North Downs 50 Ultra Challenge

Guildford, United Kingdom • 1 Aug 2026

North Downs 50 Ultra Challenge

The North Downs 50 takes place on Saturday 1 August 2026 from a Guildford basecamp at Loseley Park. It uses looped trail routes on the North Downs Way and surrounding Surrey hills with varied countryside and views to the south. Entrants may walk, jog, or run as individuals or in teams.

Support on the route includes covered rest stops roughly every 12.5 km with major stops at about 25 km and 50 km. Participants receive regular snacks, meals at about every 25 km, hot drinks, water and energy drinks. Medical staff, paramedics, podiatrists and massage therapists are available at rest stops and along the route. The course is fully signed with marker arrows and an event app provides Google route maps and GPS tracking. Timing scans at rest stops log progress and a finish-line package includes a medal, a finisher t shirt, a glass of fizz and a finishers meal.

There are category and logistics options for different needs, including a Solo Challenger start time, an Ultra March category for walkers aiming for target times, a new Ultra Trailblazerz category for faster runners, camping and adjacent university style en suite accommodation as bookable extras, plus shuttle buses and parking. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

  • 50 km loop from Guildford basecamp, ~830 m elevation
  • 25 km loop from Guildford basecamp, ~530 m elevation
  • 24 km first half route to Milton Court near Dorking, ~600 m elevation
  • 10 km loop from Guildford basecamp, ~230 m elevation

Race information

50 km
50km North Downs 50
25 km
25km North Downs 25
10 km
10km North Downs 10
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Trail runs nearby

Celebrate Valentine's Day with riverside laps along the scenic Thames at Xcel SPORTS HUB. Choose 5k to ultra, run as many laps as you like within a one hour start window and 7 hour limit, and earn a bespoke finisher medal.

Take on the Hot Lips Run at Crystal Palace Park and choose how many 1.65 mile laps to tackle, from 5k to ultra, on scenic off road trails with rolling hills. Timed with a 7 hour limit and a finisher memento for all entrants.

Join Phoenix Running West Sussex for the Violets Are Blue Valentines Run at Southwater Park. Pick distances from 5 km to ultra, lap the flat compact trail at your own pace with rolling starts and claim a blue Love Spoon medal.

Riverside races at Wraysbury Skiff & Punting Club near historic Runnymede. Marathon, half marathon and 10 km run on flat out and back laps along the Thames with marked turnarounds, check points and chip timing.