The Dark Downs
Lewes, United Kingdom • 3 Oct 2026
The Dark Downs
The Dark Downs is a pair of looped races held on the South Downs at Plumpton Racecourse in Lewes. The races begin at dusk and continue into the darkness along trails across the downs.
- 50k
- Half Marathon
The route follows rolling hills and generally runnable, untechnical trails. The South Downs were awarded Dark Sky Reserve status in 2016, so the area is noted for clear starry nights.
The event uses a fully marked course with high visibility reflective signage and marshals positioned at regular intervals. Aid stations are provided and staffed by volunteers. Participants have time limits of six or twelve hours to complete their races. The 50k event forms part of a South Downs 50k Triple Crown series that links multiple 50k races on the downs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.