Frequently asked questions

Yes. Beat the Trails are physically demanding events. Hiking long distances is no easy task and requires a certain level of fitness and stamina best acquired through training. The training you complete before the event will make a big difference. Please visit our training section for more advice. 

You must carry sufficient water (two litres) a packed lunch and snacks with you to keep you fuelled for the duration of the walk. There will be additional complimentary snacks at refreshment checkpoints along all routes as well.  Download your kit list for more details.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have appropriate clothing to complete your trail, including wet weather gear and sun protection. You must ensure your footwear is up to the job. This means walking boots for hill walking. Please do not wear trainers.

Please download your kit list checklist   to make sure you have everything you'll need for the trail. 

No, that wont be essential but some participants enjoy using them to check their progress and location throughout the day.

You can get started right now by downloading your fundraising advice and materials and training advice.

Don't forget to download your essential information booklet for your trail where you can find all the information you will need, including arrival time and location, parking advice and what to expect on the day.

If, at the point of registration, you opted into receiving a t-shirt, you will be eligible to receive it once you have raised and sent in your £207 pledge. Approximately one month before each trail we will post out any non-downloadable materials, such as your t-shirt and anything additional you require.

If you are fundraising offline, or reach your £207 pledge by the day of the event, but after the last welcome packs have been posted out, please bring along your proof of fundraising to the event to collect your t-shirt.

If you are having any difficulty downloading materials, please contact the team and we'll help.

It's important that your trail t-shirt is a comfortable fit. If you need to change your size, please get in touch and we'll get you sorted with the right fit.

Before getting in touch, measure up using the size guide to see which size would be best for you. Please refer to either men's sizing on page two or ladies' sizing on page three.

 Download your essential information booklet to find out what time you'll need to arrive for your trail.

If you arrive after the registration time in your essential information booklet, you will no longer be able to take part in the event. This is in order to manage efficiency and safety.

You'll find details on travel advice in your essential information booklet. Where possible and practicable, we encourage you to use public transport to reduce the number of cars being driven.

If arriving by car is the best option for you, we encourage you to car share where possible, to help share the cost of fuel, get excited together about the trail you're about to beat, and share the driving on the way home.

If relying on public transport to get to the event, please ensure you have made suitable arrangements for your return journey.

You'll find details on parking advice in your essential information booklet. Out of respect for residents living in the areas our trails take place, please do not leave vehicles on the roads or grass verges. Walkers and other visitors must safeguard private property, including all personal belongings. No responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage.

No. We must comply with the National Guidelines on this type of activity and manage this event responsibly in terms of the impact it has on the landscape. You will therefore only be able to take part if you have registered in advance.

We use a variety of techniques to ensure you stay on track during your trail, including signage, checkpoints and qualified mountain guides.

On some trails we may operate cut off points which you must reach by a designated time. This is for your own safety to ensure you won't be trailing on higher ground in reduced daylight and cooler temperatures. Please refer to your essential information pack for further details.

On some trails we will be grouping you together with a guide, this will be for your own safety and we will confirm these plans closer to your trail date.

There will be toilet facilities at the start and end of the trail, at the event base and on the route. Please refer to your essential information booklet for more details about your specific trail.

We ask participants not to bring their dogs to Beat the Trails. This is due to the presence of livestock on all routes, and out of respect for landowners whose livestock may be grazing near public footpaths which pass through their land.

Yes. Every participant must return to the event village, whether you have completed the walk or retired early from the event, so that we can account for all participants and ensure your safe return.

Failure to do so may result in emergency search and rescue responders being deployed to locate you.

Our delivery partner has full control across each trail, along with first aid trained guides who will be marshalling the route, and a mobile first aid team.

In the event of an injury or illness, please alert your nearest guide and arrangements will be made for your care or transport back to the registration point.

If you need to retire early from the event please alert your nearest guide and arrangements will be made to collect you from an accessible location, or for your return to the base. Please note these events take place in remote locations and vehicle access is not always possible. You ou may be required to return to base on foot.

If you retire early you MUST return to base so we can account for you and you can be signed off the event.

