Half Marathon
Sat 14 Jun 2025 Bakewell, Derbyshire, UK Fundraising required

Big Hike | Peak District | Half Marathon

Hike through magnificent woodlands, past pretty waterfalls and limestone cliffs, and take in beautiful views across the Peak District to help beat cancer step by step.

  • Sat 14 Jun 2025
  • Fundraising required
Bakewell Showground, Bakewell

Half Marathon

09:30

Age 14 & over

Sign up £20

Fundraise £250

  • 13.1 miles hiking + 1302 ft ascent

Event overview

If you love walking or hiking and taking in spectacular scenery, and want to help fund life-saving science, this Big Hike adventure is for you! 

Whether you're new to hiking or a regular walker, you'll be supported every big step of the way.

Choose your distance and hike through the stunning landscapes of the Peak District National Park, exploring magnificent woodlands, wonderous waterfalls and limestone cliffs.

Sign up with friends and family or go solo and meet new people to help beat cancer step by step.

Highlights

  • Join Cancer Research UK's Big Hike
  • Beat cancer step by step
  • Choose your distance
  • Walk with friends, family or solo
  • Take in spectacular scenery
  • Be supported every step of the way
  • Support life-saving science

This event is part of Big Hike | Peak District.

Event video

  • All fitness levels
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Fancy dress
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Teams

Start time

You'll have a choice of start times when you sign up. if you're a slower walker, you are encouraged to opt for the earliest arrival time so you can fully enjoy the day.

Kit list

  • Personal clothing and footwear
  • Waterproof rucksack
  • Trekking poles (optional)
  • 2 litres of water
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses
  • Mobile phone
  • what3words app
  • Additional snacks

 

Wheelchair users

Due to the rural nature of this event unfortunately the course is not wheelchair accessible. The start/finish venue however is wheelchair-friendly.

Dogs

Sorry, dogs are not allowed to take part in Cancer Research UK’s Big Hike, with the exception of service dogs.

Runners

This event is a non-competitive walk so running is not allowed.

  • Free parking
  • Park
  • Rural
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Bakewell Showground
Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1AH
UK

Free parking

There will be free car parking available for all participants for the duration of your hike. Simply look for the Cancer Research UK flags at the entrance to the start venues where charity representatives will direct you. To minimise congestion please car share wherever practical to do so.

Toilets

There will be toilet facilities at the start/finish and at each pit stop along the route.

what3words

You are advised to use the following 'What 3 Words' link to find the precise location:

///drifter.cooked.vineyard

  • Cut off time
  • First aid
  • Food stations
  • Marshals
  • Out and back
  • Sweeper
  • Undulating
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

The half marathon is a circular, clockwise route where you'll discover the stunning woodland of the Chatsworth Estate before it clears to reveal Chatsworth House and gardens and contours along the River Derwent.

The route has one support point where you'll find refreshments, snacks and toilets.

All routes are fully signposted so all you need to do is lace up your hiking boots, take in the extraordinary views of the Peak District National Park and fundraise for life-saving research.

Food and refreshments

This is a fully supported event and therefore there will be a wide range of services available to participants:

  • Water refill points and snacks will be available when you arrive at the start area. 
  • Water refill points, hot drinks and snacks will be provided at the various support points on the route.
  • Half marathon participants will receive a hot meal at the finish area.
  • Dietary requirements will be catered for on the day.  

Duration

3.5 to 6 hours.

Cut off time

Due to venue restrictions, the finish area will need to be closed from 7.30pm.

There will be sweep marshals behind the slowest walkers to ensure that everyone gets back to the finish safely. Please note that in some situations such as bad light or inclement weather, the team has the right to enforce cut-off times for health and safety. Where participants miss a support point cut-off time, transport will be provided back to the start/finish venue.

Please note that the routes are subject to change.

  • Bring your own cup
  • Public transport links
  • Recycling

Environmentally mindful

  • Envelope, back sign, letter and hiking number can all be recycled (remove chip first)
  • T-shirts are made from recycled plastic (rPET materials)
  • Recyclable cutlery will be provided
  • Route maps are digital

  • Chip timing
  • Map
  • Medal
  • Post-race meal
  • Technical t-shirt
  • Training plan
graphic

Included before

  • Cancer Research UK t-shirt
  • Online giving page
  • Fundraising tips
  • Training plan
  • Kit checklist
  • Hiker number
  • Back sign
  • Safety pins

Included on event day

  • Fully signposted route
  • Marshals to guide you
  • Medical assistance
  • Cancer Research UK medal
  • Recorded finish time
  • Meals, snacks and drinks
  • Hot meal at the finish

Training plan

To help with your preparation beforehand, you can download the Big Hike training guide from the Information Hub which includes tips on nutrition, training plans for each distance and a kit checklist.

Example training plan
EXAMPLE WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN
Whichever distance you choose, you'll receive an inspiring training plan to make sure you're physically and mentally ready for your Big Hike!

  • Fundraising incentives
  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising required
  • Fundraising support
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Cancer Research UK

Nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime.

Every pound you raise helps towards greater chances of diagnosis, prevention and providing kinder treatments to those living with cancer.

Your entry fee helps cover the cost of putting the event on. But it doesn't stop there. The money you raise will help change the lives of people affected by cancer.

When you reach your Big Hike fundraising target, Cancer Research UK funds long-term research. And when this happens, the biggest breakthroughs are made.

You'll be supporting the vital work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses who are taking on more than 200 types of cancer.

So walk together, fundraise and play your part to support life-saving science. Because your big steps help Cancer Research UK make big breakthroughs.

  • Age 14 & over
  • Entries open
  • Enter online
  • Fundraising required
  • Race pack by post

Entry fees

Entry fee

£20.00

Minimum sponsorship

£250.00

Catherine and 11 family members took part in Big Hike in 2023, hiking in memory of her husband Adrian and his mother June:

When I read about The Big Hike I knew this was the perfect challenge. The day was so poignant and yet brilliant too. Just to be out in breathtaking countryside surrounded by everyone who loved Adrian and June was incredible.

I’d thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of doing it this year. For those of us who took part, it was the ideal way of honouring them both and to help do our bit to help fund life-saving research.

Other races at event

  • Sat 14 Jun 2025
  • #1 of 3
Bakewell Showground, Bakewell

10K

11:15

Age 12 & over

Sign up £20

Fundraise £200

  • 10 km hiking + 200 ft ascent
  • Sat 14 Jun 2025
  • #3 of 3
Bakewell Showground, Bakewell

Marathon

06:45

Age 16 & over

Sign up £25

Fundraise £300

  • 26.2 miles hiking + 1800 ft ascent