Helsby Running Club’s is proud to organise the Joe Beswick Sandstone Trail, an end to end challenge for walkers and runners. The epic challenge to complete the 34 mile trail with 4,160 feet of elevation in under 10 hours, keeps people coming back year after year!
Next race day is Sunday 11 May 2025.
Entries open on 1 February, until full!

The Sandstone Trail Challenge is back for 2025!
We always get great feedback from this challenge and it’s a pleasure to see people’s faces at the end when they’ve achieved something special. Bus to the start from Frodsham to Whitchurch (in a whole other county) and then make your way back to Frodsham, passing the well-stocked food and drink checkpoints on the way.
Wouldn’t you like to complete the entire 34 mile length of the long distance trail within 10 hours?
About the event
In 2011 Helsby Running Club revived the Sandstone Trail Challenge event that until 2006 was organised by the Fire Service in Frodsham. The event has continued to be popular with both runners and walkers. In 2020 and 2021 the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
In 2022 the event was renamed in memory of Joe Beswick. Joe sadly died in December 2020 at the age of 89. Joe was a talented runner who competed successfully well into his seventies. He was also an inspirational coach for Helsby and other local clubs. In most recent years he volunteered at and supported a variety of running events including the Sandstone Trail Challenge. I am sure participants will remember his “wahh hay” as they approached Manley Common, his favoured check point. Joe’s family have kindly donated two perpetual trophies to the event, one for the first male home and one for the first female.
The event follows the 34 miles of the way-marked Sandstone Trail from beginning to end, apart from leaving the trail at Kelsall for approximately one mile, to avoid the busy A54 road crossing, and a minor variation at the end to finish at the Community Centre in Frodsham.
The Sandstone Trail follows a sandstone ridge through the Cheshire plain, with some of the best scenery in the county. This is a challenge event that is open to both runners and walkers who can complete the course within 10 hours. Note that it is not a race. It is open to everyone aged 14 or over who’s fit enough and experienced enough to do it.
Please use the following link if you would like to enter the event: www.fabian4.co.uk (Entries open on 01/02/2025.
If you have any questions you can contact us (David and Lesley Feakes): sandstonetrailchallenge@hotmail.com

Previous results (2024)
In 2024 we had 206 starters. The winning male, Paul Martin, completed the course in 4 hours and 47 minutes. Keely Smith was first woman to finish in a time of 5 hours and 35 minutes.
Thank you to everyone who helped out in any way to support the Challenge, without the time and support of our volunteers we couldn’t stage this event.
The route
Start: Jubilee Park, Whitchurch, Shropshire, GR537415 (W3W: bearable.seated.plantings).
End: Frodsham Community Centre, Fluin Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 7QN, GR522779 (W3W: fluid.thanks.scenes).
Distance
Officially the Sandstone Trail is 34 miles long, our route is around that with the minor adjustments for traffic and finish point. There’s about 1,268 metres (4,160 feet) of climbing.

Route description
The Challenge route follows the way-marked trail throughout, apart from avoiding the A54 road crossing at Gresty’s Waste (GR540687) (changed 2023 Challenge onwards) and the final road section into the centre of Frodsham. The way-marking uses a yellow footprint and is of a standard comparable with National Trails (ie good but not perfect).
The route is also marked on recent editions of the relevant OS Explorer maps. We will not be issuing a detailed route description ourselves, but will produce some brief notes covering a few particular points to look out for. These will be emailed before the event and available on the day. Note that it is perfectly possible to get lost when following the Trail, so you must be capable of navigation with map and compass, and be carrying both (see the conditions of entry).
The best places to find information about the route of the Sandstone Trail are the Cheshire West and Chester Council website and Tony Bowerman’s guidebook ‘Walking Cheshire’s Sandstone Trail’. The route is also shown on recent editions of OS Explorer maps 257 and 267.
Cost
£45, including coach travel from Frodsham to the start in Whitchurch and drinks and food at the end. You must enter in advance, no entries on the day.
Numbers
Entries will be limited to a maximum of 250 participants. Participants are free to navigate the course by running, walking or a combination of the two but they must complete the course within the 10 hour time limit.
Timetable
Registration will be from 06:30 to 07:00 at Frodsham Community Centre. At 07:15 sharp coaches leave Frodsham to take everyone to the start in Whitchurch. The coaches will drop everyone off at Tesco in Whitchurch, a few minutes’ walk to the start. The event starts at 08:30 on the race director’s discretion. You then have to get back to Frodsham by 18:30, ie within the 10 hour time limit. We will be able to transport small bags back to Frodsham from the start, eg runners who don’t want to change into their running shoes until the last moment. We can’t do this with big kitbags or sacks though, and we can’t carry valuables. Please label bags clearly with your name.
Checkpoints
There will be five intermediate checkpoints, each of which will be manned by volunteer marshals. They will all provide drinks, and snack food. Checkpoint locations are expected to be:
- CP1: Lay-by at Bickleywood near No Man’s Heath, GR 523480 (W3W: grows.skippers.jabs)
- CP2: Bickerton, just before the A534, at a minor road junction, GR 513537 (W3W: reverses.waxing.completed)
- CP3: Horsley Lane below Peckforton Castle, where the Trail emerges from the woods, GR 534583 (W3W: shrub.muddle.preoccupied)
- CP4: Roadside by Rock Farm, Willington, GR 536662 (W3W: bolt.momentous.dumpy)
- CP5: In grounds of Stone House Farm Café by road at Manley Common, GR517720 (W3W: camp.refers.turntable)
Any changes to these arrangements will be included in the briefing notes emailed before the event.
Frodsham Community Centre
The community centre’s postcode is WA6 7QN (W3W: fluid.thanks.scenes). There should be enough car parking space in the grounds, so please don’t park in the street outside unless directed by marshals. If at all possible, share lifts to the start. Registration is inside the community centre in the Main Hall, and those without cars can leave bags in the hall, at your own risk: no valuables please. There are plenty of toilets at the centre so please make the most of them to reduce delay on arrival in Whitchurch.
When you eventually arrive back at Frodsham check in at the finish desk, and you should then be able to collapse in a chair and enjoy the hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes available in the Community Centre.
Entry options
Age 14 & over on Sunday 11 May 2025
Entries open 1 Feb 2025 at 08:00 on the Fabian website via www.fabian4.co.uk
Runners and Walkers £45.00.
Have a great day!
Go and read the full terms and conditions. By clicking enter now you confirm you’ve done that!
Contact us
If you have any questions you can contact us (David and Lesley Feakes): sandstonetrailchallenge@hotmail.com