Experience Knysna in this special way! The Charlesford Farm Trail Run is an exciting new family event aimed at folks on holiday in Knysna on January 3 2016. This trail run is hosted on private property and not open to runners at any other time of the year.

The event is 9.5km long and takes place on the beautiful Charlesford Farm at the foot of the Phantom Pass. The Knysna Lagoon divides the grazing fields in two so trail runners will find themselves swimming over a narrow section of the Knysna Lagoon close to the weir.

Charlesford Farm is home to more than 400 cows who visit the dairy twice a day via the cattle trail that heads up the mountain parallel to the pass, luckily under the shade of the local indigenous forest. This will be the first section of the run, be warned, don’t wear your best takkies!

After passing the water point at the two kilometer mark it’s a fun descent down the MTB track built for the GR300 and Knysna Bull MTB events that have made Knysna mountain biking famous. Runners cross the Phantom Pass sand road the head towards the ‘Old Drift’ under more indigenous forest to the 30m lagoon water crossing. The deepest section is waist depth, so no need to stress. Any runners not up to the swim can take the shorter ‘Opt out’ 7.5km route back to the finish. For the rest, It’s more grazing fields on the way to the weir before the final stretch heading back to the Deli and Start/Finish area.

Wors rolls, more, Cool drinks and the best cappuccinos in Knysna will be on sale. All runners who complete the route will qualify for a 5% discount with their first shop at the Charlesford Deli and Food Company, one of very few butcheries offering ‘specialty hormone free beef and pork products.

• Registration: www.gardenrouteevents.co.za/enter-double-trail-dash-online
• Registration on Day: At venue from 7.30am
• Entrance Fee: R90
• Distance: 9.5km, ‘Opt Out’ 7.5km
• Ascent: 202m
• Swim: 30m waist depth
• Surface: Single track 70%, Jeep track 30%
• Minimum age: 6 years