Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon.
The Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon is a 55 km forest loop on which finding the way is your own job. From Beechenhurst it runs over technical singletrack and wide forest roads down to the River Wye, so your preparation has to cover two things: a little over 1,200 metres of climbing, and navigating cleanly when you are hours into the day.
Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From race HQ at Beechenhurst the loop heads first for Symonds Yat, and this opening is no warm-up: the trail climbs from kilometre 1 for a good 1.5 km, with a second ramp around kilometre 5. After the first aid station at 10 km the course falls to its lowest point of the day, some 20 metres above sea level. Then comes the core of the race: almost 500 metres of climbing to Berry Hill Hut at 24 km, most of it in four climbs between kilometres 14 and 22.
Things then calm down. A long descent and a shallow climb of nearly two kilometres from kilometre 30 shape the leg to Wenchford at 37 km. The course tightens again towards Mallards Pike at 45 km, and around kilometre 41 a 650-metre pitch is the steepest sustained section of the whole route. The last ten kilometres only rise gradually before the trail drops back to Beechenhurst.
What defines the day is the change of ground: technical singletrack where every step needs placing, wide forest roads where you can simply run, open stretches beside the River Wye, and views as far as the Brecon Beacons. The station at 24 km also has indoor facilities.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.2 | 1.6 km | 7.8 % | 21.4 % | +122 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 5 | 1 km | 6.9 % | 16.6 % | +71 m | — |
| km 14.2 | 1.4 km | 7.7 % | 16.4 % | +108 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 16 | 1 km | 8 % | 30.8 % | +78 m | — |
| km 17.9 | 0.7 km | 8.6 % | 17.3 % | +58 m | — |
| km 21.7 | 0.8 km | 8.1 % | 16.7 % | +67 m | — |
| km 29.6 | 1.8 km | 4.4 % | 10.8 % | +80 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 41.1 | 0.7 km | 11.4 % | 20.4 % | +74 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027.
Start under control
More than half of the climbing comes before kilometre 24, so the day is front-loaded. That is exactly why the first ramp from kilometre 1 should be walked: fresh legs can still run it, but you pay for that later. Hold your pace on the forest roads and let the ground set the rhythm on the singletrack. The ten-hour finish window allows nearly eleven minutes per kilometre, so time for hiking and route-checking is built in.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 14 and 22. Four climbs come in close succession, and the stations at 10 km and 24 km leave 14 km without aid. Take the steep parts at a strong hike, eat and drink early, and arrive at the top still wanting to run.
Spend what is left
The trap sits right behind it. The way to Wenchford feels like recovery and tempts you to win time back, yet the ramp around kilometre 41 is still to come, followed from Mallards Pike by ten kilometres with no further station. The same goes for a wrong turn: do not chase lost minutes on the next climb. Stopping briefly at an unclear junction is cheaper than any detour.
Training plan for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly six to nine hours, depending on how much of the climbing you run and how sure-footed you are on technical ground. Most of that is steady aerobic work, broken up again and again by short steep pieces where your heart rate rises and your legs need strength rather than speed. Walking is part of the plan, so train a strong hike as deliberately as your running stride.
Train race pace
The key sections demand climbing on tired legs. Build long runs so the hilly parts fall in the second half, and finish them with a steep ramp of a few hundred metres. That rehearses the situation around kilometre 41, when the day is already long. Several short climbs in close succession also mirror the core of the race before Berry Hill Hut.
Rehearse the course
The ground needs its own sessions. Run technical singletrack regularly, downhill as well and when tired, and switch between path and forest road so your stride learns the transition. If you lose confidence on difficult footing, that will cost you more time over 55 km than the hills do.
Arrive fresh
Treat navigation as a discipline of its own: load a route onto your watch, follow it along unfamiliar trails and check that you can still read the display reliably after hours on your feet. Use long sessions as well to test how you get through 14 km without a station on what you carry yourself. A race date in early October leaves you the whole summer for this build.
Courses
Download the Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon dynamically
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Everything about Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon.
How long is Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027?
Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 is 55 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 have?
Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 has around 1,203 m of elevation gain over 55 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027?
Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 is classified as Hilly, averaging 22.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 20% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 8% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 have?
The hardest climb of Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 starts at kilometre 1.2, runs for 1.6 km at an average of 7.8% and gains 122 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 a loop course?
Yes, Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 course?
Yes. The Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027?
Preparation for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 should account for 55 km, 1,203 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027?
The pacing strategy for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 should reflect 55 km, 1,203 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 take place?
Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 takes place on October 9, 2027.
Where does Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 take place?
Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027 takes place in Coleford, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Forest of Dean Ultra Marathon 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: davetalbot.net. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
