Half Marathon
13.1 Miles of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The New Forest Half Marathon 2026 is one of the most scenic half marathon races in the UK.
Set within New Forest National Park near Brockenhurst, Hampshire, this flat and fast multi-terrain course is perfect for runners chasing a personal best.
The route winds through ancient woodland, across open heathland and along the spectacular Rhinefield Ornamental Drive — lined with towering 50-metre Coastal Redwood and Giant Sequoia trees.
With approximately 50% of the course on open roads offering far-reaching views across the National Park, this is a half marathon that is as fast as it is beautiful.
Free-roaming New Forest ponies and deer may well join you along the way.
How do I enter the New Forest Half Marathon 2026?
Sign up for New Forest Half Marathon 2026 — enter now
What is the New Forest Half Marathon route like?
The New Forest Half Marathon route is multi-terrain, combining compact gravel forest tracks with open tarmac roads.
The course starts and finishes at New Forest Showground, Brockenhurst, winding through forest enclosures and across open heathland.
Highlights include the iconic Rhinefield Ornamental Drive — one of the most breathtaking stretches of road in southern England.
The route is flat and fast, making it an excellent choice for runners targeting a new half marathon PB.
NB: All routes may be subject to minor changes and are professionally measured
Is the New Forest Half Marathon a flat course?
Yes — the New Forest Half Marathon is flat and fast, with minimal elevation change throughout.
This makes it one of the best half marathons in Hampshire for runners targeting a PB.
The course profile confirms a largely level route, with only gentle undulations through the forest sections.
See graphic below for details on the Half Marathon elevation.
Also, please view the footprints below for a chart comparing the course gradients of our different races.
Red = Full Marathon, Yellow = Half Marathon, 10K = Blue, 5K = Purple
Which other race distances can I run at the New Forest Marathon 2026?
The Half Marathon is just one of seven fantastic races on offer at the New Forest Marathon 2026 (see below).
Therefore, whether you are bringing family or running with a club, there is a distance for everyone on the day.
Full Marathon — the ultimate 26.2 mile New Forest challenge, including the full Rhinefield Ornamental Drive
10K — a challenging and rewarding multi-terrain 10K through the heart of the New Forest
5K — open to runners aged 8 and over, perfect for families
Junior Races — Junior 1 Mile and Junior 200m for younger runners
Woodland Walk — a beautiful led walk through New Forest National Park for supporters
Download the Half Marathon GPX File
Plan your race preparation by downloading the official Half Marathon GPX route file
— compatible with Garmin devices and all major GPS platforms.
How does the New Forest Marathon protect the environment?
The New Forest Marathon team is passionate about protecting this extraordinary landscape.
Each year, we work closely with both Natural England and Forestry England to ensure the event has zero impact on the local habitat.
This process takes several months and includes producing a full Habitat Risk Assessment and obtaining official Forestry England permissions.
We are proud to have been granted permission to hold the event for the next five years — a testament to our commitment to responsible, sustainable event management.
Find out more about how we protect the New Forest →
Looking for a Trail Half Marathon in Dorset?
The New Forest Half Marathon is organised by ORA Events — the same experienced team behind The Chase Trail Run, a spectacular trail half marathon set on the Cranborne Chase – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) near Ringwood, Dorset. So, if you are looking for a trail running challenge in the South of England, The Chase on 25th April 2027 could be your next race.
