Butcombe Trail Ultra

Butcombe Trail Ultra

Butcombe Trail Ultra is a pair of self navigation trail ultramarathons held in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on 25 April 2026. The event is organised by volunteer members of the Town and Country Harriers running club and operated for the benefit of the Mendip Hills Fund. Runners are supported at aid stations run by trail runners and the event provides GPS tracking, free race day photos, finishers medals, prizes and a hot meal at the finish. Race headquarters are at the Mendip Activity Centre in Churchill BS25 5PQ and there is a camping option and free race day parking at the venue.

Distances

• 50 miles (81 km, 1960 m ascent)
• 50 kilometres (31 miles, 1200 m ascent)

The route is mostly off road and crosses the Mendips, following the local trail route and running anti clockwise from race HQ. Both races act as qualifying index races for UTMB and sister events. Entry fees are published with early bird and full prices; a portion of fees is used to fund tracking devices.

Event rules and provisions include mandatory kit, a policy discouraging headphone use and requiring earpieces removed at checkpoints, limits on pacers, penalties for deliberate short cutting, a pregnancy refund policy, and provisions for guide runners who receive free entry and a finishers medal but are not eligible for prizes. The organisers report past donations of proceeds to the Mendip Hills Fund. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.