Bury to Clare Challenge

Event Overview

The Bury to Clare Challenge 2026 is a point-to-point 18 mile running or walking event in Suffolk. It starts in Nowton Park in Bury St Edmunds and finishes in Clare Castle Country Park in Clare. The event supports St Nicholas Hospice, with £5 from every entry donated.

The route crosses gently undulating countryside in West Suffolk and passes through villages including Hawstead, Whepstead, and Somerton. The course is marked and is described as not overly technical, but participants need to pay attention to navigation, as not all of the route is marshalled. Some road crossings are included, where care is required.

The event is open to adults aged 18 years and over, with a maximum of 350 participants. Walkers and runners share the same 1700 cut-off time for completing the course.

Entry and Logistics

Standard entry costs £32, with £30 for UKA affiliated participants who provide a UKA URN. There is an early bird discount of £5 for entries received before 31 December 2025.

Race numbers are collected on the day at registration. There will be two aid stations with refreshments, with a possible extra water station in warm conditions. First aiders are present at the start, finish, and on the course. All finishers receive a medal.

Toilets are available at the start/finish and along the route, but there are no changing facilities. One small bag per entrant can be transported from start to finish, not accessible at checkpoints.

Parking is available at both Nowton Park and Clare Castle Country Park for a fee. A pre-event transport option runs from Clare Country Park to the start and costs £13.50 per entrant. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.