About Trail Escape: Manchester
STUNNING TRAILS
A stone’s throw away from the city streets is a glorious landscape waiting to be discovered.
This event will start and finish in Philips Park close to the Etihad Campus (Man City ground), which has access to the Metro.
Follow a traffic-free route along tranquil green corridors out of the city to easily reach the stunning western edge of the Peak District National Park.
After enjoying breathtaking views back towards the city, the route will then cross moorland and rolling hills, and pass through picturesque villages before re-joining the green corridor to return back into the city and the well earned finish line.
See the route maps below. PLEASE NOTE THAT DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE MARATHON ROUTE.
MARATHON ROUTE MAP
The events will start and finish in Philips Park close to the Etihad Campus (Man City ground), which has access to the Metro.
RUN START : 08:00
HIKE START : 08:30
Please note that the route may be subject to some change closer to the event.
25KM ROUTE MAP
We are pleased to also offer a 25km event in Manchester that will start and finish in the same location as the marathon.
RUN START: 08:00
HIKE START 08:30
Please note that the route may be subject to some change closer to the event.
You must collect your race pack
RACE PACK COLLECTION
YOU MUST COLLECT YOUR BIB NUMBER.
WE WILL NOT BE POSTING ANY RACE PACKS.
Collect on:
Friday 26 June 2026, 4pm - 7pm from Philips Park (Info Tent where the event will start)
OR
Saturday 27 June 2026 - Info Tent at the start - from 7am
Numbers will be allocated upon collection. Someone else can collect on your behalf but they will need your booking reference number.
RUN OR HIKE
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 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.
CITY START & FINISH
Trail Escape : Manchester will start and finish in Philips Park close to the city centre before heading out on traffic-free routes to the surrounding countryside and back again.
Escape city streets and explore the vast expanse of rolling hills, fields, lakes and woodland beyond. Immerse yourself in stunning landscapes you might never find alone.
Enjoy the rare opportunity to take part in a trail event that offers city convenience!
Book a place to stay, walk to the start and back from the finish, celebrate with friends & family, and take in all that the city has to see & do.
Marshals, signage & spectators
FULLY SUPPORTED ROUTE
The routes will be fully supported with way-finding and marshals just like a traditional road event.
Along the way, there will be Aid Stations in place with fuel, food, hydration & toilets to help you along the way.
We plan to have Aid Stations at 6km, 12km and 18km on the 25km; and 6km, 12km, 22km, 30km and 36km on the marathon route.
Spectators can be with participants at the start and also see them at a few points on the route. Friends and family can take a short journey on the Metro to Ashton-under-Lyne, then change here to get to Mossley where they can see marathon runners / hikers twice at Hartshead Pike (and also enjoy amazing views of Manchester and the Peak District!)
There will also be enough time in Mossley to enjoy some lovely cafes and pubs before heading back for the finish.
TIMING & MEDALS
This will be a timed event but not necessarily a race.
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 marathon or 25km.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
