Marathon
Sat 27 Sep 2025 Bristol, Somerset, UK

Trail Escape | Bristol-to-Bath | Marathon

Escape the city. Explore the trails. Run or walk a stunning trail marathon that starts from Bristol and heads into the stunning Cotswolds before finishing in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath.

  • Sat 27 Sep 2025
Bristol, Bristol

Marathon

08:15

Age 18 & over

£55

  • 26.2 miles trail running

Event overview

A city break and countryside escape.

Experience a new kind of trail event this year! Run, hike or walk a marathon or 25km on a traffic-free route out into stunning countryside for a unique and fully supported trail experience.

Enjoy the rare opportunity to take part in a trail event that takes place on a Saturday, and offers city convenience!

Highlights

  • Stunning trails

    Enjoy historic cityscapes and views over picturesque countryside.

  • City start and finish

    Easy logistics with plenty of public transport and event shuttle options.

  • Run or hike

    Choose to run or walk/hike the course.

  • Fully supported route

    Way-markers, marshals, aid stations, cheer points and music.

  • Timing and medals

    Fastest finishers and KOM/QOM challenges but enjoyment is encouraged.

This event is part of Trail Escape | Bristol-to-Bath.

  • All fitness levels
  • Dogs allowed
  • Event village
  • Spectators

2025 details to be confirmed.

Ability level

Choose to run or hike / walk.

The route will suit all levels of runners and experienced walkers. (being able to walk for at least seven hours non stop before the event is recommended.) 

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.

Spectators

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!

There will be plenty of spots for your supporters to cheer you on across the route - the most scenic, easy to reach and safe locations for spectating and we will be able to share in due course.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs can take part as long as they are kept on a lead at all times. Please ensure you use a short lead and not an extendable lead. One dog per runner / hiker only. Owners are requested to please clean up after their dog and dispose of their mess using biodegradable bags.

Arrival time

You are advised to arrive at the event village an hour before your start time.

Kit list

A comprehensive kit list will be provided to all participants.

  • Accommodation
  • Bag transfer
  • Bar
  • Rural
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Bristol
Bristol
Somerset
UK

Public transport

Trail Escape Bristol-Bath will start within easy reach of the city centre at the UWE Bristol and finish in the centre of Bath.

Both start and finish venues have good connections to public transport.

Shuttle buses

Shuttle buses will be offered from Bath to the Start village pre-event and post-event.

Bag transfer

Any kit bags stored will be transported to the finish in Bath.

City break

Enjoy the rare opportunity to take part in a trail event that offers city convenience! Book a place to stay, enjoy short and easy transport links to the start, and celebrate with friends and family, and take in all that the city has to see and do.

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

2025 route to be confirmed.

Route highlights

  • UWE Bristol start
  • Traffic-free green corridor
  • City views over Bristol
  • South Gloucestershire countryside
  • Cotswolds AONB
  • City views of the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath
  • Georgian architecture

Route overview

Head out on traffic-free routes to escape city streets and explore the vast expanse of rolling hills, fields and woodland beyond. Immerse yourself in stunning landscapes you might never find alone.

Route description

Starting from UWE Bristol with great transport links, the route will follow a traffic-free ‘green corridor’ route out of the city to pick up well established and maintained trails. Participants will enjoy stunning views over the city as well as a relatively ‘gentle’ first section of the route as it heads into the picturesque and relatively flat South Gloucestershire countryside.

The middle section of the route will see participants continuing to enjoy mostly flat and traffic-free South Gloucestershire countryside as it gears up for the tougher (but most rewarding) third section of the course; entering the Cotswolds AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

The final leg of the route 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 among its iconic Georgian backdrops.

Map

map

Fully supported

All of the events will be fully supported with way-finding and marshals just like a traditional road marathon.

Along the way, there will be Aid Stations in place with fuel, food, hydration and toilets to help you along the way. Cheer points and music will enhance the experience that is Trail Escape.

Cut off time

10 hours.

There will be a 10hr time-limit, which is less than 3 miles 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.

  • Chip timing
  • Map
  • Medal
  • T-shirt

Included

  • Timing
  • Marshalls and signed route
  • Aid stations with hydration, nutrition and toilets
  • Finisher T-shirt
  • Medal
  • Bag drop

Prizes

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 marathon.

  • Age 18 & over
  • Entries open
  • Enter online

2025 details and fees are to be confirmed.

Entry fees

Early bird entry fee

£55.00

One of my favourite races I’ve completed, loved it!! So well organised and a fab route… thanks so much - Jennifer Mears

Amazing event, loved the route and was really well organised apart from the shuttle buses! But will be booking up for next year for sure! - ‘Daly Daly’

Thank you for a fantastic event - really enjoyed it. Beautiful route and superb organisation throughout. - Emma Stoney-Connolly

Other races at event

  • Sat 27 Sep 2025
  • #2 of 2
Bristol & Bath Science Park, Bristol > Royal Victoria Park Bath, Bath

25km

09:00

Age 18 & over

£40

  • 25 km trail running