The inaugural ‘Black to the Trails: Bristol’ carnival of trail running will take place on 11 October 2026 at the iconic Blaise Castle estate, marking a significant moment for both organisations as they join forces to promote ethnically diverse participation in trail running while celebrating the cultural diversity of the city of Bristol.
The University of Bristol sees the collaboration as a natural extension of its civic mission – strengthening community partnerships, widening participation in sport and wellbeing activities, and celebrating the rich cultural fabric of the city. It also provides an exciting new opportunity for students at the University.
Black Trail Runners, a national community and campaigning charity, was founded in 2020 with the aim to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of Black and people of colour in trail running, with the sport historically showing low levels of engagement from ethnically diverse communities.
Together, the partners aim to continue to remove barriers to trail running, showcase the accessibility of Bristol’s green spaces, and encourage people from all backgrounds to experience the physical and mental health benefits of being active outdoors and part of an engaged community.
Matt Birch, Director of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Bristol, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Black Trail Runners to bring ‘Black to the Trails’ to Bristol. This collaboration reflects our commitment to widening participation in sport and physical activity, while celebrating the diversity that makes our city so vibrant. We hope this event will inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to feel that trail running – and our shared outdoor spaces – are truly for everyone.”
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, Co-Founder of Black Trail Runners and Event Director of Black to the Trails, said: “Bringing ‘Black to the Trails’ to Bristol is a huge milestone for us. After the continued success of our annual event at Dunstable Downs, we are excited to expand our trailblazing event to a city known for its energy, culture and community spirit. Black to the Trails is about more than running – it’s about visibility, representation and creating joyful, inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong on the trails.”
Following the success of Black Trail Runners’ annual event at Dunstable Downs, first held in 2023, the Bristol edition becomes the second large-scale trail running event in the national charity’s growing UK calendar. Like its sister event, ‘Black to the Trails: Bristol’ will feature 1km, 5km and 10km distances, making it accessible to runners of all ages and abilities – from first-time participants to seasoned trail athletes.
More than just a race, the iconic event will offer a vibrant festival atmosphere with live music, entertainment and food stalls for the communities they seek to engage, creating a welcoming and celebratory space for families and communities to come together outdoors.
Under 16s are able to enter the races free of charge and a community outreach plan will be launched to engage all community leaders who see value in bringing more people to the outdoors.
A Celebration of Bristol
With its historic parkland setting and panoramic views, Blaise Castle provides a fitting backdrop for a day designed to inspire connection – to nature, to community and to each other.
Organisers hope ‘Black to the Trails: Bristol’ will become a staple in the city’s sporting and cultural calendar, attracting participants from across the region and beyond, while reinforcing Bristol’s reputation as a city that champions inclusion, wellbeing and diversity.
Promoting Participation and Representation
Black Trail Runners was founded to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of Black and people of colour in trail running – a sport where participants from these communities remain significantly underrepresented. While the charity organises smaller, regular social trail taster days and group social runs across the UK, including in Bristol, ‘Black to the Trails’ was designed to create a powerful, visible celebration of diversity in the outdoors.
Further details, including registration information and a full event programme, can be found on the Black to the Trails website