The Maverick Kielder Forest Gravel 2026
Saturday 5 September 2026 | Kielder Castle
Lace up your trail shoes and get ready to run through history! To celebrate a century of the magnificent Kielder Forest, we invite you to a unique trail running experience in the heart of Northumberland’s ancient woodlands. Whether you are a seasoned ultra-runner or looking to tackle your very first trail event, we have a distance carved out just for you.
🏃♂️ Choose Your Challenge
With five distinct distances starting from the historic Kielder Castle, there is a perfect route for every level of fitness and ambition:
• The Ultra (50 km): The ultimate test of endurance through the deep forest.
• The Marathon (43 km): A classic distance on an unforgettable, scenic course.
• The Half Marathon (23 km): Fast trails mixed with steady, rewarding inclines.
• The Middle (12 km): A punchy, dynamic route perfect for those looking to practice some steep elevation!
• The Short (6 km): A fantastic, fast-paced introduction to the beauty of trail running.
⛺ Make a Weekend of It!
Don't just run—immerse yourself. We are offering on-site camping in the heart of the forest, giving you the perfect opportunity to pitch a tent, connect with fellow runners, and fully experience everything Kielder Forest has to offer over the weekend.
Sleep under some of the darkest skies in England and wake up right on nature's doorstep, ready to take on the trails.
Stay right at the start line and book your accommodation with Kielder Campsite, so you can fully immerse yourself in what Kielder Forest has to offer. The campsite has a range of options from camping and campervan pitches to family pods and caravans. Follow the link below to find out more information and book:
kieldercampsite.co.uk/events
Entry Price
Enter any 3 races from any series, or 3 entries into this event, and get 20% off
Ultra
Distance: 50 km
Elevation: +1177 m- $123.02/pp
Marathon
Distance: 43 kmElevation: +869 m- $109.20/pp
Half Marathon
Distance: 23 kmElevation: +407 m- $67.73/pp
Middle
Distance: 12 kmElevation: +487 m- $53.91/pp
Short
Distance: 6 kmElevation: +205 m- $34.56/pp
Online entry closes on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026 at 11:00am. On the day entries will be available if the event is not sold out.
All entries are subject to a small booking fee.
Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.
There are a limited number of dog spaces available, book now to avoid missing out.
Sign up for Free!
You can enter the Ultra route (51k) for free if you pledge to raise £250 or more for Alzheimer's Research UK. All you have to do is click the button below to register with ARUK, set up your fundraising page and receive your first donation. After that, you'll be sent a code to sign up for the Ultra route for free.
There is a limited number of free places that will be rewarded on a first come first serve basis.
By taking part, you’re not just running – you’re helping bring us closer to finding a cure for dementia.
Kielder Forest Gravel Trail Run Routes
Choose your route carefully. The distance and elevation gain should give you some indication as to how easy/hard each route is, as well as showing you where the tougher climbs are.
Official Retail Partner of Maverick Race
Pro:Direct Running and Maverick Race are collaboratively working together to bring a curated and guided range of the best Trail running products to Maverick runners. With Trail races varying in distances from 5 km up to 102 km, whether you are new to Trail or an experienced Ultra runner, Pro:Direct Running has a substantial selection of footwear, clothing, accessories and nutrition for whatever your needs across these distances and trail terrains.
What you get
More Information About the Kielder Forest Gravel Trail Run
CUT OFF POINTS & TIMES
Our cut-off times are in place for your safety and apply to the Ultra & Marathon route. Runners on the Ultra route will have 8hrs30 to complete the 50km, runners on the Marathon route will have 8hrs to complete the 42km. There is no flexibility on cut off times. If you arrive at the outpost after the cut off time, you will be taken back to the finish venue, this is a non-negotiable. You must leave the outpost before the cut off time.
Ultra - 50km Cut off Times
START - 09:00
OP1 - 10:30
OP2 - 12:00
OP3 - 13:00
OP4 - 14:35
OP5 - 16:25
FINISH - 17:30
Marathon - 42km Cut Off Times
START - 09:00
OP1 - 10:30
OP2 - 12:00
OP3 - 13:00
OP4 - 14:35
FINISH - 17:30
OUTPOSTS
Outpost locations will be added shortly. The outposts are designed to act as a top-up for what you are already carrying. There will be a range of sweet & savoury snacks (fruit, cake, crisps) as well as gels and electrolyte drinks.
PLASTIC FREE
In an effort to keep our trails clean and preserve the nature around us, we’re aiming to keep our outposts cup-free. Please bring a cup or bottle to refill. Speed Cups are available to purchase at each event and online.
HEADPHONES
We strongly recommend not wearing headphones at this event, but if you do want to listen to your tunes whilst on the trials, we recommend bone conduction headphones.
TRANSFERS
If you need to transfer out from this event, you can do this via your Let's Do This account. You can't transfer if the event has sold out. The last day to transfer out of an event is the Monday before event day (5 days before the event). Please refer to our Terms & Conditions to read more about Transfers.
GET THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED AS A RUNNER WITH TAILORED PLANS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, FROM TRAINING FOR A FASTER 5K TO YOUR FIRST MARATHON. USE REFERRAL CODE MAVERICKEVENTS TO UNLOCK YOUR EXCLUSIVE OFFER!
Essential Items
PLEASE PACK:
We strongly recommend that ALL runners, regardless of route, carry at least 1 litre of water, a raincoat, a foil blanket & a mobile phone.
These items are mandatory for Ultra and Marathon routes
Waterproof jacket
Mobile phone (in case of emergency)
800 Calories (equivalent of 2 bars and 2 gels)
Minimum of 1 litre of water
Self-adhesive elastic bandage
Whistle
Foil blanket
Hat or buff
A reusable cup
GPX of the route (on watch or phone (IOS / Android)
Getting to the Race
By Car
The car park is pay and display, managed by the team at Forestry England. Parking for the day is £6.50.
The car park is pay and display, managed by the team at Forestry England. Parking for the day is £6.50.
By Train
info coming soon
info coming soon
By Taxi
info coming soon
info coming soon
