DONATION TO MIND WITH EVERY ENTRY
SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2025.
RUN OR HIKE/WALK A STUNNING TRAIL MARATHON OR 25KM.
EARLY BIRD ENTRIES ARE OPEN
About Trail Escape: Manchester
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.
The events will start and finish in Philips Park close to the Etihad Campus (Man City ground), which has access to the Metro.
Please note that the route may be subject to some change closer to the event.
We are pleased to also offer a 25km event in Manchester that will start and finish in the same location as the marathon.
Please note that the route may be subject to some change closer to the event.
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.
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.
Marshals, signage & spectators
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. Cheer points and music will enhance the experience that is Trail Escape.
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.
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 or 25km.
Here's our top five FAQs.
If you can't find what you need below, please visit the main FAQs here.
Timing
Marshalls and signed route
Aid stations with hydration & nutrition, and toilets (we hope to provide lunch items for hikers/walkers)
Finisher T-shirt
Medal
Bag drop
There will be plenty of spots for your supporters to cheer you on across the route. We are working on the detail of the most scenic, easy to reach and safe locations for spectating and we will be able to share in due course.
There is no difference in the route or terrain. All participants will follow the same route. The difference in categories are to make sure all runners access the route first and ensure runners are not overtaking walkers. We expect the routes to be single-tracks in places so to be fair to everyone, we need to split people out.
Yes there will be cut-off times for each Trail Escape. At this stage in our planning we are working to a 10hr time-limit, which is less than 3miles 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.
We aim to ensure toilets will be at each Aid Station.
Yes, we think it's only fair that if the event is cancelled, registrants will be offered a refund.
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