UK Ultra Winter on the Downs 2026

UK Ultra Winter on the Downs is a winter trail series on the South Downs, offering 50k, 55-mile, and 100-mile options on single-loop courses through East and West Sussex. The shorter races begin and end in Eastbourne, a seaside town on the Channel coast, and route runners over the Seven Sisters early on. The 100-mile race starts and finishes at Plumpton Racecourse, with a 35-hour cutoff, 12 aid stations, GPS tracking included, and a qualifier requirement for entry. The routes traverse grass trails, farm tracks, woodland paths, and chalk paths, with minimal road sections in the 100-mile race. The 100-mile course includes approximately 13,000 feet of climbing, primarily through rolling hills, with some longer, steeper ascents. Winter weather may bring sun, wind, rain, sleet, fog, freezing conditions, or snow, but the eastern South Downs are relatively dry and the ground drains well, generally keeping the courses runnable. Participants require genuine winter trail experience, including running in darkness, and all three distances can contribute to the South Downs Triple Crown, a challenge for completing three ultra-distance races within a calendar year.