A HISTORIC castle in West Cumbria is preparing to host its annual – and rather muddy – race.

Ewan Frost-Pennington, whose family have lived at Muncaster Castle for hundreds of years, helped set up Race the Tide with a group of friends six years ago, in an effort to recreate the traditional Muncaster Luck Fell Race.

The Race the Tide event, held on the August bank holiday, follows a 10k cross country route that is littered with obstacles and additional challenges.

As well as running, participants are expected to crawl through mud, wade and swim through rivers and scramble to the tops of wooded hillsides.

The race will start and finish in the historical grounds of Muncaster Castle and end with celebratory dinner and ceilidh in the barn.

More than just a race, Race the Tide offers a full weekend of festivities and accommodation at Muncaster’s campsite.

Ewan said his inspiration for developing the event came from watching the Muncaster Luck Fell Race as a child in in awe and having a lifelong regret of not having been able to compete himself.

Since its inception, the “hectic” obstacle race has grown in popularity and now has a community of followers of more than 200 people.

This will be the first time Race the Tide has been given the go ahead in two years after the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to the event last year.

The popular race also led to the revival of the Muncaster Luck Fell Race in 2016.

This is held every spring, apart from last year when it was also called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Muncaster Luck Fell Race covers Muncaster Fell and the lower fells to the south of the River Esk..

It also covers Silver Knott, Water Crag, Raven Cragg and the Pepper Pot.

The race finishes with a run up the cannon bank of Muncaster Castle.

More recently, Muncaster Castle was able to welcome visitors to its newly-developed eco-barn, which aims to inspire people to take an interest in their local wildlife.

Race the Tide weekend will be taking place from August 27 to 30.

For more information, visit the Muncaster Castle website at https://www.muncaster.co.uk/.

Alternatively, you can visit the Facebook page, or contact them by email at

info@muncaster.co.uk, or by calling 01229 717614.