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Beginner-friendly Trail runs in Greater Manchester

Find beginner-friendly trail runs in Greater Manchester in 2026/2027 - filter by date, location or category, display on a map or use the advanced search to find your perfect race.

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Select an event for photos, video, route, location, reviews, entry fees and how to enter.

Race a heritage steam train from Bury to Rawtenstall in this fast, point-to-point road challenge along the Irwell Valley, where speed, timing and spectacle collide.
  • Sun 12 Jul
  • £30
Bury, Greater Manchester, UK

Race the Train - Bury to Rawtenstall

Race a heritage steam train from Bury to Rawtenstall in this fast, point-to-point road challenge along the Irwell Valley, where speed, timing and spectacle collide.

  • 10.24 miles trail running + 634 ft ascent
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Enter online
  • Event village
  • Age 18 & over
Runners complete two off-road loops through fields and woodland, starting a new loop every hour on the hour. Complete the loop in time, and you start again, until there's one last man standing!
  • Sat 1 Aug
  • From £100
Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK

Scouts Honour Backyard Ultra

Runners complete two off-road loops through fields and woodland, starting a new loop every hour on the hour. Complete the loop in time, and you start again, until there's one last man standing!

  • 4.17 miles trail running
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Enter online
  • Flat
  • PB
  • Traffic free
  • Event village
  • Rural
  • Age 18 & over
The jolliest run of the year! A festive 4-mile fancy dress race that’s all about fun, community and getting people moving.
  • Sun 20 Dec
  • £14
Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK

Santa Dash

The jolliest run of the year! A festive 4-mile fancy dress race that’s all about fun, community and getting people moving.

  • 4.18 miles trail running + 778 ft ascent
  • Families
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Chip timing
  • Enter online
  • Fancy dress
  • Event village
  • All ages
  • Tue 23 Jun
  • £27-£29
Stockport, Cheshire, UK

Lyme Midsummer Trail 10K

  • 10 km trail running + 272 m ascent
  • Wed 8 Jul
  • £10-£12
Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK

The Royton Trail

  • 6.4 miles trail running

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