THE ULTIMATE MEMORIAL TRAIL RUN
A MULTI STAGE TRIBUTE AND INTIMATE EXPERIENCE
250 KM, 6 STAGES, 3 COUNTRIES. FROM THE D-DAY BEACHES VIA THE ARDENNES TO ARNHEM
14-21 June 2026 – 5th edition
LEST WE FORGET
Your running adventure of a lifetime and sporting challenge! The Liberation Trail is a multistage ultra running event. From the D-day beaches in Normandy in a prologue + 6 stages, via Bastogne in the Ardennes to the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem. Following the original route of the liberators on the beaches, paths and through the forests where there was severe fighting during World War II.
Also a tribute to the men, boys who fought for our freedom in 1944 and 1945. ‘Lest we forget’ where our freedom comes from. And to prevent this memory from disappearing after the last veterans die.
Daily reports 4th edition – 2025
STAGE 6: THE BAGPIPE, THE BRIDGE AND THE BRAVERY: THE UNTOLD STORY OF PRIVATE JAMES “PIPER” CLELAND, 1ST BRITISH AIRBORNE DIVISION
STAGE 6: THE BAGPIPE, THE BRIDGE AND THE BRAVERY: THE UNTOLD STORY OF PRIVATE JAMES "PIPER" CLELAND, 1ST BRITISH AIRBORNE DIVISION While most know the legend of the John Frost Bridge, few remember the lone piper who played in its shadow. As the 1st British Airborne...
STAGE 5: THE GROESBEEK HEIGHTS – JIM GAVIN AND THE 82ND AIRBORNE IN OPERATION MARKET GARDEN
STAGE 5: THE GROESBEEK HEIGHTS - JIM GAVIN AND THE 82ND AIRBORNE IN OPERATION MARKET GARDEN During Stage 5 of the Liberation Trail, we didn’t just follow in the footsteps of runners – we followed in the footsteps of heroes. The Groesbeek Heights, a key objective...
STAGE 4 – TIGER & TRAIL: RUNNING THROUGH THE LEGACY OF LA GLEIZE
STAGE 4 - TIGER & TRAIL: RUNNING THROUGH THE LEGACY OF LA GLEIZE Stage 4 of the Liberation Trail brought us to the heart of one of WWII’s most infamous battlegrounds: La Gleize. This small Belgian village was the final stand for Kampfgruppe Peiper during the...
STAGE 3 – RUNNING THROUGH SHADOWS: THE NIGHT TRAIL TO STAVELOT
STAGE 3 - RUNNING THROUGH SHADOWS: THE NIGHT TRAIL TO STAVELOT The third stage of the Liberation Trail is like no other. A night trail through the dark forests of the Ardennes, beginning at the foot of the stunning waterfall of Petit Coo. But this is more than just a...
STAGE 2 – RUNNING THROUGH HISTORY: FROM SWORD TO OMAHA BEACH
STAGE 2 - RUNNING THROUGH HISTORY: FROM SWORD TO OMAHA BEACH Stage 2 of the Liberation Trail followed the path of the D-Day landings – 53 kilometers of remembrance, endurance, and heat. June 6, 1944 – the day Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy. British...
STAGE 1 – FROM SAINTE-MERE EGLISE TO CARENTAN
STAGE 1 - FROM SAINTE-MERE EGLISE TO CARENTAN A Historic Start to an Unforgettable Journey The Liberation Trail 2025 kicked off with a powerful and emotional first stage: 45 kilometers that set the tone for an extraordinary week. At dawn, runners gathered beneath the...
PROLOGUE 2025
PROLOGUE “One name. One cross. One family. One story.Now multiply that by 10,000.” You stand on a windswept cliff above Omaha Beach. The sea is calm, but your thoughts are not. You picture it—June 6, 1944. Chaos. Fear. Bravery. The beginning of the end of a world war....
ARRIVAL AT BASECAMP NORMANDY
ARRIVAL AT BASECAMP NORMANDY 🎥 Runners from all corners of the world are arriving at our basecamp, Ferme Hay Day.After a long journey to Normandy, we feel it: the adventure begins.The Liberation Trail is alive. ✨🔥 🎯 TikTok / Insta hashtags:#liberationtrail...
PROLOGUE + 6 STAGES, 3 COUNTRIES
Passes through iconic battle fields
- 14 June: Travel to start location in Normandy (Fance)
- 15 June: Visit several memorials + prologue ±8km (France)
- 16 June: ±45km Sainte-Mère-Église – Carentan (France)
- 17 June: ±51 km Luc-Sur-Mer to Omaha Beach (France)
- 18 June: ±15 km Petit Coo (Belgium)
- 19 June: ±27 km La Gleize (Belgium)
- 20 June: ±81 km Eindhoven – Berg en Dal (Netherlands)
- 21 June: ±26 km Ginkel Heath – Arnhem (Netherlands)
YOU JUST HAVE TO RUN. WE’LL HANDLE THE WORLD
WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION FEE OF € 1.650 COVER?
- Intimate multi stage trail run, lasting connections guaranteed
- Transfers between stages
- Breakfast (7x) and diner (7x)
- Your nightly shelter: Authentic army tents at our camp sites………and our crew will set it up
- Aid stations with drinks & food; also possible to hand off your own drop bags
- Special Liberation Trail shirt and duffle bag
- Luggage transport
- Expert medical support available
- Live tracking for you and your fans
- Surprising elements
- Historical backdrop to your journey. Experience history with every step you take
Optional you can book for € 80 a bus transfer from the Netherlands (Utrecht) or Belgium (Antwerp) to Normandy.
WHAT DO YOU NEED? MANDATORY KIT LIST
- Trailrunning shoes
- Running backpack
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Warm clothing
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Plate, cutlery and cup for breakfast and dinner
- Cup to take drinks during the stages
- Sunburn and aftersun
- 1.5 litres water in backpack
- Emergency kit and spare clothes
- GPS watch or handheld
- Mobile telephone
- Warm sleeping bag (suitable for zero degrees), thin camping mattress and pillow
- Passport
COUNT ME IN!
The latest updates
Operation Overlord – Het uur-u
Operation Overlord - Het uur-u Today, 81 years ago, the liberation of Western Europe began in Normandy with the landing of more than 160,000 soldiers. The beaches of Normandy were divided into five sectors during the Allied invasion, bearing the now-historic code...
RELIVING D-DAY: FILMS AND SERIES THAT BRING THE LIBERATION TRAIL TO LIFE
RELIVING D-DAY: FILMS AND SERIES THAT BRING THE LIBERATION TRAIL TO LIFE Instead of being nervous for next week's challenge, you can immerse yourself in films and series that truly bring the Liberation Trail in Normandy to life. In this blog, I’ll share some moments...
RECON HELL’S HIGHWAY (81 KM)
RECON HELL’S HIGHWAY (81 KM) The stage they fear. The one they’ll never forget. There’s one stage in the Liberation Trail that rises above the rest – in distance, in effort, in meaning. It’s the long one. The mental one. The one with a name etched into history: Hell’s...
Our partners
