Marathon
Sat 13 Sep 2025 Alnwick, Northumberland, UK Fundraising required 30% off

Mighty Hikes | Northumberland Coast | Marathon

Take on a challenge and join Macmillan at the Northumberland Coast Mighty Hike - where you'll take in famous sights such as Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh Castle to support people living with cancer.

  • Sat 13 Sep 2025
  • Fundraising required
  • 30% off
Alnwick Castle, Alnwick > Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh

Marathon

30% off with discount code

06:30

Age 14 & over

Sign up £25

Fundraise £250

  • 26.03 miles hiking + 302.97 m ascent

Overview

Set yourself an exciting new challenge and hike along the beautiful Northumberland Coast!

Mighty Hikes are an award-winning series of marathon and half marathon hikes, taking place in some of the most beautiful and unspoiled parts of the UK. If you’re looking for a fun way to get fit, a memorable day out with friends and family, and a chance to celebrate or remember a loved one, then Mighty Hikes are for you. 

And it doesn’t matter if you’re lacing up your boots for the first or fiftieth time – you'll be supported every step of the way!

walkers

The Northumberland Coast Mighty Hike is one of the most beautiful, and least hilly, routes in the series, starting at the iconic Alnwick Castle before walking along the beautiful sweeping beaches and fishing villages of the Northumberland Coast.

Highlights

  • Fully supported

    With trek masters, signposted routes, medics, and toilets all along the route, you’ll feel supported every step of the way.

  • Fuelling your adventure

    Regular pit stops with snacks and refreshments, a fresh buffet lunch and a hot meal waiting for you when you finish.

  • Everybody is a winner

    At the finish line you’ll be greeted with cheers, fizz and of course your Mighty medal.

  • Enjoy the moment

    You'll be able to treasure your Mighty Hike memories forever, as all your professional photos are free to download.

  • Not sure where to start?

    Once you sign up, you’ll have access to expert training advice and fundraising tips to smash your £250 target.

This event is part of Mighty Hikes | Northumberland Coast.

Event video

  • Event village
  • Fancy dress
  • Spectators
  • Teams

Teams

Save 50% when you register a team of 5+ people!

It's easy to create a team...

Follow the steps to become a Team Captain when you register. Make sure you have a list of names and email addresses of your fellow team members. Once you have signed up, an email invite will be sent to your team members with a bespoke link for them to fill out their own registration form and join your team.

As Team Captain you will have the option to pay their registration fee, otherwise your team members can pay when they get their invite.

Every time a member of the team completes their registration, you’ll be sent a confirmation email. That way you can monitor who has or has not joined your team.

  • Cafe
  • Coast
  • Free parking
  • Rural
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Alnwick Castle
Alnwick
Northumberland
NE66 1NQ
UK

Free parking

Parking for the full and half marathon is at the start in The Pastures, via Denwick Bridge, B1340, Alnwick, NE66 2QP. There is also parking available at the finish for the full marathon at Glebe Field, Radcliffe Road, Bamburgh, NE69 7AE.

Free shuttle bus

Free shuttle buses will run from the finish to the start before the hike and in the afternoon after the hike.

Kit list

You will need to be prepared for all weather and bring all the essentials needed for the hike. A full kit list is readily available.

Supporters

Your family and friends can meet you at the finish event village to cheer you across the finish line. However, they will not be able to accompany or meet you at any of the pit stops.

Dogs

Unfortunately, no dogs can take part in a Mighty Hike with the exception of assistance dogs. This includes at any of the start and finish venues. 

  • Check points
  • Cut off time
  • Distance markers
  • First aid
  • Food stations
  • Marshals
  • Point to point
  • Return transport
  • Sweeper
  • Toilets
  • Undulating
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

The hike starts in the picturesque grounds of Alnwick Castle, a 12th Century stronghold. The majority of the hiking route is along the Northumberland Coastal Path, a hugely popular hiking route, due to the largely flat nature of the pathway, and the sublime coastal views that unfold around each corner. Huge unspoilt expanses of sand make up famous beaches and bays, and with impressive and imposing castles lining the route, this is sure to be an unforgettable hike.

Route highlights

  • Start from Alnwick Castle - one of the prestigious filming locations from the Harry Potter films
  • Catch your first glimpse of the coastline as you head eastwards towards Alnmouth
  • Follow the Northumberland Coastal Path northwards
  • Marvel at the imposing Dunstanburgh Castle which looms on the horizon
  • Expansive views along windswept beaches fronted by magnificent dunes
  • Enjoy an unforgettable finish in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle
MIGHTY HIKES NORTHUMBERLAND COAST ROUTE MAP
Point to point from castle to coast with miles and miles of fresh sea air and views.

