How far is the Three Forts Trail Challenge?

The Three Forts Trail Challenge is one distance: Three Forts Trail Challenge (21.7 km / 13.5 miles).

How much climbing is in the Three Forts Trail Challenge?

The Three Forts Trail Challenge has 916 m of ascent.

How hard is the Three Forts Trail Challenge?

Three Forts Trail Challenge: Very Hard. Distances are measured off the course file. Where the file carries no elevation, the climb is the organiser's published figure.

Is the Three Forts Trail Challenge course marked?

Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.

What are the cut-offs for the Three Forts Trail Challenge?

Overall time limits — Three Forts Trail Challenge: 9h.

Can I download the Three Forts Trail Challenge route?

Yes. The GPX for each distance is free to download here, with no sign-up, the same as every route on Trail Running Planet.

When is the next Three Forts Trail Challenge?

Sun, 28 Feb 2027, 08:30, which the organiser has published as provisional. Not open yet.

Three Forts Trail Challenge

Wooler Hostel, 30 Cheviot Street, WoolerSun, 28 Feb 2027 · provisional

13.5-mile hill challenge over three hillforts from Wooler

21.7 km

13.5 miles

916 m ascent

42 m per km

9h cut-off

24:51/km to make it

fellmoorMarked course

Nobody has reviewed this one yet

No reviews of the Three Forts Trail Challenge, and nothing on what people wore. Both are things no organiser publishes and every runner wants before they enter — how it actually went, and what was on your feet.

Ran it? Write the first review

Running it soon? Connect Strava and we will ask you about it the day you finish, so you do not have to remember to come back.

The course

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VERY HARD

TRP grade · E4

9h cut-off, which needs 24:51/km

5 checkpoints

Download GPXFree, no sign-up.

This file is from a previous running and the course may have changed since. If you are navigating with it, get the current version from Trail Outlaws first.

What you’re in for

A 13.5-mile route from Wooler Hostel over three Iron Age hillforts: Humbleton Hill, Akeld Hill and Yeavering Bell, with close to 900m of ascent on hill paths in the Northumberland National Park. A light-hearted rule asks finishers to take a selfie with an item from the 'loot box' at the third fort. It is pitched as much at walkers as runners, with a generous 9-hour limit, but course records show it is raced. Expect late-winter conditions. The route is marked with signs and flags and mandatory kit includes map and compass. Parking is at the long-stay car park on Ryecroft Way.

Partner · affiliate policy

Train for it: routes near the start

Routes starting within 20 km of Wooler Hostel, 30 Cheviot Street, Wooler, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.

EXPERT

The Cheviot and the Pennine Way from Wooler

45.9km · 1,664m climb · Loop · 0.3km away

This links the two great paths of the north in one loop: the final stretch of the Pennine Way over the Border Ridge, and the Wooler stage of St Cuthbert's Way back through College Valley. Almost nobody runs the whole thing.

HARD

Broadstruther and Gains Law from Wooler

20.3km · 585m climb · Loop · 0.3km away

It gets you deep into the quiet northern Cheviots without a single big climb, and the last 6km on St Cuthbert's Way over Gains Law is genuinely fast running with the whole Milfield plain in front of you.

All Northumberland routes →

How to enter

Sun, 28 Feb 2027 · provisional · Not open yet

See the event on Eventrac ↗

Entries are handled by Eventrac, not by us. We take nothing for sending you there.

Add to your calendar · as an all-day entry — the date is provisional, so check before you book anything around it

Common questions

: The Three Forts Trail Challenge is one distance: Three Forts Trail Challenge (21.7 km / 13.5 miles).
: The Three Forts Trail Challenge has 916 m of ascent.
: Three Forts Trail Challenge: Very Hard. Distances are measured off the course file. Where the file carries no elevation, the climb is the organiser's published figure.
: Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.
: We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Three Forts Trail Challenge. Trail Outlaws confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.
: Overall time limits — Three Forts Trail Challenge: 9h.
: We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Three Forts Trail Challenge. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Trail Outlaws race information rather than turning up expecting food.
: Yes. The GPX for each distance is free to download here, with no sign-up, the same as every route on Trail Running Planet.
: Sun, 28 Feb 2027, 08:30, which the organiser has published as provisional. Not open yet.