Castle Run Series - The Festival of Endurance

Hever Castle is situated three miles South East of Edenbridge off the B2026 between Sevenoaks and East Grinstead in the village of Hever. Situated 30 miles from London in West Kent, exit the M25 at junctions 5 or 6 and follow the Brown tourist signs. Also well signed from the Hildenborough exit of the A21.

With such a busy event we urge you to check your journey time and allow plenty of time to access the car parks. All car parks are in adjoining fields to the event. Please follow the below instructions to avoid delays

On approaching to the venue, be sure to follow the yellow triathlon car park signs. DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR SAT NAV.

Please follow directions from marshals.

It is roughly 10 – 15 minutes walk to the event village.

The Castle Triathlon Series is offering camping at all UK and Irish castles (but we don’t supply the tent). If you are a camper with a tent or have a Campervan or Caravan take this fantastic opportunity to stay within the spectacular grounds of the Castle at which you are competing.

There will be toilet and showering facilities available at all sites. There will also be an electric hook-up at Castle Howard and Hever Castle which can be added to your booking on the online shop. There is no human waste disposal for caravans or camper vans on any of the Castle camping sites.

There is plenty of entertainment for spectators coming along to Hever Castle to support their family and friends. Together with plenty of cheering they can enjoy live music, rides, climbing walls, children’s inflatables, archery and discounted entry in to the stunning castle grounds. Spectators will pay a nominal fee for car parking and entry in to the grounds. All money collected on the day is being used to help improve the estate for the benefit of the triathlons next year. It is advisable to bring cash to the event.

The Marathon and Half Marathon and will see competitors undertake 4 laps (2 laps Half Marathon) of a spectator friendly almost entirely off road 10.5K circuit. Starting a few yards from the main castle drawbridge competitors will head off around the formal gardens of the estate before handrailing the lake for 0.5K and then heading up through Park Wood towards a corner of the estate called Thresher’s Field and the first of two well stocked Feed Stations.

A brief road section to Lockskinners is followed by a stunning country section of interconnected paths and tracks taking in the high point of the course at Stocks Wood and a water station in the strictly private Belhurst Nature Conservation Trust woodland area. A couple of woods and fields later competitors arrive at the hamlet of Hill Hoath and shortly afterwards the picture post card National Trust owned village of Chiddingstone where, just inside the gates of the castle by the same name, they will find the 2nd of the two Feed Stations.

A brief trot across the frontage of Chiddingstone Castle, a small road section and then a gorgeous woodland gallop sees participants regain the Hever estate from where they left it at Threshers Field and the 1st Feed Station.

Finally, a 2K circumnavigation of the Hever Lake and a brief traverse of the formal gardens will see runner complete their first lap. After a further lap runners turn right into the finishing straight and cross the finish line with the castle as a backdrop, to receive their medal and the now famous finishing line banquet!

We will be providing pacers for both the Half and Full Marathon this year. This will constitute of a runner each holding a bamboo pole with a small sign at the top indicating the time that they will cover the distance. This will be held throughout the course. These runners are experienced athletes who will maintain an evenly paced run across the entire distance.

Pacer Timings

Half Marathon Pacer Timings : 1.45hrs, 2.00hrs, 2.15hrs, 2.30hrs
Marathon Pacer Timings : 4.00hrs, 4.30hrs, 5.00hrs, 5.30hrs

(this is slower paced course than many road ones – 4.30hrs on this course is equivalent to a 4.00hrs on a road course!)