Popular Fell Races
Shaun Roberts
This list is just intended as a startpoint for anyone wanting to get into fell and trail running. The Crawleyside race in the summer is a particularly nice one, and you get a have a cooling dip in a stream as well. The James Herriot isn't a bad one, either, especially after the initial climb. A rough guide to the time of year these races are run is shown here, but you're best advised to check with the organising club for the definitive date. The majority of these races can be found through two websites that are well worth bookmarking:
For all other races, check with the FRA Calendar.
January:
- Captain Cooks'. BS 5.5m/750'
- Hill Forts & Headaches. AS 3m/1020'
- Clay Bank East. BM 9.1k/307m
February:
- Carnethy '5'. AM 6m/2500'
- High Cup Nick. BM 9m/1500'
March:
- Kielder Borderer. BM 17m/3000'
- Brough Law. AS 5m/1250'
- Glaisdale Rigg. BM 13.7k/562m'
- Blakey Blitz. AM 17k/855m'
April:
- Allendale Challenge. BL 25m/3400'
- Gisborough Moors. BL 12.5m/2600'
- Cheviot Summit. BM 6.5m/2000'
May:
- Hamsterley Forest Wild Race. 12K
- Ossy Oiks. AM 5.3m/1834'
June:
- Alwinton, Northumberland. BL 14m/2900'
- Windy Gyle, Northumberland. BM 9m/1800'
- Cronkley Fell, Teesdale. BM 10.5m/1755'
- Swaledale Marathon, Reeth. 23m/4128'
- Bowderdale Wild Race, Eden Valley. 10m/2100'
- Durham Dales Challenge. 16m or 30m
July:
- Chevy Chase, Wooler. BL 20m / 4,000'
- Kielder Forest Wild Race. 15K
- Saltwell Harriers Fell Race, Crawleyside, above Stanhope. BS 5.5m / 1,000'
- Kentmere Horseshoe, Lakes. AM 12m/3,300'
- James Herriot Trail Run, Castle Bolton. CM 8.5m/1000'
August:
- Forest Burn. BS 3.5m/500'
- Bellingham Show. BS 4m/600'
September:
- Roseberry Topping. AS 1.6m/715'
- Simonside, Rothbury. BM 6.75m/1200'
- Two Breweries, Borders. AL 18m/4,900'
- Viking Chase 4 Peaks, NYM. BM 12.9k/457m
October:
- Saltergate-Levisham, NYM. BM 17k/425m
November:
- Guisborough Three Tops, NYM. BM 8m/2000'
- Clay Bank West, NYM. BS 5.5m/900'
December:
- Hexhamsire Hobble, Allendale. CM 10.5m/1,220'
- Eskdale Eureka, NYM. BM 14.6k/470m
- Simonside Cairns, Rothbury. BM 11m/1420'
- Guisborough Woods, NYM. BM 8.8k/376m