Wild Running

This years Something Wild Festival, now in its third year, will be held for the second consecutive year at Huccaby Farm, nestled in a more secluded valley in Hexworthy. A perfect little haven for families and first time visitors to Dartmoor.

We have chosen this spot as our tribute to trail running and our celebration of Dartmoor because it sits on a lovely bend of the River Dart and because of the facility for housing up to 400 people inside the giant cow shed, which will serve as our cafeteria and presentation venue. It also sits, rather conveniently right on the route for our main running events, the marathon, half marathon and 10km and the small chapel will serve as a rather cosy venue for our speakers evening. It even has a secret cavern for our childrens forest school.

We aim to make it a family friendly event, so well be offering childrens activities throughout Saturday, such as forest school, capture the flag and foraging workshops, as well as childrens races.

This year food is not included (and weve brought down the festival ticket prices accordingly) so our caterers will be providing food on a cash basis.

Events will get under way with the trail marathon, which has more than 3,500 ft of ascent, followed an hour later by the trail half marathon, which also includes two crossings of the Dart. Our Summit Wild Ultra, which will run parallel with the marathon, is an ideal entry level ultra, although its no walk in the park believe us!

After Saturdays exertions, there will be a dinner and presentation ceremony, followed by a speakers evening in St Raphaels Chapel.

On Sunday morning were holding the childrens races for those aged three to 11 followed by the 5K (for children 12 & above) and 10K race at 10am.

Around the running events we have a Forest school for children and their parents, workshops for nature lovers, star gazing, Wellbeing and Natural Movement, as well as a giant game of Capture the Flag on Sunday.

All in all, its a great weekend, whether you have travelled with your family or just want to see the best that Dartmoor has to offer.

The fourth Wild Dart Swim is moving to September. As with previous years, you can enter the 2.5k or 5k swim, as well as a 7k aquathlon. New this year is a and 15k and 1.5 mile sprint aquathlon, so something to keep swimmers, runners and triathletes happy.

The 5k swim covers an out and back route, starting and finishing at the Dart-Totnes Rowing Club on Steamer Quay. The 2.5k swimmers start at the same place in separate waves (according to your predicted finishing time) but exit as Sharpham. Aquathoners will also exit at Sharpham, then move to a nearby transition area, before running the three miles back to the rowing club, following the cycle path above the Dart.

Swimming alongside the tow path and the reed beds, which line the Sharpham side of the river and the rolling hills on the left, which wind along towards Stoke Gabriel. You will take your first snake bend here, as the river takes a turn towards Sharpham.

You will know youre approaching the half way buoy when you can catch sight of a small pontoon on your right, which is Sharphams North Quay.

The 7k aquathlon includes the 2.5k swim and a hilly 4.5k run along the cycle track from Sharpham House to Moat Hill, turning left at The Steam Packet before crossing the bridge to Bridgetown and turning right in to Steam Quay and the rowing club. The course suits road shoes.

The 15k aquathlon takes runners up the hill from Sharpham Houe and down the road through Ashprington towards Bow Bridge before runners follow the Harbourne River to Beanleigh cross and back to Sharpham and then Totnes via the bicycle tracks.

The sprint aquathlon will precede all the other events and includes an 800 n swim along the River Dart parallel to the walkway,until it reaches its end and the swimmers get out and transition before running a short 1 mile loop around Steamer Quay.

This genuinely epic ultra starts in Lynmouth and finishes in Ivybridge (100 miles) with the option of continuing to Wembury if you finish within 30 hours (111 miles). You will run through the night and anyone who gets to Ivybridge inside 24 hours will receive a special prize!

This is a very challenging self navigation ultra, and isn't to be taken lightly. You'll be crossing two national parks: Exmoor in the north of Devon, Mid Devon and Dartmoor National Park, following the recently relaunched Two Moors Way. Despite the minimal ascent, only experienced ultra runners or participants with good navigation skills will be accepted. Even in September, good weather can not be assured and parts of the route can become boggy.

Dont be fooled, this is no baby ultra! Its a fully fledged Dartmoor Crossing, following the Two Moors Way, which will require self navigation skills.