Steaming to the Coast
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Steaming to the Coast - Minehead to Bishops Lydeard
Steaming to the Coast is a trail running event that uses the longest standard gauge steam railway line in the UK. The event runs from Minehead and makes use of the West Somerset heritage railway to move entrants to their running start points.
Entrants register at Minehead and travel by steam train to Bishops Lydeard. Marathon runners disembark at Bishops Lydeard to begin a 26.2 mile trail route back to Minehead. The 11 mile and 11 km fields travel by train to their respective start points and then run back to Minehead, finishing outside Minehead Station.
The marathon route follows the main ridgeline of the Quantock Hills before dropping to Williton, then follows sections of the Steam Coast Trail and the England Coast Path. The route passes through West Somerset countryside and approaches Minehead, described as the gateway to Exmoor National Park.
Three distance options are offered:
- 11 km (Washford start)
- 11 miles (Williton start)
- Marathon (26.2 miles)
A second train will operate in 2026. The event notes that post-race fare often includes fish and chip supper and Somerset cider. The organiser is Channel Events and the location is West Somerset Railway – Minehead Station, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5BG. Entrants must be age 8 or over on the event date. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
