It was always a mystery as to why Silverdale, Carnforth and the surrounding area didn’t receive as much love in the racing scene as elsewhere in the country – After all, it’s home to some of the most stunning views and fun trails one can run on!

My sister and I spent months exploring the trails, specifically around where she lived in Yealand searching for the perfect route to put on a 10k trail race. What we found was a route that instantly stood out – a flowing, varied trail 10k that built towards one of the most memorable finishes we’d ever created: a fast, sweeping descent down the long hill into Leighton Hall.

We couldn’t wait to share it.

The race was originally set to launch in 2020 and would have been our seventh new event in as many months – a period where everything felt like it was building with real momentum. But, like so many things that year, plans changed overnight. One week we were preparing for race day; the next, the country was in lockdown.

After the uncertainty that followed, we were finally able to bring the event to life in July 2021, just two weeks before the second running of the Tolkien Trail Race.

It wasn’t a normal time to launch something new, but it felt important to get it going. Despite the circumstances, the response was brilliant – a real reminder of how much people valued getting back out on the trails.

For the following year, we refined the event further – moving both the start and finish to directly in front of Leighton Hall. It gave the race a real sense of place and created the iconic finish line atmosphere that both distances now share.

As the event grew, so did the offering. The addition of the half marathon brought a new challenge – a tougher, more demanding route that takes in the best of Carnforth and Arnside. It’s a race that often gets called a favourite… usually after you’ve finished it. Hard, technical, but incredibly rewarding.

Leighton Hall always had a special feel to it. It was one of those events where everything just clicked – the setting, the routes, the people. It became a fixture we always looked forward to, and a brilliant way to start the season each year.

There are a lot of good memories tied up in this one.

Now under the care of Lakeland Trails, who know exactly how to put on a proper trail running event… it’s in safe hands.

With their energy and experience behind it, the race is set to grow into something even bigger, while staying true to what made it special in the first place.

And in full circle, on 14th March 2026, Lakeland Trails took over the reigns and held a first successful running over the event, in which myself, my wife Sophie and sister all got to run at – no longer the organisers, but enjoying the stunning routes for ourselves.