Best non city UK marathons

[Cwcwbird]

Just read the London marathon with interest. I've never been that bothered about running London personally. I've done the snowdonia marathon and loved that. What are people's marathon recommendations that are trail or non city? I've been eying up the Loch Ness marathon, anyone done it who would recommend it?

I’m interested in this too

Dh also prefers trail marathons to city marathons. There are several in the Lake District. Also ultras and subs, which have their own challenges - not just distance.

Have a look at Scafell Pike Marathon, 10 Peaks, and Great Lakeland.

Oops - Great Lakeland Three Day.

I did Loch Ness this year for the first time.

Loved it. It's a hard course though. My friend has done it every year for numerous years.

It's well organised, though you do have to get up at the crack of dawn on race day to get on a coach to take you to the start. The views are incredible though - sit on the top deck!

City to sea. Exeter to Torquay
.

I don't think I could do an ultra, I'm not entirely sure I could do another marathon yet but I'm tempted! The lakes would be beautiful though.

I don't mind a tough course having done snowdonia and the views were what I loved the most so loch Ness definitely appeals.

Thanks all

Jurassic coast challenge! It’s in Dorset at the end of March, 3 marathons in 3 days along the SW Coast Path, but I think you can enter just one of the days. Super hilly, but the views are amazing and it’s really well run. I’ve done it three times now! The same company do one along the North Devon coast too.

Do one of the Maverick X-series ultras. Really well organised and friendly, short for an ultra, and there are two shorter distances on offer so you can choose to drop down on the day if needed.

I would love to do London - I live metres from the course and go out and cheer every year - but trail running is where my heart is

I think I’ve gone off doing another marathon but Beachy Head looks very good.

Loch Ness looks amazing, I’d love to do it. Tough course but I do like the appeal of a straight line!

I'd love to do the Kielder Marathon. It's all the way around the reservoir. It's not really trail running but it is hilly.

My dream is to do the Langdale Half one day. However given I've never even managed a normal half I've got a long way to go.

Kielder Marathon was last weekend - all around the reservoir. Looks very scenic!

Everyone seems to enjoy Loch Ness, it’s the bus ride to the start that puts me off!

Loch Ness is great. There is one hill that’s quite a bugger at 18ish that goes on for ever but is still net downhill.
If you want flat Boston U.K. is the flattest in Europe.
Yorkshire starts and finishes in York but is mostly pretty rural.
Off road you’ve got the classic fell ones - Saunders/OMM/Manx mountain marathon etc I think they are self navved though

Thanks so much, loads of great sounding ones for me to check out. I love Dorset so I fancy the idea of that one. I don't think I could cope with self navigation, it's definitely not my strong point and the extra stress of that would be too much I reckon

I think I’ve gone off doing another marathon but Beachy Head looks very good.

The South Downs Way from Brighton race course to Eastbourne is marathon distance, you can do that any time you want to.

You've just missed it for this year, but you might like the one road Rutland water (fairly flat!)

www.therutlandmarathon.co.uk/

That looks good thanks Edith. I would prefer a marathon at this time of year. It was one of things I liked about snowdonia - training in the summer when you have longer days. I don't mind cold weather training but I hate running in the dark.

Tenby long course marathon. Although I've never done it I've watched it loads! Can I recommend based on friends enjoying it?.🤣

Chelmsford! once you're out of the park and nice town it's country and gorgeous, not flat tho

sorry you wanted trail, Chelmsford is road, Stort 30?

Lakeland Trails is beautiful - all on trail and not that hilly as far as the Lake District goes. Would also recommend New Forest, and Kielder.

Thanks again all - so many to look at. Tenby is possibly a bit too close to home for me, I fancy an adventure somewhere further away in the UK!

I did the Yorkshireman half marathon in September (having swopped from the full one 2 weeks before as my training got interrupted by covid).

Lovely scenery round Haworth, great snacks, lovely atmosphere.

If you want hilly trail the Pilgrims half in Surrey gets fantastic reviews, along the North Downs' way.