Our summer flagship event! This one is really popular, having won several awards for Britain’s Best Marathon over the years. It's easy to see why runners love the feel of this event. Taking over the village of Sydling St Nicholas, the villagers welcome runners, making you part of the community for the weekend. 

This event weekend provides something for all the family, with two tough races on Saturday, a barn dance in the village hall for those who can still walk on Saturday evening, and then a fun Bell Race and Half Marathon on Sunday. The Bell Race challenges anyone to take on the run to reach the top of the hill and do a task set by team at the top. Then, run down the hill with your medal clonking away like a proper Alpine Cow.

All race routes are very, very challenging and hilly, running through the Sydling and Cerne valleys. It's certainly not for the faint hearted; it's a tough race, with some steep climbs, sharp descents and the most amazing views to reward yourself with. If you’re not sure what to expect, here’s a race review to help you get a feel for the race.

The village will once again be providing food for you on Friday and Saturday evening, and Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes down at the Village Hall. Information for this will be released in 2024 to book via this site.

Bell Race will open in April for pre-entry.

Prizes are awarded on the line for the first three male and female runners, with all finishers receiving their medal and race goodies (unless opted out). 

You will be able to opt out of receiving your goodies when you enter if you prefer, and this cost will instead be donated to the Wilder Dorset Appeal. See more on the project details here. If you wish to receive your goodies but still make an optional personal contribution to the project, you can do so here. 

Camping can be booked in our exclusive 'athletes' village' on this page for the whole weekend. 

To keep up to date on all the information on the event, make sure you've followed the Facebook Event.

Giants Head Weekend no-group

• 15/06/2024, 08:30

  Giants Head Marathon 2024

  Closed £44.00 - £46.00
  Affiliated/ Unaffiliated

  More Details

  Description

  The marathon route is a very challenging, hilly but beautiful course running through the Sydling and Cerne valleys running around and under the famous Cerne Giant. It is certainly not for the faint hearted! It's a tough race, with some steep climbs, sharp descents and the most amazing views to reward yourself with. If you’re not sure what to expect, here's a race review to help you get a feel for the race.

  The race starts at 8:30am.

  There will be hot food and drinks pre- and post-race served by members of the village in the bar and Village Hall, a short walk from the finish on the village green.

  The cut-off time for the marathon is 7 hours and our minimum age requirement for entry is 18 years old. For general race questions, see our FAQs.

• 15/06/2024, 10:00

  Sydling Hill Race 2024

  Closed £32.00 - £34.00
  Affiliated/ Unaffiliated

  More Details

  Description

  The Sydling Hill route is a very challenging, hilly 11km course running through the Sydling and Cerne valleys. It is certainly not for the faint hearted! It's a tough race, with some steep climbs, sharp descents and the most amazing views to make it worth while. If you’re not sure what to expect, here's a race review to help you get a feel for the event.

  The race starts at 10am.

  There will be hot food and drinks pre- and post-race served by members of the village in the bar and Village Hall, a short walk from the finish on the village green.

  The cut-off time for the Hill Race is 3 hours and our minimum age requirement for entry is 17 years old. For general race questions, see our FAQs.

• 16/06/2024, 10:30

  Giants Head Half 2024

  Closed £34.00 - £36.00
  Affiliated/ Unaffiliated

  More Details

  Description

  Giants Head Half is the most recent addition to the weekend's events, but has proved popular. There will be an epic medal featuring the Cerne Abbas Giant, as expected. You will be running over lots of the terrain that the marathon runs on… except it’s only half the way and you won’t be so tired. Heading out of the village over Hog Hill towards Up Cerne, followed by a climb over East Hill before returning to the village green.

  The race starts at 10:30am.

  The cut-off time for the half-marathon is 4 hours and our minimum age requirement for entry is 17 years old. For general race questions, see our FAQs.

• 14/06/2024, 13:30 - 16/06/2024, 16:30

  Camping Pitch 2024

  Closed £30.00
  Camping Pitch

  More Details

  Description

  For all our events the campsites are huge and right in the centre of the race, a short walk from the start/finish and registration areas. We operate them on a very relaxed level, and ask that people behave responsibly and with others in mind when on and around the site.

  Camping at the Giants Head weekend is £30 for a weekend pitch, Friday to Sunday, regardless of the number of people in the tent, caravan, camper, motorhome, etc. The price is fixed if you choose to stay for just one night or both nights, but it's still a great deal for a night in the heart of the Dorset Countryside.

  This field, or as we like to call it ‘The Athletes’ Village’, usually has had all the cows, sheep and horses removed (there may be poo, it is the countryside, get over it) and you are able to drive your car onto the field. If you have a massive campervan or Winnebago it should fit in the gate. If it doesn't, come and find us we will work out a way of squeezing you in.

  Portalavs will be onsite; there will not be any toilet paper provided. There will be a drinking water supply. We will have showers and they are free to use. 

  If you bring your dog to camp, please, please, pick up any poos they leave and dispose of them sensibly. The fields will be returned to the owners for their normal use, so we don't want any cows and their young picking up nasty infections from dog poo. Please look after your dogs. That means control them; do not let them near any farm animals at any time. We don't want you to get in trouble and your dog or any livestock hurt or distressed.
  
  Our camping marshals will come aorund and check off your registration plate on our list so we know you've paid for your pitch. If you forget to purchase your camping pitch in advance, there will be an additional £5 admin charge for purchasing a pitch on the weekend of an event.

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