Half Marathon Trail Run

What’s Included

• FREE digital photograph
• Electronic chip timing
• Event t-shirt (unless you choose to donate cost of T Shirt to our Catbells Conservation project with Fix the Fells)
• 3 x feed stations
• Torq hydration drinks will be available at the feed stations and finish line – you must have your own cup or bottle
• Evening live music and daytime Tent Talks ALL WEEKEND (Friday to Sunday). Note: Festival Village general access is free for all to roam before 5pm. After 5pm requires a sports ticket or festival ticket – all non ticket holders will then be required to vacate the festival village.

Venue

The Festival Village is located adjacent to The Theatre By The Lake close to Derwentwater. Race start is in the heart of the Festival Village.

Address: 

Lakeside, Crow Park
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 5DJ

What’s great!

• Perfect course for those who want to up their distance from 10k
• Finish at Crow Park taking in the fantastic event atmosphere where your friends and family can watch you pass the finish line!
• Get spectacular views of the event from the West side of Derwentwater
• Professionally organised by experienced events team.

25km Start Waves

The 25k has a road crossing within 700m of the race start and whilst we know this is not ideal, its not possible to get you from the events centre start location to the superb trails of Great Woods and under Falcon Crag’s without this road crossing.

To improve your enjoyment of the race, we have a staggered start, allowing runners to set off in waves.

This system allows us to spread the event out but also group similar speed runners together meaning you all have a great race on your hands!

The way the wave system works:

We have five waves to start on the 25k, meaning we can split you down into smaller waves so we can get you across the road as fast as possible. When at the race start you may want to place yourself in order of speed, so if you’re fast go to the front of the wave. If you are expecting to be more leisurely head to the back. This is mainly done by you estimating your completion time.

Please remember if you haven’t done the route before it is a very technical race in the first half and less so in the second, this will mean you might need to adjust your ‘normal 25k’ time by a little. Don’t forget there is also 800m of ascent in the course, please take this into account.

You will be given the option of choosing your wave at the point of entry, please make sure you choose the most applicable wave for your ability.

Please Note: 

Overtaking is possible from Castle Head Wood, into Springs Farm and then Great Woods (early in the race), the track under Falcon Crags (the very technical track) is not an easy option for over taking, but once clear of that you can easily overtake in and beyond the Watendlath valley, after CP1.

Timing & Safety

See the recommended kit list below and carry this with you on the day of the race.

• Emergency Nutrition (a bar or gel, which can only be used in an emergency)
• 0.5L fluid minimum. Drinking Vessel and/or hydration pack
• Please dress appropriately depending on the weather conditions on the day of the event, i.e. sensible footwear and clothing, e.g: Waterproof, Trail Shoes, Spare Warm Layer etc
• We strongly advise you wear good quality deep lugged Trail Shoes for this event!

You may also want to consider: 

• Whistle.
• Mobile phone fully charged.
• First aid kit to include: blister plasters/1 large sterile wound dressing and tape to secure a dressing.

Safety:
The event will be timed using electronic timing chips within the race number.

There will be two checkpoints (CP) at Rosthwaite Institute and Hawes End. At both CP’s there will be a feed stations where you can fuel up with water and snacks.

Route Markings:
The route will be very well marked throughout, with RED Flags and A5 Arrow Boards at major directional changes, no navigational experience necessary.

The 25km route starts from inside Crow Park, heading directly out of the festival site, it then runs through the car park and into Cockshot Woods before crossing the road within 700m of the start. The road crossing takes you into Castle Crag Woods and then into Great Wood, taking the very European-like trails to run under Falcon Crag on the uber-technical rocky single track and to the 1st CP of the race.

You’re then into the Watendlath Valley, stunned by this hidden gem and its amazing single track you will then climb out over Grange Fell and descend the fast and furious pack house trail to the Rosthwaite Institute to your 2nd CP of the day. Watered & fed by our expert marshals, you will then head north down Borrowdale arriving at the next CP/Drinks Station at Hawes End. From here you run the lake shore paths until Portinscale is reached and head back into Keswick via the Bob Graham Round finish. Once on the streets of Keswick you will be quickly directed by marshals to the finishing straights around the back of Crow Park to your glory finish back at the Festival site.

The 25km is full of surprises, giving you some of the best trails and views the Borrowdale Valley has to offer. A must for the avid trail runner!

CONTINGENCY PLAN

It is possible that events and courses at KMF may need to be amended at short notice due to weather issues, water levels, road conditions or roadworks.

By nature, many of these factors are not possible to know well in advance. For each event there are a number of alternative options available which can be implemented at short notice. The organisers and race directors will always have athlete and spectator safety as the highest priority, and within that context will seek to provide the best possible experience.

All sporting events would be impacted if the Event Village has to be closed. In this instance, as long as circumstances allow, all starts and finishes would be relocated to Lake Road and Lakeside Car Park and the events operated as smoothly as possible. 

A bad weather route will be published closer to the Festival to be used in the event that the course needs to be adjusted.

Athlete guide

Athlete guides have been emailed to participants on April 29. 

If you entered after this date or did not receive the email, you can download the athlete guide here. 

Previous Results

2025 Results

2024 Results

2023 Results

2022 Results

2021 Results

2019 Results

2018 Results

2017 Results

Distance: 25km
Ascent: 750m
Course Record:

We welcome all outdoor sport enthusiasts to Keswick Mountain Festival and want to make the event as inclusive as possible. The document (link below for download) aims to give you all the information you need to allow you to make a decision about visiting the Festival and entering one of the events. Everyone has their own needs for information, so please contact us to discuss how we can support you in your chosen sport. Please email info@keswickmountainfestival.co.uk as soon as possible.

KMF has a dedicated Accessibility Zone with various exhibitors and sports providers.

Advisory Kit List

• Waterproof jacket (taped seams please)
• Hat or buff
• Gloves
• Whistle
• Emergency food [gel/bar etc]
• Race Vest/Bumbag
• Trail Running Shoes

KMF does not offer any deferrals, only refunds as follows:

5.1 If for any reason you are entitled to a refund, entry fees will be refunded as follows;

• up to 6 weeks+ prior to the first day of the festival starting: 75% refund (less any ticket transaction fees),
• 4 weeks – 6 weeks prior to the first day of the festival starting: 50% refund (less any ticket transaction fees),
• less than 4 weeks prior to the first day of the festival starting: No Refund.

5.2 Entrants wishing to withdraw must inform the organiser by email (info@keswickmountainfestival.co.uk), the date of the email requesting withdrawal will be taken as the date of withdrawal.  Telephone, Facebook, or other messages are not acceptable. 

5.3 Due to the nature of sports events we are unable to make exceptions for injuries, illness, pregnancy or work-related issues.

5.4 Any refund will usually be paid, using the same method you used to buy the tickets, within 30 days of the original date of the event or the date that we receive your email requesting withdrawal, whichever is later.

5.3 No refunds will be offered under any circumstances if you fail to comply with the all terms and conditions applicable to those tickets, the venue or the event.

5.4 In all cases Triathlon Edinburgh reserve the right to charge a small administration fee (typically £5) to cover costs associated with card repayments and refund administration time.

5.5 No refunds will be granted after one month has passed from the festival closing date.