Book parking / shuttles / deferrals
SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2024.
RUN OR HIKE/WALK A STUNNING TRAIL MARATHON OR 25KM.
ENTRIES CLOSE 27 SEPTEMBER
About Trail Escape: Bristol-Bath
The marathon will start from UWE Bristol while the 25km will start from Bristol & Bath Science Park.
The routes will follow a traffic-free ‘green corridor’ to pick up well established and maintained trails. Participants will enjoy stunning views over Bristol as well as relatively ‘gentle’ first sections as they head into the picturesque and relatively flat South Gloucestershire countryside.
The tougher (but most rewarding) final section enters the Cotswolds AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
This will provide participants with breathtaking views back over to Bristol (and even further into Wales) before the descent into the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath and an amazing finish in Royal Victoria Park, amongst its iconic Georgian backdrops.
Trail Escape will donate £10 from every marathon event registration fee and £5 from every 25km event registration fee to Mind (registered charity number 219830).
We can confirm that the marathon event will start at UWE Bristol and finish by the Bandstand in Royal Victoria Park in the centre of Bath. The route distance is 26.2 miles.
MARATHON RUN START: 08:15
MARATHON HIKE START: 08:30
Both start and finish venues have good connections to public transport. However, shuttle buses will be offered from Bath to the Start village pre-event and post event.
Please note that the route may be subject to some change closer to the event.
The 25km event will start at Bristol and Bath Science Park and finish in the centre of Bath alongside the marathon at the Bandstand in Royal Victoria Park.
25km RUN START - 09:00
25km HIKE/WALK START - 09:15
Both start and finish venues have good connections to public transport. Shuttle buses will be offered from Bath to the Start village pre-event and post event. Bags can be dropped at the start and will be delivered to the finish.
Please note that the route may be subject to some change closer to the event.
MARATHON START: UWE Bristol
25KM START: Bristol & Bath Science Park
FINISH: The Bandstand in Royal Victoria Park (pictured).
Both start and finish venues have good connections to public transport however shuttle buses will be offered from Bath to the Start village pre-event and post-event. Bags can be dropped at the starts and will be delivered to the finish.
Head out on traffic-free routes to escape city streets and explore the vast expanse of rolling hills, fields and woodland beyond.
Enjoy the rare opportunity to take part in a trail event that offers city convenience! Book a place to stay, enjoy the city, the trails and celebrate with friends & family.
Choose to run or hike / walk.
The routes will suit all levels of runners and experienced walkers. (We would recommend you can walk for at least seven hours non stop before taking part in the marathon event.)
If you sign up to run, don’t worry if you need to walk some of the way - that’s encouraged so you can properly take in the beauty of where you are running! The climbing, descending and overall terrain will be challenging in places, but we assure you that slowing down to take in everything that is Trail Escape is more than acceptable.
Marshals, signage & spectators
All of the events will be fully supported with way-finding and marshals just like a traditional road event.
There will be Aid Stations in place with fuel, food, hydration & toilets to help you along the way. Cheer points and music will enhance the experience that is Trail Escape.
Friends and family can support participants at the start. They can then take the train to Bath, which is a short journey, to see finishers cross the finish line and celebrate in this beautiful city together!
This will be a timed event but not necessarily a race.
While there will be categories for fastest finishers (and KOM / QOM challenges on the way), your goal is to enjoy running or walking on these incredible routes. Stopping to enjoy the views is strongly encouraged.
Forget the pressure of chasing PBs or worrying about split times. Trail Escape is about enjoying the environment we are taking you through on your way to getting that medal for finishing a Trail Escape.
Trail Escape will donate £10 from every marathon event registration fee
and £5 from every 25km event registration fee to Mind (registered charity number 219830).
Here's our top FAQs.
If you can't find what you need below, please visit the main FAQs here.
Timing
Marshalls and signed route
Aid stations with hydration & nutrition, and toilets (we hope to provide lunch items for hikers/walkers)
Finisher T-shirt
Medal
Bag drop
There will be plenty of spots for your supporters to cheer you on across the route. We are working on the detail of the most scenic, easy to reach and safe locations for spectating and we will be able to share in due course.
There is no difference in the route or terrain. All participants will follow the same route. The difference in categories are to make sure all runners access the route first and ensure runners are not overtaking walkers. We expect the routes to be single-tracks in places so to be fair to everyone, we need to split people out.
Yes there will be cut-off times for each Trail Escape. At this stage in our planning we are working to a 10hr time-limit, which is less than 3miles per hour. The routes will be clearly marked and marshalled to ensure participants don't get lost. If anyone is looking like they will finish after the cut-off we will shorten the route to ensure they finish safely, in time.
We aim to ensure toilets will be at each Aid Station.
Should the event be cancelled, we will offer registered participants a refund of their entry fee.
