East Yorkshire Cross Country League
Dalby Forest Cross Country Race
15th February 2026 10am
Hosted by Pickering RC and Scarborough AC
By kind permission of Dalby Forest, Forest England.
Race information
Licence number – 7529 (TRA)
Race director – Dean Wise
Directions to venue- please car share
from Thornton le Dale take Whitbygate (signposted to Dalby Forest) after 2.2 km turn right. On reaching the entrance barriers your car registration will be recorded and the barrier will raise. Follow road down into Dalby, follow signs for Visitor Centre and later instructions from carpark marshals.
Car parking- go to the Visitor Centre car park or the Overflow Parking in Seivedale. These are shown on the accompanying maps. The race information includes a QR code to present to the payment machine after entering your car registration. Machines are located in the carparks and at the Visitor Centre. The machine will inform you that no payment is necessary and you are free to leave. If you have a problem with a machine a friendly ranger in the visitor centre will be able to help you. On reaching the exit from the forest the ANPR system will engage the barriers to raise.
Route information- the lollipop course is run over forest tracks, farm tracks, footpaths across pasture and arable fields and a sunken lane. There are short sections of concrete and tarmac so trail shoes are advised, spikes are not suitable.
The start and finish run in are on brand new forest track, when the race was initially planned this was a lovely muddy lane, sadly it has all changed in the last two months! It should be fast!
After approximately one mile there will be a funnel leading to the first of two stiles, should there be a queue please respect the other runners, who may be faster than you, and also follow the instructions of marshals. There will be another stile and several gates further on. After the stiles there is a short, narrow path section through scrubby woodland where overtaking opportunities are limited. If you are feeling strong, bide your time, there will be many chances ahead to push on later.
The first half of the course is fairly flat, from halfway you will meet the first of three steepish hills. At the top of the first the route crosses some fields, firstly one with foraging sheep, then after two gates two pasture fields separated by a stile.
After a gate there is a concrete farm track before a gate to take you downhill through more pasture and on to a forested area and another uphill section,
At the top turn right and along a hedge to the field corner, after greeting the marshal turn 300 degrees left and run across the field diagonally to enter a sunken downhill lane. After descending there is a large fallen tree across the path, you will need to duck!
After a marshalled gate you need to strike diagonally uphill to a stile, turn right up a steep road to cross yet another stile. Turn left to go downhill where you will come to the stick of the lollipop that leads you back to the start/finish area.
Total distance 6 miles. Time limit 95 minutes.
Toilets- there are toilets at the visitor centre and also in the courtyard.
Pop up café- there will be refreshments available at the finish, please bring your own mug! Any food contributions would be gratefully accepted. Could all clubs bring along hot water for the post run drinks.
There are also opportunities for more substantial meals in Dalby, at the Courtyard Café and at the Visitor Centre.
Car parks shown in red
Walk to Start – please follow marshals' instructions and take care when crossing road.
Vest, number and headphones.
As with all races in the series, runners are required to wear a club vest or T-shirt as the outer covering, race number must be able to
be seen clearly and securely fastened to the torso. Headphones are not allowed.
Marshalling Any offers of help would be welcome.
Race route- lollipop to be taken anti-clockwise. All on public rights of way.
