By mid November, trail running is firmly into its autumn season, and Slaley Hall Half Marathon & 10K offers a particularly inviting way to embrace it.

Returning for an eighth year on Sunday 15 November, the Wild Deer Events fixture is based at Slaley Hall, south of Hexham, with both distances starting at 9:45am.

The setting is a major part of its appeal. Slaley Hall sits within around 1,000 acres of Northumberland countryside on the edge of the North Pennines, giving runners access to estate grounds, woodland and forest trails rather than conventional roads.

The two distances provide quite different experiences. The 10K completes a single lap around the grounds of Slaley Hall, making it an accessible introduction to trail racing as well as an autumn target for more experienced runners.

The Half Marathon ventures considerably further. Around seven of its 13.1 miles are spent in Slaley Forest, adding a long stretch of tranquil woodland running before competitors eventually make their way back towards the hotel.

Canicross runners can join the action too, with one well controlled dog permitted per runner and dogs remaining on leads throughout.

The finish has become another distinctive part of the Slaley experience. Every finisher receives an event medal and Wild Deer merchandise before heading inside for a bacon sandwich or alternative and a hot drink. The hotel bar will also be open for anyone wanting to extend their post race visit.

Live chip timing will record the racing, but Slaley is unlikely to be an event chosen purely for numbers on a watch. Historic grounds, miles of forest and a November morning in the Northumberland countryside are the bigger attraction.

For runners who believe autumn is when the trails really come into their own, Slaley should feel right at home.

Entries available now via the runABC race hub.

Image courtesy Wild Deer Events.