Race Date: Saturday 13th September 2025

Great Westmorland Trail Race – Crosby Garrett 7.4 miles

The Perfect Antidote to Big City Races

Crosby Garret? You know, near Soulby. No? On Cycle Route 71. No? At the foot of the Howgill Fells? No? Near Kirkby Stephen? The Coast to Coast route?

Six days after 60,000 took on the 13.1 miles of tarmac that make up the Great North Run, just 54 (and no zeroes) tackled the complete contrast that is the GWTR.

Meets in the Village Hall, starts on a flat bridge over the stream, heads uphill for 1.9 miles on shooting moor gravel and grass tracks. It has marshals on quadbikes at four points. Stunning views from Bents Hill to Sedburgh and beyond and a cracking drop down through the Potts Beck valley. The route map shows that runners pass Great Ewe Fell, Nettle Hill and Willycock Stones. Plenty of mud, some ankle deep. The greenest grass, the softest marshy areas and a stone-topped path that I thought the briefing described as ‘leaf-fall’, but was probably said to be ‘lethal’. There was a Trunce-like steep bank at 5 miles and a dash to the finish line.

The organising Club, Howgill Harriers, have a wonderful way with prizes – there are more spot prizes than for place finishes. I won (by raffle of all those who didn’t get a place award) the star prize – a leaf and lawn rake that was scored as fourth best garden rake of the year by Gardener’s World magazine, I’ll have you know.

There was cake and tea, and a lovely atmosphere. I’m doing this one again next year.

First male was James Douglas of Border Harriers, in 48:06. First female was Rhiannon Douglas, also Border Harriers, in 57:32 Well done to Stuart Jones for being the only Steel City Strider:

Striders Results: