Winter Wanderlust Races

Winter Wanderlust 50km

The Winter Wanderlust 50km is an ultra-trail race that follows the North Downs Way through the Kent countryside. Starting at the Kent Showground in Detling and finishing at Wye Village Hall, the course covers a distance of 50 km with an approximate elevation gain of 1,000 m. The route is fully marked and includes a 10-hour cutoff time.

The course begins with a 10 km section through Boxley Warren's ancient woodland before climbing onto the North Downs. Runners pass through vineyards and historic sites, including the ruins of Thurnham Castle and the Lenham Cross war memorial. The final 8 km loop traverses the Wye Downs Nature Reserve, featuring the Wye Crown landmark and the Devil's Kneading Trough, which offers views across the Weald of Kent.

Participants have access to three checkpoints:

• 10 km: Indoor station with snacks and drinks.
• 25 km: Outdoor station with snacks and drinks.
• 39 km: Indoor station with hot food and drinks.

The event provides live GPS tracking, medical support, and a bag drop service from the start to the finish line. All finishers within the cutoff receive a medal, and trophies are awarded to the top three open and female finishers. A pre-booked shuttle bus is available to transport runners from the finish in Wye to the start in Detling on race morning.

This race is held under a Trail Running Association permit and follows a cupless policy, requiring runners to carry a mandatory kit. This equipment includes a mobile phone, 1L water capacity, waterproof jacket, survival blanket, headtorch, rear red light, base layer, hat, and gloves. Participants must be at least 20 years old on race day. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.