The Crag Rat Run – in pictures
Here’s a taste of what to expect as we take you around the five miles of our ‘Crag Rat Run’.
More details of the event can be found on the Main Race Page.

Heading right out of the Cricket Club, a there’s a 100m downhill dash on tarmac before hitting our first trail section. A chance to grab a couple of positions perhaps.

Meeting a crossroads in the trails, we dive right down this tunnel-like section, descending quickly from the crag onto Abbey Road.

Meeting the tarmac of Abbey Road, we head left and NE towards the Wetherby Road. This is one of the faster sections of the course.

A brief glance over the wall to your right will reveal the Lido, Weir and Mill Cafe nestling down in the valley…

As we reach the end of Abbey Road we pass the gateway to St.Robert’s Cave. He doesn’t live there any more as a result of his death 801 years ago.

A short descent leads us to the junction with the Wetherby Road, where we head right over the River Nidd on the Grimbald Bridge.

Now the climbing begins! We head straight up the footpath into the old Wetherby Road section, a dead-end since the Retail Park was developed nearby.

Once into the ancient Birkham Woods, we bear right at this fork, up the main trail on the north-side of the woods.

One of the oldest routes in and out of Knaresborough, this was used King John and the Knights Templar when staying at nearby Plompton. It’s a little uneven underfoot here, not to mention quite a climb, so take care.

Glancing to the right as we ascend through the woods, we can see the spire of Holy Trinity, Knaresborough in the distance.

This section of hidden trail runs parallel to the nearby bypass. It can be a little soggy in places.

At the trail’s end, we bear right back towards Knaresborough. This is the only part of the course adjacent to a road, but the decent tarmac path will take you through the third mile at an increased pace!

After a steady climb the road descends from Thistle Hill down to Calcutt. Our target here is the ‘Cricketers’ Pub (Formerly the Union).

Just beyond the Cricketer’s Pub, there will be our Drinks Station, after which we bear right past the old chapel, heading down to the south bank of the River Nidd.

We have now reached Blands Hill, where thankfully we turn right downhill, staying on the right past the Mother Shipton Pub.

We turn right at the Half Moon into the eastern end of Abbey Road, running downstream with the Nidd.

Good news! We’re already back at the ‘Crag’ which gives our run its name. Bad news… we need to be on top of it by the finish. You know what that means…

A few hundred metres later, we reach the delightful ‘Rock Cottage’. Time to say goodbye to Abbey Road. See that signpost? That’s where we’re going! So a sharp left turn takes us up the crag!

The main drag up the crag is on narrow trail and between freshly-trimmed bushes. Pace yourself… it’s not quite over yet.

The sting in the tail! The steepest part of our climb is only a handful of steps, but they’ll test you. The rest will feel flat after this, honest!

With the crag edge to your left and houses to the right, it’s a only a gentle incline here and you’re nearly back…

This short gravel opening might be a chance to grab a position. We’re aiming for that narrow grassy lane straight ahead…

Plunging into the narrow gap, this might be a chance to keep the opposition behind for a few moments.

See that bend in the road ahead? That’s our destination for the big finish. A chance to stretch your legs now on the final tarmac stretch downhill.