Kent Downs 50
Ultra Challenge®
SAT 10 OCTOBER 2026
- Kent Downs
- 50 km Loop + 25 km & 10K
- Walk, Jog, or Run
- Maidstone Basecamp
- Camping
- Parking
- Transfers
- Solo Challengers Start Option
- Ultra March Option
An end of season Ultra Challenge in the ‘Garden of England’. A basecamp near Maidstone, join up to 2,000 adventurers and you can take it on at your pace as a walk, jog, or run – and fundraise for your favourite charity! The 50km looped route heads anticlockwise on the North Downs Way to Blue Bell Hill, following the River Medway to Mote Park at halfway for a picnic. Along the Len Valley Walk to the majestic Leeds Castle, and the North Downs Way back to the showground finish line. Sign up as an individual or as a team; you’ll get full support all the way, plenty of food & drink, optional camping & transfers, a special medal, T shirt and celebration finish. With 25km & 10km options also available – there’s a challenge for everyone! Push yourself further in 2026, take on an Ultra Challenge – the UK’s No.1 Series of treks & trail challenges!
The Ultra Challenge Experience
UK’s #1 Series of treks & trail runs for a wide range of ages, experience and fitness levels. Choose your challenge distance, and do it at your pace. There’re 19 events to choose from, and our support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors, the camaraderie, new friendships, and the challenge!
There are marquee rest stops, lots of food & drink, medical & massage teams, with a fully signed route & GPS tracking 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!
FOR ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
Good preparation is the key – and from the moment you sign up you’ll have access to a Challenge App – with training guides & videos, maps, the Facebook Club, and the latest news & updates.
As you’ve signed up as a fundraiser, you’ll get full support from the charity’s team to ensure that you smash the targets in good time! The charity will communicate directly with you – and all fundraising goes to the charity via an online JustGiving sponsorship page that you must set up as advised.
Rest Stops every ~12.5 km with ‘major’ ones every ~25 km, and are much more than the shaky gazebo with water that you see on some events! There is marquee cover, large medical & welfare tents, catering services, plenty of clean toilets, seating, supporter areas, baggage transfer options, and a friendly welcome!
Hundreds of pink arrows + glow-sticks (at night) mark the route, and with Google route maps in the App you won’t get lost on an Ultra Challenge®!
Our Timing System scans you at rest stops, with your progress logged and monitored by our Control Room.
We’ve upgraded our system, with an APP for your mobile with GPS Tracking – which you can share in ‘real time’ with family & friends – without draining your phone’s battery – and you also get all the info on the route lying ahead!
Keeping you well fed & hydrated is key. We pride ourselves on the quantity & quality of our catering, and meals, snacks & drinks are included! You won’t go hungry on an Ultra Challenge®!
- Snacks & hot / cold drinks every ~12.5 km
- Snacks – from the healthy to treats
- SiS Energy drinks & bars
- Picnic lunch at 25 km
- Hot meals: 50 / 75 /100 km (enroute – or as ‘finisher’)
- All dietary requirements catered for
- Lighter, focussed options for ‘runners’
We have experienced Doctors, Paramedics, First Aiders, Podiatrists, and Massage Teams at Rest Stops. There are also ‘Self Help’ areas with blister plasters, talc, Vaseline, and tape if you want to patch your own feet. Our mobile Emergency Medical Teams are only a phone call away, via our 24 hour Control Room
We don’t want you to forget that finish-line moment – our Cheer Squad will ensure you won’t! You’ll get a medal, finisher’s T-shirt, and a glass of fizz, before heading to a finishers meal, and a well earned rest. Download your official Challenge certificate when you’re ready.
There’re shuttles to local train stations for onward travel, and most finish lines have parking so supporters can meet you. We’ve bus ‘transfers’ to / back to key venues (eg the start). Many of the events have a range of camping options (either beforehand at the start, or / & at 50 km).
Check out the ‘Bookable Extras’ for details of all options.
Looking for a great event for your team without all the hassle, risk, or costs of organising it? These events are the PERFECT solution – and we had over 500 company teams joining us in 2025.
Your Team will be energised, exercised, bonding & motivated on a fun, accessible, safe, high quality outdoors event. With optional hospitality packages available – make an Ultra Challenge® your company’s special event – maybe supporting your ‘charity of the year’.
