Forget pumpkins, it is the apple that’s stealing the show at Cowdray this October.

In a celebration of the autumn season and the apple harvest, the Cowdray estate is hosting its inaugural Run the Seasons race alongside the popular Apple Day festivities at the Farm Shop on Saturday, October 12. Runners of all ages and abilities can choose from a 5km, 10km, or 10-mile Canicross run, all set against the stunning backdrop of the West Sussex countryside.

The Run the Seasons race promises a scenic route that gently inclines before rewarding participants with views of the golden hues of the South Downs. Organised in partnership with Raw Running, this event is the first of four seasonal races designed to showcase the beauty of the Cowdray Estate. Competitors will receive a medal, with a unique interlocking design that connects all four seasonal medals.

In addition to the race, visitors are invited to enjoy Apple Day at Cowdray Farm Shop, running from 10am to 4pm. Attendees can press home-grown apples and indulge in a variety of apple-themed treats, including toffee apples, apple turnovers, and strudels. A bar will serve refreshing apple gin cocktails, mulled cider, and other refreshments.There will also be live music by local artist, Tristan MacKay, to provide the perfect accompaniment to the day’s activities.

Entry to the festivities is free, with donations going to the Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance Service. To register for the race, visitwww.cowdray.co.uk/events/run-the-seasons-autumn-race-2024/