TIME is fast running out for those who want to take part in one of the toughest challenges that brings people from all over the country flocking to Craven Arms and the south Shropshire hills every spring.

Now a regular feature in Shropshire’s running and walking calendar, the SW80K Festival returns to its regular April slot in 2023.

On Saturday, April 1, runners and walkers from across the UK and beyond will descend on the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms to take part in one of five events, the mighty SW80K, The Mammothon, Half-Mammothon and Tusker’s 10K.

New for 2023 is How Welsh Dare you Go? in which runners travel on the Heart of Wales Line as far as they want into Wales, and then running back to the Centre. The jeopardy is that if you go too Welsh and don’t return within 24 hours, you are out.

The Festival offers stunning courses which showcase the rugged beauty of this fascinating area, taking in Iron-Age hillforts, jagged peaks, ancient woodlands, upland heath and traditional market towns. Run as a fundraiser for Grow Cook Learn, the charity which has operated the Centre since 2014, the event is about supporting the charity’s mission to connect people to the food, history and landscape of the Shropshire Hills.

“We’re super excited to be running the event again this year,” said Grant Wilson, the Centre Manager and Event Organiser.

“We just love showing off our amazing hills and hearing all the positive comments from our runners and walkers who discover them for the first time.

“For me personally, it’s all about the food, we serve Shropshire Fidget pies, our famous Bara Brith and a local beef stew in a barn high in the hills. This all gives the event a real taste of Shropshire and is the reason why people return year after year.

“If you want to challenge yourself and help raise some money for our Centre, why not enter one of our events.”

There is still time to register by visiting the Discovery Centre website.