The Purbeck Marathon
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The Purbeck Marathon 2026
The Purbeck Marathon is a volunteer-run trail event on 20 September 2026 in Swanage, Dorset. It is TRA licensed and donates all profits to local charities: Planet Purbeck, Dementia Friendly Purbeck, and St Edward’s Corfe Castle. Two race distances follow the same Jurassic Coast route and neighbouring Purbeck Hills.
The course runs along the Jurassic Coast cliff path and the Purbeck ridges, passing beneath the ruins of Corfe Castle and through or past Tyneham and Old Harry’s rocks. The full marathon covers significant climbing, with about 1,059 metres (3,486 ft) of elevation gain, and uses public footpaths and rugged trail terrain. The organisers note that the route includes steep ascents, narrow paths, and exposed cliff sections.
Key participant details include a minimum age of 18, TRA event licensing, and mandatory safety kit. Runners must carry a running vest or belt, capacity for at least 500 ml of water, a GPS device with the route pre-loaded, a fully charged mobile phone, an emergency foil blanket, and a whistle. Trail running shoes, technical clothing, and sufficient nutrition are strongly recommended. First aid cover is provided on course and at the event hub. Registration closes on 6 September 2026 and entry fees are listed for each distance. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
- 26.67 miles, full Purbeck Marathon
- 16.9 miles, Purbeck 16
