OAK & COAL

ULTRA-MARATHON

17th July 2027

The Oak & Coal Ultra is a 50K mixed-terrain race through the woodland, waterways and former colliery villages of North Nottinghamshire.

Starting and finishing at Ticking Clock Brewery in Shireoaks, the route takes in Clumber Park and other local woodland before heading through some of the smaller villages shaped by the area’s mining history.

Along the way, you’ll follow sections of the Robin Hood Way and the Cuckoo Way, with approximately 1,700 feet of elevation across the full route.

It is a varied but runnable course, with straightforward paths, tracks and minor roads. There is enough climbing to keep things interesting, but no mountains have been quietly imported into Nottinghamshire for the occasion.

THE ROUTE

The route brings together two important parts of the local landscape.

The Oak comes from the woodland and parkland surrounding Clumber Park. The Coal comes from the former mining communities found throughout this part of Nottinghamshire.

The course uses a mixture of:

Woodland paths
Established trails
Canal and waterside paths
Sections of the Robin Hood Way
Sections of the Cuckoo Way
Tracks and minor roads

The final GPX file and written route instructions will be provided to entrants before the event.

CHECKPOINTS

There will be four well-stocked checkpoints, each approximately seven miles apart.

This means you should not need to carry a large amount of food or water between checkpoints, although you will still need to bring the compulsory kit listed in the final event instructions.

Our checkpoint teams will be ready with food, drinks, encouragement and, where necessary, a firm suggestion that you eat something before setting off again.

DROP BAGS

A drop-bag service will be available at Checkpoint 2, around halfway through the route.

You will also be able to provide us with a small, clearly labelled food bag containing anything you particularly want to find at halfway and do not wish to leave to chance.

Further instructions about bag sizes, labelling and collection will be included in the final event information.

NAVIGATION

Please note that this is not a fully signposted course.

Entrants will receive:

A thoroughly tested GPX file
Written route instructions
Support from marshals at checkpoints
Marshals at key road crossings where required

You must be able to follow the route using the supplied GPX file and instructions. We strongly recommend carrying a suitable watch, phone or navigation device with the route downloaded before the start.

The route has been designed to be relatively easy to follow, but it remains your responsibility to know where you are going. Following the person in front only works if they know where they are going too.