Studland Stampede 2026

The Studland Stampede is a 12K off-road race at Studland Bay in Dorset, starting and finishing at the Knoll Beach National Trust visitor centre. It sends runners over heathland and sandy beach, with a 10:30am start and no entries on the day. The route looks out toward Old Harry Rocks, Brownsea Island, and the Isle of Wight, but the ground is the real test: the final sandy miles ask for more grit than speed. It is part of the five-race Purbeck Trail Series, now more than two decades old, and draws a mix of club runners and capable recreational runners; past results include Caroline Stanzel winning overall and taking the women’s series title, with Sarah Swift also earning a series V40 award. The race gives cash prizes to the first three men and women, and every finisher gets a memento.