Event overview
Thousands of adventurers have taken on the North Downs 50 Ultra Challenge® - part of the UK’s biggest and best series of treks and trail runs for a wide range of ages, fitness and experience levels which raises £10+ million a year for charities!
You’ll get full support all the way so you can set a new 50km goal, conquer the Full North Downs 50 Ultra Challenge® and push yourself further for an important cause. If you’re up for a charity challenge this year, make it the North Downs 50 Ultra Challenge®.
The Ultra Challenge Experience
Do it at your own pace. The level of support enables you to go further. 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 for you personally and also for your fundraising efforts.
Get Sponsored for Charity
You’ll be amazed how much you can raise on these tough challenges as friends and family will recognise and support your courageous endeavours - 50km is impressive! All fundraising goes directly to your charity via an online JustGiving page.
£10+ Million Fundraising
The series raises £10+ million a year for charities. Choose your charity, set up a JustGiving sponsorship page and make your challenge count!
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
- Free parking
- Music
- Rural
- Showers
- Toilets
- Check points
- Distance markers
- First aid
- Food stations
- Marshals
- Sweeper
- Toilets
- Undulating
- Water stations
- Way markers
Overview
Join the mid-summer North Downs 50 Challenge! The looped route is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty of the Surrey Hills, taking in chalk ridges and ancient woodlands.
Setting out from a Guildford base camp it’s through Chantry Woods overlooking Chilworth and Chinthurst Hill, with spectacular views at the top of St Martha’s Hill – also home to a historic church.
With some ups and downs along the way – Newlands Corner, a nature reserve, provides some of the best views over the Surrey Hills. With easy access from London and the Home Counties by car or train – 50km and 25km distance options, and a Guildford base camp with optional University style accommodation – there’s a fantastic challenge along the famous North Downs waiting for you!
Map
What's included
- 2 Running Stones
- Chip timing
- Event app
- Goody bag
- GPS tracking
- Map
- Massage
- Medal
- Pre-event training sessions
- Training plan
- T-shirt
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising support
How to start fundraising
You need to create your fundraising page on JustGiving within 48 hours of registering for your challenge. Then you can start your fundraising by sharing your page online with your friends and family.
Fundraise as a team
As long as you’re all fundraising for the same charity, you can create a team fundraising page on JustGiving. You will still have to reach the combined total fundraising amount as the target is per person, not per team.
Fundraising concerns
Speak to your charity about any worries. They are the experts and will offer you support, materials and inspiration throughout.
Remember only 50% of the target has to be reached 3 weeks before the challenge meaning you’ve got time after the challenge to impress everyone with your achievement and keep on fundraising.
Help for you
If you don’t reach the fundraising target, there are alternative options. You can always change to a self-funded place and still take part in the challenge.
Next steps
Once you've got your charity place, your details will be passed to the charity and you will hear from them within 14 days.
I cannot thank everyone enough for their personal support and unlimited energy. 5★★★★★ and 10/10 in all my experiences.
For my first event, I was amazed at how well-organised it was. Particularly as I was on my own. Very well signposted. Excellent medical assistance. Very friendly crew. Fab event!
- Age 18 & over
- Entries open
- to 13/06/2025
- Charity places
- Enter online
- Event merch available
16-17 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult.