FIND OUT MORE >>
Get in Touch:
corporate@ultrachallenge.com
new year deal 🎉
Sign up with 75% off!
& FREE Virtual Challenge
& Buy Now, Pay Later Option
ENDS MIDNIGHT 31ST JANUARY
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 trail runner out for a sharp time – there’s an Ultra Challenge® for you! Walk, Jog, or Run at your pace, as an Individual or a Team, and fundraise for your favourite charity.
There’s a NEW Ultra Trailblazerz™ option for ‘rapid runners’, and an Ultra March® option for ‘hasty hikers’ – plus a friendly ‘Solo Challenger’ start time to join up with others. The Bath 50 Ultra Challenge kicks off the season; it will be fun, friendly, safe, & rewarding – with full support all the way, enabling you to push yourself further in wonderful historic scenery.
Check out which challenge is for you…
How to Join
Sign up online below – confirm the distance you’ll take on; whether you intend to walk, jog, or run; choose a funding option which suits you – and pay the appropriate Registration Fee.
You’ll get a Confirmation Email, which includes a link for you to set up your online JustGiving sponsorship page. You’ll also get access to the ‘Challenge App’ which holds all the details about the event.
If you’re up for a faster challenge – check out the ULTRA MARCH® option for walkers, and the new TRAILBLAZERZ™ category for fast runners. There’s also a Solo Challengers Start Time if you want to meet up with others!
Choose how you want to join the Challenge with an associated minimum fundraising target. Sign up via that option and its online Registration Form. Then enter your Personal Details.
- Option 1 – Full Sponsorship for Charity
- Option 2 – Mixed Funding for Charity
- Option 3 – Own Place Charity Fundraising
- * A ‘Platform Booking Fee’ of 4% is applied to all event registrations.
Confirm the distance you’ll take on (eg: Full ~100km / Half ~50km / Quarter ~25km / 10km etc) and then select a provisional Start Time slot (actual start times are confirmed 4 weeks prior to the event; for Teams, it will be as per the Team Captain’s choice).
The ‘ULTRA MARCH®’ & ‘TRAILBLAZERZ™’ categories for 100 km & some 50 km distance options – can be selected on the Registration Form (with a specific start time for each).
SOLO CHALLENGERS – if you sign up on your own, and would like to meet others, you can choose this start slot if you wish to (via the Reg Form).
Everyone has to register via a form (ie all team members), as we require personal details, medical info, & declarations.
Within the form you can choose to ‘CREATE’ or ‘JOIN’ a TEAM.
Teams can be of any size; members can opt for the same or different funding options, charities, or distances.
- Create a Team – you become the Team Captain. You need a Team Name, and a Password for others to join. Then invite friends & family to join you!
- Others Join the Team as they register, by searching for the Team Name & using the Password
- Team Start Time – as per selected by Team Captain
For WALKERS looking to achieve a sub 24 hour total time for 100 km or sub 12 hours for ~50 km (if applicable). There’s a dedicated Start Time – and you’ll join in with ~200 or so other ‘Marchers’!
TRAILBLAZERZ® is a NEW category for the faster, ambitious runners – who will head out in the 1st start wave onto the fantastic, fully signed, Ultra Challenge® routes – with 100 km & 50 km options across 16 events.
TRAILBLAZERZ® may be seasoned Ultra competitors , regular trail runners, or marathon & 1/2 marathon’ers stepping on to the trails & upping the distance. All will probably have an eye on the clock – some will be out for a personal best – and a few will have a crack at the course records, with trophies & prizes at stake!
TRAILBLAZERZ INFO >>
All sponsorship goes direct to the Charity via your JustGiving page.
At least 50% of the ‘sponsorship target’ should be with the Charity 3 weeks prior to the Challenge. At this time the Charity agrees to pay a Fee for your place to the Organiser (similar to the Self Funding cost – or half of it for Mixed Funding as you’ve already covered half).
Failure to meet the deadline may result in cancellation of your place by your charity.
The remaining 50%, and any extra, should be with your Charity by 4 weeks after the Challenge.
Costs & Fundraising
Select your Option below to start the sign-up process. Reg Fees are paid online & Fundraising goes to the charity via an online JustGiving sponsorship page that you MUST set up (look for the link within the ‘Confirmation Email’ you’ll receive).