It is strict policy for these events that 14-17 year olds must be accompanied at all times by the parent/guardian responsible for them. Therefore the young person/s would have to retire from the event too, unless another adult known to them was present in the group, was an experienced walker and willing to assume full responsibility for them from that point onward.

Our delivery partner regularly monitors the weather along the route in advance of an event, and they will advise us of any safety concerns before the event goes ahead. Any decision to cancel the event would be based on their expert advice. Should we be advised to cancel the event, all participants would be contacted by telephone immediately.

Should weather conditions deteriorate whilst an event is taking place, specialists assisting us on the day will be in regular patrol of the route and assessing the weather and terrain at all times. Any decision to cancel or curtail the event will come from them and will only be taken if they consider the health and safety of the participants to be in doubt should the event continue.

Beat the Trails are managed by our experienced delivery partner who we have a long and successful history of delivering safe and responsible trails.

Visit our training and safety zone to ensure you're in the best shape possible for your trail. Download a kit list of suitable clothing and kit you'll need in order to participate.

Our delivery partner will constantly monitor weather conditions and any environmental factors in the lead up to and on the day of the event and will respond accordingly if conditions are not ideal.

All Beat the Trails go through a consultation process with the relevant authorities before taking place.

We aim to reduce our environmental impact by encouraging the use of public transport and car sharing when practicable.

We're working to reduce single use plastics, such as reusable (and bright yellow!) cable ties, recycling bins at events and we encourage all participants to carry their rubbish with them to dispose of at our checkpoints or event village.

Marie Curie also makes a donation back to each National Park after each event to help to support conservation and maintenance projects so these areas continue to be a beautiful and safe place for visitors to explore.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer roll overs to future years events.

Unfortunately, places on our events are non-transferable.

Places on our trails are limited and each person must pledge to raise £207. If you can no longer take part, please let us know so we can allocate your place to someone else.

Please notify us by calling 0845 052 4184 as soon as possible.

Registration fees are non-refundable after 7 days have passed (as per Distance Selling Regulations) from the participant registering either online or by phone or via a booking form.

By pledging to raise £207, you could fund one night of overnight nursing care at home or in one of our hospices. This will make a huge difference to people living with an illness they're likely to die from and those close to them. Find out more.

We know fundraising can be just a challenging as the training for your event. Our fundraising rewards are our way to say thank you as you reach your pledged fundraising and beyond. We'll announce further details soon!

We'll start to issue fundraising rewards from early 2025.

Fundraising Rewards

Raise your first £46  and you'll receive a digital trail perk pack by email, and a waterproof rucksack cover to keep everything dry during rainy days. To reduce postage, we'll include your rucksack cover in your event pack about a month before your event.

Reach your fundraising pledge of £207 and you'll receive your digital celebration pack and t-shirt (if you've opted in to receive one).

Double your fundraising pledge to raise £414 , which could fund two nights of nursing care, and you'll get a digital reward voucher which you can redeem on the day of the event for a bespoke Beat the Trails tubular scarf.

No. All the hard work is done for you and your money automatically makes its way over to us! This also means we can see when you're eligible for a fundraising reward, so you don't need to notify us.

Please do not bring the money you have raised with you on the day of the challenge as we are unable to accept or store it securely on site. Please visit our sponsorship support section for advice on how to pay in your sponsorship.

If you are fundraising through JustGiving, your sponsorship will come to us directly. If you are fundraising offline (for example collecting cash from sponsors) please can you send in your final sponsorship no later than two weeks after your trail has taken place. Please visit our sponsorship support section for advice on how to pay in your sponsorship.

If your sponsors pay tax in the UK, we can reclaim 25% on top of their donation.* So, if they sponsor you £100, that may be worth £125 to Marie Curie. Just ask your sponsors to select the Gift Aid box on your online or offline sponsorship form.

* Gift Aid is not included in your fundraising total and doesn't count towards your fundraising target

Some employers will offer to match your fundraising pound for pound, or agree a fixed amount to donate up front. It's an easy way to top up your total, so ask your employer if they have a matched giving scheme.

Yes, download our Beat the Trails terms and conditions  . 

If you have a question which isn't covered here, get in touch and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.