Covering 13.1 miles of hills, valleys, and everything in between, these half marathons are not for the faint-hearted. But the best part? You don’t need to qualify to take part – just show up, dig deep, and embrace the challenge.
Whether you’re chasing a new kind of personal best or just aiming to finish with your legs (and dignity) intact, these races offer stunning routes, serious elevation – and the satisfaction of conquering some of the UK’s most demanding routes.
Toughest half marathon road races
The Big Dipper
Taking in the Derbyshire countryside and the Peak District, the Big Dipper boasts around 510m of ascent, making it one of the toughest half marathon road races in the country. Starting at the Hyde Park Inn in the ‘Hill Top’ area (the clue’s in the name) of Dronfield, the Big Dipper heads through Shillito Woods and climbs up through Unthank, before heading back into Barlow. If you’re hoping for a sprint finish, you won’t get one here – there’s an uphill run back to the Hyde Park Inn at the end. Fortunately, there’ll be beers on tap to greet you.
It might be a road race, but there are dramatic views of Peak District scenery throughout to keep you occupied. Plus, you don’t have to be an overall winner to grab a prize – the person who breaks their own personal course record by the biggest time will also win £100!
The Big Dipper takes place in September.
Langdale Half Marathon
Reaching gradients of 1:3, and with 592m of ascent, the Langdale Half Marathon laps around the picturesque Great and Little Langdale valleys in the heart of the Lake District. For those wanting to push themselves just 13.1 miles further, there’s also a marathon on offer – two laps of the circular half marathon course.
The Langdale Half Marathon takes place in September.
Eyam Half Marathon
Eyam Half Marathon began in 1993 and quickly became a firm favourite on the road racing calendar for those wanting to push themselves on a more challenging route. Known as the “Rat Race”, you certainly won’t get a PB here, with views across five counties and some fairly brutal hills along the way. There’s roughly 530m of ascent. This entirely volunteer-led race raises funds for cancer charities and local causes, with homemade cakes at the finish. Set in the heart of the Peak District, the Eyam Half Marathon has the friendly, down-to-earth energy of a local fell race, but without needing to don your fell shoes.
The Eyam Half Marathon takes place in May.
Isle of Harris Half Marathon
With a ferry crossing over from Skye, the journey up to the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides (one of the best Scottish islands to visit) is an adventure in itself. Once you arrive, you’ll be met by white sandy beaches, rugged coastlines and welcoming Harris locals. While there are plenty of great trail runs to try out on Harris, the bogginess of the peat underfoot can make it slightly more of a challenge – and when the views from the road are this good, the road runs are just as mighty.
The Harris half begins at Borve Lodge, just beyond Nisabost Beach, and runs back to Sir E Scott School beyond the Tarbert ferry terminal. You’ll pass a raft of majestic beaches and moorlands punctuated by lochs of various sizes, but the roads are undulating – ribbons of tarmac strewn over lunar landscapes. There’s roughly 330m of elevation across the length of the run.
The Isle of Harris Half Marathon takes place in July.
Toughest half marathon trail races
Loch to Lawers Half Marathon
For the summit baggers among us, the Loch to Lawers Half Marathon drags people up not one, but two Munros! There’s a mix of trail running, track and tarmac in this route – so this isn’t a simple road race. The elevation gain is a whopping 1214m, so it’s not a half marathon for the faint-hearted. The climbs are steep and the descents technical, with the first section taking runners to the summit of Ben Lawers and the second half up Beinn Ghlas. Based around the banks of Loch Tay (one of the biggest lakes in the UK), the scenery is epic and should bring joy to runners… even if they’re deep in the pain cave.
The Loch to Lawers Half Marathon takes place in September.
Did you know? Ben Lawers is famous for its mountain flora – find out more about the flowers on Britain's highest mountains here.
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Cheddar Gorge Half Marathon
Anyone who has driven through Cheddar Gorge knows just how hilly it is (it's one of the steepest roads in the UK!) – and the Cheddar Gorge Half Marathon takes in some of these hills, as well as a trip up to Beacon Batch, the highest point on the Mendip Hills. There are steep flights of steps, tricky descents, boggy sections and about 600m of elevation, so plenty of challenges for runners. But there are also feed stations along the way, as well as a variety of different landscapes, including a surprising appearance from a World War Two bunker.
For supporters, there are lots of lovely places to explore around here. Cheddar Gorge has some of Britain's best gorge walks – and some of the best walks in Somerset are located around the Mendips.
The Cheddar Gorge Half Marathon takes place in June.
Midsummer Munro
Starting at the top of Box Hill in Surrey (one of the best places to walk in Surrey), this “gratuitously difficult” half marathon has elevation gain of about 980m. To make it even more of a mental challenge, it’s an out-and-back loop, with all the hills saved for the return leg. Brutal.
The Midsummer Munro Half Marathon takes place in June.
Enjoyed your half marathon? Now try one of the UK's toughest marathons – or perhaps try an ultramarathon or Ironman!
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Top image: Great Langdale valley (credit: Getty Images)
