22/05/2026
Willow Miner Trail Race – 2026 Cancellation Notice
Elvet Striders regret to announce that the Willow Miner Trail Race will not take place in 2026.
Our usual start/finish area at Houghall will be unavailable throughout the summer due to extensive building works. These works create significant access and safety constraints, and despite exploring multiple alternative start/finish options, none were viable without compromising the quality or integrity of the event.
This is a disappointing outcome for the club and for many runners across the North East. The Willow Miner has become a standout summer fixture — known for its friendly atmosphere and its beautiful, undulating woodland and riverside course, a route that showcases some of the best trail running Durham has to offer.
We know how many runners look forward to it each year, and we share the frustration of having to pause the event. Our intention is to bring the Willow Miner back in 2027, once the site is fully accessible and we can deliver the race to the standard runners expect.
Thank you to everyone who supports the event — runners, marshals, landowners, and friends of the club. Your backing means a great deal, and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as circumstances allow.