- Sat 11 Oct 2025
50km
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 challenge is part of the UK's number one series of trek and trails runs for a wide range of ages, fitness and experience levels.
Choose your challenge and do it at your pace. The level of support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors, camaraderie, and the challenge. There are marquee rest stops, lots of food and drink, medical and massage teams, with a fully signed route to guide you.
A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement and once the aches subside you’ll feel energised, up for more of life’s real challenges – and, maybe, personal horizons redefined.
This event is part of Kent Downs 50 Ultra Challenge.
Event photos
Event video
- All fitness levels
- Event village
- Families
- Newcomers
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 UTMB points – there’s an Ultra Challenge® for you! Walk, Jog, or Run at your pace, as an Individual or a Team, for a charity of your choice or just for you. There’s an Ultra March® option for ‘fast walkers’ – and a new ‘Solo Challenger’ start time to join up with others.
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:
Before
- Challenge app
- Facebook forum
- Training guides
- Fundraising support
- Training walks and runs
- Video briefings
- Travel planning
- Parking
During
- Baggage transfers
- The start line
- Chip timing and 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
- Bag storage
- Bag transfer
- Bar
- BBQ
- Cafe
- Camping
- Changing facilities
- Entertainment
- Music
- Paid parking
- Rural
- Showers
- Toilets
- 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
- 2 Running Stones
- 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
Included
- Snacks and drinks every 10-15km
- Picnic lunch and fizzy drinks
- Finish | hot meal, glass of fizz, medal and t-shirt
Bookable extras
- Camping packages
- Parking
- Pre challenge transfer
- Post challenge transfer
- Baggage transfers
- Challengers meal
Charity places
These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity and provide your details.
All charity places
Children
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Helping the hospital offer a better future to seriously ill children across the UK.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£375
Health and Medical
Parkinson's UK
Find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£375
Mental health
Mind
The mental health charity.
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£375
- Age 16 & over
- Entries open
- to 12/09/2025
- Charity places
- Enter online
- Event merch available
Under 18s need to be accompanied by an adult.
Entry fees
Entry fee
£139.00