2026 Farnham Pilgrim Marathon - Sep 13 Countdown

Q: What is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon route?

The Farnham Pilgrim Marathon is a single multi-terrain lap starting and finishing at the Hampton Estate near Seale, just east of Farnham in Surrey. It follows the ancient Pilgrims' Way and the North Downs Way, the path medieval pilgrims walked toward Canterbury, climbing over the Surrey Hills past St Martha's Hill, Watts Gallery, St Catherine's Lock and the River Wey. Organisers count five churches, an abbey, two manor houses, vineyards and even llamas along the way.

Q: Is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon flat? How hard is it?

It is not flat - it is a genuinely hilly trail marathon. The course rolls across the North Downs with steady climbs the whole way round, totalling roughly 1,000m of ascent, including the steep pull to the top of St Martha's Hill. The average finishing time is just over five hours, well outside a typical road-marathon time. Plan your effort with our pace calculator and study the hills with our elevation profile tool.

Q: How much climbing does the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon have?

The full lap packs in around 1,000m of total elevation gain across the Surrey Hills, spread over rolling climbs rather than one single mountain. Combined with the off-road surface, it typically adds well over half an hour to a flat road time. Use our race time predictor as a flat-road baseline, then add time for the terrain and the constant undulation.

Q: What surface is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon and what shoes should I wear?

The course is almost entirely off-road on footpaths, bridleways and the North Downs Way - a mix of chalk, grass, woodland trail and country lane, with muddy sections after rain. Trail shoes with a grippy outsole are strongly recommended for the descents and any wet chalk, though dry conditions are runnable in sturdy road trainers. Whatever you choose, expect dirt and the odd puddle.

Q: How do I enter the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon 2026?

Entry is open to the public online through the official event's Entry Point page, with no ballot. The marathon entry fee is around 45 GBP, and all proceeds go to local charities - the event is run by the Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside with Farnham Town Running Club. It is a small, capacity-limited trail race, so enter early as places can sell out.

Q: What time does the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon start and what is the cut-off?

The marathon starts at 08:30 from the Hampton Estate at Seale on Sunday 13 September 2026 (the half marathon follows at 09:00). Course support is withdrawn by 4:00pm, giving an effective limit of about seven and a half hours; the last finishers in recent years have come in around the 7-hour mark. Some finish-area facilities stay open until 4:30pm.

Q: Is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon a Boston Qualifier?

No. Because the route is an off-road trail course over the North Downs rather than a UK Athletics road-certified, accurately measured road race, a Farnham Pilgrim finish is not valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) or a London Good For Age (GFA) entry. Come for the scenery, the pilgrimage history and the challenge, not a PB. If a qualifying time is your goal, check the standards with our Good For Age tool and pick a fast road race instead.

Q: How do I get to the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon start?

The start is at the Hampton Estate, Myrtle's Courtyard, Seale (GU10 1JH), a rural spot east of Farnham with free on-site parking, so most runners drive. There is no station at Seale itself; the nearest mainline rail is Farnham station (about four miles away, on the London Waterloo line), from which it is a short taxi or lift to the start. Allow extra time on race morning for the country lanes into the estate.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Farnham Pilgrim Marathon - Sep 13
City	Farnham
Date	2026-09-13 at 08:30
Time Limit	7 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace	10:40/km
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside
Registration	Register · 45 GBP

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	15.9°C / 61°F
Humidity	80%
Wind	22.7 km/h
Rain Chance	33%
Typical Conditions	Mild early-autumn Surrey morning. Expect around 12-13C (54-55F) at the 08:30 start, climbing into the high teens (around 18C / 64F) by midday, with high humidity around the wooded valleys and roughly a 40 percent chance of a shower. September is one of the drier, more settled months in southern England.

What to Prepare: Dress for cool double-digit Celsius at the start with a layer you can shed as the day warms. The route is almost entirely off-road over the North Downs, so trail shoes with grip help on chalk, roots and any mud after rain. Run by effort, not pace - the 1,000m of climbing will slow you well below a flat road time.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 22.7 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	13°C	15.8°C	18.6°C
Dew point	8.8°C	12.2°C	15.6°C

Wet-day chance: 33% Runnability: 71/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Single multi-terrain lap from Seale through the Surrey Hills and back
Elevation Gain	1000m
Terrain	Trail
Profile	Genuinely hilly and not a fast course. The route follows ancient pilgrim footpaths and the North Downs Way with steady climbs and rolling sections throughout, packing in roughly 1,000m of total ascent - including the pull up to the summit of St Martha's Hill. The average finish time is just over five hours, so plan to run well outside your road-marathon pace.

Prepare for 2026 Farnham Pilgrim Marathon - Sep 13

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon route?

The Farnham Pilgrim Marathon is a single multi-terrain lap starting and finishing at the Hampton Estate near Seale, just east of Farnham in Surrey. It follows the ancient Pilgrims' Way and the North Downs Way, the path medieval pilgrims walked toward Canterbury, climbing over the Surrey Hills past St Martha's Hill, Watts Gallery, St Catherine's Lock and the River Wey. Organisers count five churches, an abbey, two manor houses, vineyards and even llamas along the way.

Is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon flat? How hard is it?

It is not flat - it is a genuinely hilly trail marathon. The course rolls across the North Downs with steady climbs the whole way round, totalling roughly 1,000m of ascent, including the steep pull to the top of St Martha's Hill. The average finishing time is just over five hours, well outside a typical road-marathon time. Plan your effort with our pace calculator and study the hills with our elevation profile tool.

How much climbing does the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon have?

The full lap packs in around 1,000m of total elevation gain across the Surrey Hills, spread over rolling climbs rather than one single mountain. Combined with the off-road surface, it typically adds well over half an hour to a flat road time. Use our race time predictor as a flat-road baseline, then add time for the terrain and the constant undulation.

What surface is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon and what shoes should I wear?

The course is almost entirely off-road on footpaths, bridleways and the North Downs Way - a mix of chalk, grass, woodland trail and country lane, with muddy sections after rain. Trail shoes with a grippy outsole are strongly recommended for the descents and any wet chalk, though dry conditions are runnable in sturdy road trainers. Whatever you choose, expect dirt and the odd puddle.

How do I enter the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon 2026?

Entry is open to the public online through the official event's Entry Point page, with no ballot. The marathon entry fee is around 45 GBP, and all proceeds go to local charities - the event is run by the Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside with Farnham Town Running Club. It is a small, capacity-limited trail race, so enter early as places can sell out.

What time does the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon start and what is the cut-off?

The marathon starts at 08:30 from the Hampton Estate at Seale on Sunday 13 September 2026 (the half marathon follows at 09:00). Course support is withdrawn by 4:00pm, giving an effective limit of about seven and a half hours; the last finishers in recent years have come in around the 7-hour mark. Some finish-area facilities stay open until 4:30pm.

Is the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon a Boston Qualifier?

No. Because the route is an off-road trail course over the North Downs rather than a UK Athletics road-certified, accurately measured road race, a Farnham Pilgrim finish is not valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) or a London Good For Age (GFA) entry. Come for the scenery, the pilgrimage history and the challenge, not a PB. If a qualifying time is your goal, check the standards with our Good For Age tool and pick a fast road race instead.

How do I get to the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon start?

The start is at the Hampton Estate, Myrtle's Courtyard, Seale (GU10 1JH), a rural spot east of Farnham with free on-site parking, so most runners drive. There is no station at Seale itself; the nearest mainline rail is Farnham station (about four miles away, on the London Waterloo line), from which it is a short taxi or lift to the start. Allow extra time on race morning for the country lanes into the estate.