The Middleton Mirth Trail
Self-guided trail run/ walk. Free, donation to charity encouraged.
Distance: Approx. 4.7 miles / 7.5km.
Course remains open after 12th January 2025.
Start / Finish: Urban Bike Park Café, Middleton, Leeds LS10 3TN.
Read course safety briefing. Event run at your own risk.
Download course instructions.
Log your time and provide feedback below.
Please donate to the Leeds Hospitals Charity.
Read the Briefing and Download the Route Below
The Middleton Mirth Trail – Course Briefing
The start / finish is the Leeds Urban Bike Park Café – check for opening times. www.leedsurbanbikepark.com/cafe
Car parking is available. It can be busy with cyclists. An alternative car park can be accessed off Town Street, approx. 1 mile away.
Toilets are available at the Bike Park Café, when open. Alternatives are at the visitor centre within the first mile of the route.
The distance is approx. 4.7 miles or 7.5km, on a mix of tarmac paths, roads, woodland tracks and grass paths. The route instructions can be downloaded below. Print them off and keep them in something dry if you can. The pdf file may work on your phone, but it helps to keep your finger on the last instruction.
Apart from fellow runners and walkers, you will be out on the course by yourself and responsible for your own safety. There are no signs or marshals on the course. If you are comfortable with that kind of challenge, then this will be a good event for you. The instructions are easy and you can share the route finding with someone else if you want.
Course Details
The enjoyment is discovering the route as you go. However, you can take as much time as you need to familiarise yourself with the instructions before setting off. A route update on Sunday 17th November 2024 noted the following points and hazards:
The course is on a mix of tarmac paths, roads, woodland tracks and grass paths. Light trail shoes would be most suitable. There are a lot of firm paths on the route, however, mud, water, long grass and slippery leaves are likely to be found.
Check the weather forecast on the day, winter in Yorkshire can mean any type of weather imaginable. Appropriate clothing is recommended to keep warm and dry. Take any kit or water and food supplies that you need with you.
The route will be open to other park users. You may encounter mountain bikers on some shared paths, do not go onto any dedicated mountain bike trails. Beware of cars using the various car parks.
Beware that there may be stones, tree roots, holes and uneven ground hidden beneath long grass or leaves.
The course (vegetation, signs etc) may naturally change over time. This is why the event is open for a limited time.
The route is undulating with approx. 150m of total ascent.
Other events may be on in the area. It might be better to chose a different day to complete it. This route is different, why not do this and the other events as well?
8th December 2024: Bah Humbug 10K. https://racebest.com/races/5k6tf
15th December 2024: Peco Cross Country. https://www.pecoxc.co.uk/
Every Saturday at 9am: Middleton Woods parkrun. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/middletonwoods/
Download The Middleton Mirth Route Description:
Trail Tips!
It’s not difficult but the following tips might help…
Read a couple of instructions at a time. That way you can make a turning and look for the next, this is speedy and finding the next point gives reassurance that you are on the right path. You’ll quickly build up a rhythm!
Keep track of where you are in the instructions with your thumb.
Distances in the instructions are approximate to provide a sense of how far to run before the next feature or change of direction.
The use of maps and GPS is not usually allowed. You may track your route (e.g. on Strava), but please don’t spoil it for others by sharing the route publicly.
If you become uncertain, Google maps can be used to find the café. You won’t ever be far from civilisation.
Please Donate to The Leeds Hospital Charity and Record Your Completion of the Route: