Trail runners looking for a raw midwinter challenge will have six chances to prove themselves when the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series returns from 27 December 2025 to 7 February 2026. The series offers six races across the English Borders, each with its own terrain, distances and conditions. Runners can enter a single event or commit to the full series, with points awarded at every race and an overall prize up for grabs.

Created by Running Circles RC(R)C and Cold Brew Events, the series blends four races on Kielder’s rarely accessed mountain bike trails with two established local favourites: the Winter Wipeout and the Duergar Run. With only one race held in daylight, competitors will face night running, tough terrain and unpredictable winter weather.

The opening Deadwater Run on 27 December sends runners to the summit of Deadwater Fell before a long descent back to Kielder Castle. The Osprey Run on 3 January is the longest of the series, taking in Forest Drive, rolling singletrack at Gowanburn and a return along the Lakeside Way. The Winter Wipeout on 10 January is a traditional out-and-back to the summit of Hedgehope and is known for everything from snowstorms to blue skies.

Lewis Burn on 24 January delivers the shortest and fastest route, featuring the steep switchbacks of Simons Tester before a rapid run back to the finish. The Lonesome Pine Run on 31 January combines steady climbs with fast mountain bike trails, starting on the Lakeside Way and descending towards Kielder village.

The series concludes on 7 February with the Duergar Run, a night race from Rothbury onto the Simonside ridge before dropping through forest trails back into town. A presentation evening will round things off at Pedalling Squares café in Swalwell on 21 February.

With six very different tests packed into six winter weeks, the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series offers one of the toughest and most varied seasonal challenges in the region. Runners can expect demanding climbs, technical trails and plenty of night running, but also a huge sense of achievement whether they complete one race or all six.

If you'd like to know more, visit the Cold Brew Events website.

Image: Cold Brew Events