  • Bring your own cup
  • Public transport links
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy

Single use plastics

  • There are refill stations where you can fill your reusable bottle to avoid handing out bottled water
  • Compostable cutlery, plates and cups are used across the start, lunch and pitstops
  • The event day bib is fully recyclable

Recycling

  • A specialist company collects and sorts the rubbish post-event to ensure as much is recycled as possible
  • All Mighty Marshals and other staff are briefed to pick up any rubbish they see along the route on the day
  • There are plenty of bins at each pit stop for participants to use

Energy

  • The power at Mighty Hikes is provided by hybrid generators
  • Energy-efficient LED bulbs are used to light the marquees

  • Cake
  • Map
  • Medal
  • Post-race meal
  • Race photo
  • Technical t-shirt
  • Training plan

Included

  • Free Macmillan hiking top
  • A clearly marked route
  • Pit stops with snacks, drinks and toilets
  • Medical assistance
  • Free food at the finish
  • Finishers medal
  • Baggage transfer from start point to the finish
  • Complimentary coach shuttles between venues
  • Celebratory bubbly at the finish
pit stops

Useful resources

  • Mighty Hikes Sponsorship Form
  • Mighty Hikes Training Zone
  • Mighty Hikes Training Plan
  • Mighty Hikes Merchandise
  • Mighty Hikes Kit List
  • A-Z of fundraising ideas
  • Downloadable 'Sponsor a Mile' poster
  • Cotswold Outdoors 15% discount

Not Included

  • Accommodation
  • Travel to/from the event
  • Personal hiking gear (boots, clothing etc)
  • Travel insurance

  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising required
  • Fundraising support

The Mighty impact

Macmillan is needed now more than ever. With every mile you walk and pound you raise, they can be there to provide vital services for people who need it most.

  • 3 million people

    There are 3 million people living with cancer in the UK today who urgently need support from Macmillan.

  • 30,000 hikers

    You’ll be joining an incredible community of Mighty Hikers across the UK, coming together to make a difference.

  • £250 pledge

    By raising £250, you’ll be helping Macmillan provide vital cancer services, research and campaign to achieve better cancer care, and support the cancer workforce.

  • £11.5m

    In 2023, Mighty Hikers raised an incredible £11.5 million by smashing their £250 fundraising pledge.

How to fundraise

There are so many fun and easy ways to reach your £250 pledge, from fundraising games to sponsorship forms, we have got you covered. It's time to kick-start your fundraising for Macmillan!

Resources

  • 26 fundraising tips
  • Team fundraising guide
  • Fundraise while you shop
  • Recycling for good causes
  • WhatsApp messaging
  • Sponsorship form
  • Sponsor a mile poster
  • Guess My Time poster

Teams

There is a £250 fundraising pledge per hiker however a team may have a joint fundraising target and joint fundraising page. This means the overall goal is shared.

eg. a team of 4 will have a target of £1000. 

Tips

  • Age 14 & over
  • Entries open
  • Enter online
  • Event merch available
  • Fundraising required

14-17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Save 50% when you register a team of 5+ people!

Entry fees

Entry fee

£25.00

Minimum sponsorship

£250.00

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for such an incredibly well organised event! Everything ran like a well-oiled machine (and the food was amazing!). Angela, Northumberland Coast 2024

Thank you to the organisers of this amazing event. Where else in the world would you see such spectacular scenery! Jimmy, Giant’s Causeway 2024

It was the best organised event I have attended. The volunteers that cheered us on were amazing. Feet are in bits but worth every step to raise funds for a great cause. David, hiker of the Giant's Causeway

The food was amazing, the toilets all clean, the cups of tea were amazing!! Deanna, Norfolk Coast 2024

I hiked this marathon in memory of my late partner. It was, and will be one of the best things I’ve ever done. Phillipa, Mighty Hiker 2023

hikers
LAURA'S STORY
Just WOW, I have entered quite a few races in my time but doing a Mighty Hike was by far the best organised I have ever been to. Macmillan are an amazing organisation and have been a massive help to me and my family throughout our darkest times, yesterday they did not let us down!
hikers
BERNIE'S STORY
We were amazed by the organisation that goes into Macmillan Mighty Hikes. Everything from the support from the staff on the course to the food and the information you get is outstanding. It's off the scale.

Other races at event

  • Sat 13 Sep 2025
  • #1 of 2
Alnwick Castle, Alnwick > Howick Scar Farm, Alnwick

Half Marathon

08:00

Age 14 & over

Sign up £20

Fundraise £250

  • 12.21 miles hiking + 169.25 m ascent
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