LDWA South Downs Marathon

LDWA South Downs Marathon 2026

The LDWA South Downs Marathon offers two marked long distance routes through the South Downs National Park, starting from East Dean Village Hall, Eastbourne BN20 0DR. Routes pass notable downland features including Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Haven and Firle Beacon, and visit the villages Littlington, Firle and Alfriston. The longer route includes over 4000 ft of ascent and the shorter route about 2800 ft. Both routes have a maximum time limit of 11 hours.

Distances:

• 28 miles, 4000+ ft ascent
• 18 miles, 2800+ ft ascent

The event is open to walkers and runners. Under 18s may enter only with written parental consent and must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Membership of the LDWA is not required. There are no entries on the day. If the event is oversubscribed a waiting list will operate.

Facilities at the start venue include car parking in a field next to the hall and luggage storage inside the hall. Checkpoints provide food and refreshments with vegetarian options; the longer course has three checkpoints and the shorter course has two. Finishers under the 11 hour limit receive an emailed certificate and a light hot meal is provided. Route descriptions, map extracts and GPX files will be available for download from 13 April 2026. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.