5K
Sun 14 Dec 2025 Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK

Salcey Forest Christmas 5K

Watch out Dasher, Comet and Blitzen! It's time to fly around the beautiful Salcey Forest trails. Come for the seasonal atmosphere, the festive cheer and finish-line medals!

  • Sun 14 Dec 2025
Salcey Forest, Northampton

5K

10:00

Age 11 & over

£20

  • 5 km multi terrain running + 180 ft ascent

Event overview

The beautiful, tree-lined paths of Salcey Forest are the venue for this wonderful trail race which is perfect for both novices and veterans.

Come for the seasonal atmosphere, the festive cheer and the finish-line medals! And, don't forget, seasonal fancy dress is most welcome! Santa hats at the ready!

Included

  • Stunning forest trails
  • Virtually flat trail
  • Friendly atmosphere
  • Junior Fun Run
  • Prize for best seasonal fancy dress outfit!

This event is part of Salcey Forest Christmas 10K, 5K & Junior Fun Run.

  • All fitness levels
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Fancy dress
  • Newcomers

Timetable

  • 08:30 | Race HQ and registration opens
  • 09:30 | Junior Run start
  • 09:50 | Race Director's Briefing on the start line
  • 10:00 | Race Start (10K and 5K)

  • Bag storage
  • Paid parking
  • Rural
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Salcey Forest
Wootton Road
Northampton
Northamptonshire
NN7 2HX
UK

Paid parking

The parking charge is Β£3.50 and will cover parking for 2 hours from the start of the race. 

Race HQ

Race HQ will be located close to the visitor's centre. There will be signs to direct you from the car park.

Start & finish

The 10K and 5K start and finish in the same location and this is close to the Race HQ.

By car

Salcey Forest is between Northampton and Milton Keynes and is accessible from the M1.

By bus

There aren't any train stations nearby, however there are bus stops in Hartwell close to the event venue.

  • 1 lap
  • Bone conducting headphones only
  • First aid
  • Flat
  • Marshals
  • No cut off time
  • Traffic free
  • Way markers
  • GPX available

GPX route

The route is displayed on the map above.

Overview

The 5K course follows the scenic and virtually flat paths and trails within Salcey Forest. It's a stunning off-road route and there is a section where you may get muddy!

Following the popularity of the new course, there will be no U turns once again! This new race route exploring some parts of the forest never raced in before and is entirely different from the parkrun route. The race will take you through the flat, mixed-terrain trails within the forest.

Runners will race along the hard-packed trails and with the route being naturally flat with some satisfying straight sections, it is perfect for anyone trying to run a fast time or for anyone new to trail running. During winter, there is a section of course that may become particularly muddy all adding to the fun of the trail.

The course will be well marshalled and follows a 5K route entirely within Salcey Forest.

Map

map

  • Bring your own cup
  • Plastic bottle free
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy

This event is doing its best to work sustainably to ensure that the carbon footprint of the race is kept as low as possible.

  • Certificate
  • Medal
  • Race photo
  • Trophy
  • Vouchers

Included

  • Bespoke medal
  • Free photographs
  • Trophies and prizes for leading runners
  • Dress to impress Santa with a special prize for the best-dressed runner!

prizes

  • Trophy with e-certificate & Β£5 voucher prize for 1st, 2nd & 3rd male & female winners
  • E-certificate and Β£5 voucher prize for 1st male junior & female junior

  • Age 11 & over
  • Entries open
  • Enter online

Entry fees

Entry fee

£20.00

A really lovely race, well organised with excellent pre-race communication. Charlotte T

Good course, well marshalled, finish line had great biscuits and a nice medal and trophy too. Thank you and see you again next year! Robert K

Great Xmas medal (Xmas 10k in Dec 24 was postponed to Jan 25) which was a different design from last year's. Marshals/organisation were all excellent. Course is beautiful. Some frozen mud in places which required a little care. Overall, loved it. Heather F

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck

Other races at event

  • Sun 14 Dec
  • #1 of 0
Salcey Forest, Northampton

Junior Fun Run

09:30

All ages

£7

  • 1.2 km multi terrain running
  • Sun 14 Dec
  • #3 of 0
Salcey Forest, Northampton

10K

10:00

Age 15 & over

£24

  • 10 km multi terrain running + 180 ft ascent