Butcombe Trail Ultra
| 50 Miles | £67.00 | |
| £77.00 | (from 15/01/2025) | |
| 50 Kilometres | £52.00 | |
| £62.00 | (from 15/01/2025) | |
|
||
To enter you must first Log In or Register your Details with SiEntries.
50 Mile and 50 km self-navigation ultramarathons in the Mendip Hills
The official Butcombe Trail is a 47-mile route around six pubs in the Mendip Hills, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The route is mostly off-road and takes in beautiful running country and fantastic views as it criss-crosses the Mendips. It was devised as a hiking trail by local walker and writer Sue Gearing in 2007, in collaboration with Butcombe Brewery, and was first run as a single-day ultramarathon in 2016, organised by Bristol’s Town & Country Harriers trail-running club.
The race has been run in a few variants over the years, including 50 mile and 56 mile races recently. Brand new in 2025 we offer a 50 km race in place of the 56 mile to hoping to provide opportunities for more people to enjoy the beautiful Mendips, and keep the 50 mile race but running anticlockwise to create a different perspective for returning runners. Both races will start from our new Race HQ at Mendip Activity Center.
Both races will be qualifying events for the UTMB® and sister races : the 50 miles being a 100 km 'index race' and the 50 km being a 50 km 'index race'.
The organisers, marshals, and checkpoint crews are all runners, many of whom regularly run ultras and know what’s needed to make a great race and help people get to the finish. This is evident in the comments we receive from runners after the race, and you can read some full race reports and other feedback here.
Although runners will be well supported during the event, it is not to be taken lightly.
For the 50 mile race only runners who will have run a trail marathon by race date (either as a race or in training) since 1 January 2024 should apply.
For the 50 km race we do not require this but you should neverthelsss be confident you can run this distance self-navigated.
The races are organised by volunteer members of the Town & Country Harriers (TACH), a Bristol off-road running club, for the benefit of the Mendip Hills Fund. This is a community fund set up to conserve and enhance the environment, communities and economy of the Mendip Hills. The fund is a partnership between the Mendip Hills AONB and the Somerset Community Foundation. TACH is proud to have donated a total of £15,800 to the Fund from the proceeds of the race in previous years.
Event Rules
1. Headphones
We do not encourage the use of headphones on the Butcombe Trail Ultra. If you decline to follow this advice, be aware that this is your responsibility. Note that you must be alert to instructions from marshals, the risks of road crossings and the needs of fellow runners at all times. This is for the safety of yourself and others. Both earpieces MUST be removed at all checkpoints and marshalled road crossings, runners risk disqualification if they do not follow this requirement.
2. Pacers
One pacer per runner is allowed from the final checkpoint, the penalty for having more than one pacer or a pacer before then will be at the Race Director's discretion
3. Short-cutting the route knowingly
Runners must follow the course at all times, the penalty for deliberately cutting the course will be at the Race Director's discretion
4. Mandatory kit
Mandatory kit must be carried at all times, failure to carry the mandatory kit may result in time penalties or disqualification at the Race Director's discretion.
For more details, see the various pages on our website, and to ask questions please visit our Facebook page.
View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.
View the Event Cancellation / Refund Policy.
Save the date and share
