Kielder Marathon teams up with charity to bridge funding gap

One of the North East’s best-loved running events is teaming up with a local charity to support the upkeep of an important Northumberland landmark. The Altra Kielder Marathon is working alongside the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, which has taken an official charity package and is inviting runners to take part in this year’s event and raise funds to help with the ongoing maintenance of Kielder Viaduct. The viaduct is a key point on the route of the popular marathon, which will be at the heart of this year’s weekend of events on 3 and 4 October.

Founded in 2010, the Altra Kielder Marathon is known at ‘Britain’s most beautiful’ and follows a route around Kielder Water, taking in much of the Lakeside Way. It is organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Northumbrian Water, Forestry England, Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and official charity partner 4Louis. The event has grown into a two-day festival that includes the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, junior runs and a gravel duathlon (run-bike-run). Over the years, thousands of runners in the full marathon have crossed Kielder Viaduct as they reach the north-western end of the reservoir, providing a brief respite from the many undulations along the course.

Kielder Viaduct is 130 yards long and 55 feet high and was built in 1862 to carry the Border Counties Railway over the North Tyne river towards Scotland. The need to maintain a parallel course up the valley meant that the viaduct had to be skewed with the line of the river, giving the structure its unusual and complex arches. It is decorated with battlements to complement the nearby Kielder Castle. When the railway line closed in 1958, the viaduct fell into disuse and was due to be demolished before the Northumberland and Newcastle Society stepped in to rescue it. It is now a key part of the network of paths around Kielder Reservoir.

Thanks to careful management over the years, Kielder Viaduct remains in excellent condition but continues to require ongoing maintenance, for which funds are always needed. The Northumberland and Newcastle Society is now encouraging keen runners to take part in the Altra Kielder Marathon as part of its fundraising efforts, helping to support the viaduct and its wider conservation work. The society is also working with Historic England, Northumbrian Water, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Forestry England and Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust on a range of initiatives to improve views of the viaduct and promote it to visitors.

Altra Kielder Marathon founder Steve Cram comments: “Our runners love crossing Kielder Viaduct. As well as being a nice flat section amidst the undulations, the spot gives them a great view of Kielder Water from a different perspective. It’s a key part of our route, so it’s fantastic to see the Northumberland and Newcastle Society using the event to support their work and help insure the viaduct remains in great condition for walkers, cyclists and of course marathon runners.”

For more than a century, the Northumberland and Newcastle Society has worked to protect some of the North East’s most precious and historical assets. Along with saving Kielder Viaduct for the nation, it has helped preserve Newcastle’s All Saints Church, Blackfriars Monastery, the Armstrong Bridge in Jesmond Dene, Alderman Fenwick’s House, the Gatehouses at Fenham Barracks, John Dobson’s Jesmond Cemetery gates and the east side of Eldon Square, among many others.

Emma Newlands, trustee of the society, said: “We believe very strongly that these landmarks shouldn’t just be preserved; they must also be used and enjoyed and that is why we are delighted to partner with the Altra Kielder Marathon. However, it is hugely expensive to maintain the viaduct, so we would love to hear from runners keen to race on our behalf and help us ensure the viaduct can be enjoyed for many years to come.”

To find out more about fundraising for Northumberland and Newcastle Society at the Altra Kielder Marathon weekend, email info@nandnsociety.org.uk. For more information about the society and ways in which to support it, visit www.nandnsociety.org.uk.

For more information about the Altra Kielder Marathon events, and to book places, visit www.kieldermarathon.com