- Sat 10 Oct 2026
07:30
Age 16 & over
£139
- 50 km trail running + 1000 m ascent
Event overview
The Kent Downs 50 Ultra Challenge has a basecamp near Maidstone, with parking and weekend camping options.
The main 50km loop heads anticlockwise around the Kent Downs – starting on the North Downs Way to Blue Bell Hill, around picturesque Aylesford, and following the River Medway to Mote Park at halfway for a picnic.
Along the Len Valley Walk to the majestic Leeds Castle, then the North Downs Way back to the showground finish line and celebration. It’s easily accessible; you’ll get full support and with 25km and 10km options also available - there’s a Kent Downs Ultra Challenge® waiting for you!
The Ultra Challenge Experience
This endurance event is for a wide range of fitness and ages. Choose your distance and do it at your pace. The support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors and camaraderie.
There are marquee rest stops, plenty of food and drink, medical and massage teams, and a fully signed route with GPS tracking to guide you. A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement, and once the aches subside, you’ll feel energised and up for more of life’s challenges!
This event is part of Kent Downs 50 Ultra Challenge.
Event photos
Event video
- Average fitness
- Beginner-friendly
- Event village
- Families
Your challenge, your way
Whether you’re a walker and new to challenge events, an experienced trekker, a marathon enthusiast upping the distance, or a seasoned ultra runner after ITRA points, there’s an Ultra Challenge® for you! Walk, Jog, or Run, as an Individual or a Team, for a charity of your choice or just for you. The Kent Downs Ultra Challenge® is fun, safe, and rewarding with full support all the way, enabling you to push yourself further and then celebrate your achievements at the Maidstone basecamp.
Best support & hospitality
This Ultra Challenge® famously lays on the best support and hospitality available on any UK endurance-style event. This enables you to step up and confidently tackle an 'Ultra' distance, with the best chance of success - and to enjoy your challenge! Here's a summary:
- Check points
- Distance markers
- First aid
- Food stations
- Marshals
- Mass start
- Toilets
- Undulating
- Water stations
- Way markers
Overview
From the basecamp it’s anticlockwise around the Kent Downs. Heading out on the North Downs Way to Blue Bell Hill before turning south and around to the picturesque village of Aylesford one of the River Medway’s hidden jewels via Eccles. From Aylesford the route follows the River Medway to Maidstone and then onto and through Mote Park. From Mote Park the route continues southwest along the Len Valley Walk to Leeds Castle where it turns to rejoin the North Downs Way to Detling and back to the Kent Showground.
Map
Checkpoints
- Snacks and drinks | every 10-15km
- 24km | picnic lunch and fizzy drinks
- 50km | glass of fizz, hot meal, medal and t-shirt
- Bag transfer
- Bar
- BBQ
- Cafe
- Camping
- Changing facilities
- Entertainment
- Music
- Paid parking
- Rural
- Secure bag storage
- Showers
- Toilets
- 2 Running Stones
- Camping
- Chip timing
- Drinks
- Event app
- Fizz at the finish
- Goody bag
- GPS tracking
- Map
- Massage
- Medal
- Pre-event training sessions
- Snacks
- Training plan
- T-shirt
Before
- Challenge app
- Facebook forum
- Training guides
- Fundraising support
- Training walks and runs
- Video briefings
- Travel planning
- Parking
During
- Baggage transfers
- The start line
- Timing and GPS tracking
- Rest stops
- Food and drink
- Medical support
- Camping
Along the route
- Fully signed route
- Apps, maps and GPS
- Route safety experts
- Emergency response
- Trek masters
- 24 hour control room
After
- Finish line experience
- Finish times and certificate
- Shuttles and transfers
- Hot meal
- Medical care and follow up
- Deals on future challenges
Bookable extras
- Camping packages
- Parking
- Pre challenge transfers
- Post challenge transfers
- Extra meals
- Baggage services
Do it for charity
Looking to do this event for charity? Do it for one of the charities below or see the full list of charities on the Kent Downs 50 Ultra Challenge charity places | Full 50km page.
- Age 16 & over
- Entries open
- to 18/09/2026
- Charity places
- Enter online
- Event merch available
Under 18s need to be accompanied by an adult.
Entry fees
Entry fee
£139.00
Other races at event
- Sat 10 Oct
- #2 of 3
08:30
Age 14 & over
£89
- 25 km trail running + 450 m ascent
- Sat 10 Oct
- #3 of 3
10:00
Age 8 & over
£49
- 10 km trail running + 180 m ascent