Needles Cross Country Half Marathon

The Isle of Wight Festival of Running takes place on June 6 and 7, 2026, starting from the West Wight Sports and Community Centre on Moa Place in Freshwater, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. This festival features the Tapnell 10km (Saturday, June 6 at 12:00 PM), the Freshwater 5km, the famously tough Needles Half Marathon (Sunday, June 7 at 11:00 AM), and a Junior Fun Run, all set against dramatic cliffs, beautiful coves, a stately home, and a world-famous pop festival site in the breath-taking west of the Island.

Event Logistics and Participant Information:

• Location: West Wight Sports and Community Centre, Moa Place, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, PO40 9XH.
• Accommodation & Travel: Exclusive accommodation and travel discounts available for participants – book for the weekend and enjoy the beauty of the Isle of Wight.
• Local Running Community: Local running clubs and crews welcome visitors and new members throughout the week, with road, trail, and cross-country routes to suit everyone.
• Overall Rating: 4.7/5 based on 29 reviews – a favourite of runners from all over the South of England and one of the biggest sporting events on the Island.
• Donations: A donation option is available via the event website.
• Results: Official results are published on the event website.

Route and Atmosphere:

• Tapnell 10k: A scenic summer 10k from Freshwater village into rural countryside and through the fields of Tapnell Farm, returning through Gift to Nature land.
• Freshwater 5k: Ideal for beginner runners and off-road racers alike. Passes Alfred Lord Tennyson's magnificent home (Farringford), skirts Tennyson Down, and takes in Afton Marshes.
• Needles Half Marathon: Famously tough half marathon following a spectacular trail along the coast from Colwell Bay to Totland Bay, over the heathland of Headon Warren to The Needles. Runners then traverse rugged Tennyson Down to Tennyson Monument before descending to Freshwater Bay and across Afton Marsh to the finish.
• Junior Fun Run: Takes place in the fields adjoining the West Wight Sports & Community Centre – perfect for younger family members.
• Scenic Highlights: Dramatic cliffs, beautiful coves, a stately home (Farringford), a world-famous pop festival site (Isle of Wight Festival grounds), Tennyson Down, The Needles, and coastal heathland.
• Atmosphere: A festival that has become one of the biggest sporting events on the Isle of Wight, offering circular cross-country routes in breath-taking west Wight scenery. Welcoming to athletes of all levels.
• Spectator Experience: Friends and family can enjoy the stunning coastal views, cheer runners at multiple points along the coastal and countryside routes, and explore the Isle of Wight's west Wight attractions over the festival weekend.

The Isle of Wight Festival of Running 2026 – featuring the Tapnell 10km, Freshwater 5km, Needles Half Marathon, and Junior Fun Run – offers dramatic coastal trails, countryside routes, and a famously tough half marathon, all set in the breath-taking west of the Isle of Wight from Freshwater.