I've run some reasonably tough trails and thought the Bath Skyline 10k was hard work when muddy, but the Pipley Wood course is incredibly tough. Despite 'only' being 10k my legs felt like they covered 10 miles after.

Although it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere it's a really well run event, a short bus trip from the nearby Park and Ride and the staging area contains basic but sufficient facilities considering you're in the middle of the woods. A changing tent, bag drop, portaloos, large tent to avoid the elements etc are all present.

The course itself is reasonably flat for the first few km as you wind through the woods and paths, but you then descend through some ridiculously slippy terrain, cross streams, wade through mud above your ankles...and then have a very, very steep and muddy ascent back out onto the flat. 10k runners get to do it all again, but lap two is much, much worse. I physically couldn't stay on my feet (and neither could anybody else) on many occassions, great fun.

The course is very narrow in places and steady, single file progress is required at times, so forget a quick time and just enjoy the scenery and listening to people laughing/screaming. For 10k runners lap two is much clearer but much muddier. It's described as a running race (in as much as it's not an obstacle course) but it's very unlikely you'll be running anywhere near the whole thing, I finished in 1:35 where as my usual trail 10k time is around an hour.

At the end you're greeted by a lovely medal, a big bonfire to warm youself up and a (paid) hog roast and beer, along with the usual free treats and snacks