMILY PASS6TRAIL & OUTDOOR7CITY TOURS7EASY WALKING7

Edinburgh Three Bridges Sightseeing Cruise

₩36,088

Kielder Marathon

About Kielder Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run