SERIES PARTNER DISCOUNT
USE CODE HELLO2026 FOR 75% OFF ‘FULL SPONSORSHIP’ STANDARD FEES (OPTION 1)
Option 1
FULL SPONSORSHIP
FOR CHARITY
Pay a small Registration Fee & Fundraise for your Charity (who then pay for your place)
50km CHALLENGE
£40 Reg Fee & at least
£375 fundraising/sponsorship
25km CHALLENGE
£30 Reg Fee & at least
£275 fundraising/sponsorship
10km CHALLENGE
£15 Reg Fee & at least
£150 fundraising/sponsorship
Option 2
MIXED FUNDING
FOR CHARITY
Pay for half your place cost & fundraise less for Charity (who pay half your place cost)
50km CHALLENGE
£75 Reg Fee & at least
£225 fundraising/sponsorship
25km CHALLENGE
£50 Reg Fee & at least
£150 fundraising/sponsorship
10km CHALLENGE
£25 Reg Fee & at least
£100 fundraising/sponsorship
Option 3
OWN PLACE CHARITY
FUNDRAISING
Pay for your place & fundraise whatever you can (with no event place cost to them)
50km CHALLENGE
£139 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
25km CHALLENGE
£89 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
10km CHALLENGE
£49 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
NOTE – The registration system provider is Active Network – you’ll need to create an account, or log into an existing one as you register. All Reg Fees are paid online. A 4% Platform Booking Fee applies to all transactions.
Bookable Extras
We do have a range of additional optional extras designed to make the planning for, and joining, your challenge easier. Sign-up to your chosen Challenge first – and you can then book any optional extras later / separately.
FAQs
You must be 18 or over (on the day of the challenge) if taking on a Full Challenge (~100km) or Three Quarter Challenge (~75km); 16+ and accompanied by an adult if taking on a Half Challenge (~50km ), 14+ and accompanied by an adult if taking on a Quarter Challenge (~25km) or Marathon); for a Half Marathon aged 12+ and accompanied by an adult; and finally 8+ & accompanied by an adult for a 10km/mile Challenge.
Under 18s taking part must be signed up by someone over 18.
You’ll receive a ‘transaction receipt’ (via email) along with a Confirmation Email welcoming you, and detailing any next steps, timelines you need to be aware of, and how & where to find all the info / details you’ll need for your Challenge. (NOTE– If you don’t receive that e mail within 12 hours, please check your spam/junk mail folders)
You can expect to hear from your charity within 14 days. If for some reason you do not hear from them – please contact them directly, and also email us at charity@actionchallenge.com & we will follow up with the charity for you.
We ensure that registered teams are assigned the same start wave (where distance/challenge option allows), and your team name will be printed onto your bib.
There are no restrictions on our regular teams – you can be any mixture of charities / distances / funding types (i.e. Self Funding, Charity Sponsorship or Mixed Funding), and can have any number of members. (even 2).
Even if you are not fundraising for the same charity, you can still create a challenge team with us.
Whilst you are signing up and registering for your challenge – in the TEAM INFO section (towards the end of the registration questions), you will be asked if you would like to ‘Join a team’ or ‘Create a team’.
If selecting to create a team, you will be asked to create a Team Name and Password. Subsequent team members can then register and select to join your team, and will need to provide the team password in order to join it.
Yes – as long as you are fundraising for the same charity, you can create a team fundraising page on Just Giving (we recommend letting your charity know this is how you will be fundraising together). However, please be advised that the minimum fundraising targets remain per person (not per team), so you will need to reach the combined total fundraising amount on your page for your group.
If you are entering on a Charity Sponsorship or Mixed Funding place then NO – you must select one prime charity for your fundraising. This is because your charity will be paying for a portion of your place on the event (out of the fundraising that you generate). If you wish to also fundraise for another charity, you can do so on your own terms but only as long as you reach the minimum fundraising target your first/prime charity.
If you join as ‘Own Place Charity Fundraising’ however, you have complete flexibility on who you fundraise for – with no targets or deadlines.
All sponsorship goes direct to the Charity via your online JustGiving page – WHICH YOU MUST SET UP.
At least 50% of the ‘sponsorship target’ should be with the Charity 3 weeks prior to the Challenge. At this time the Charity agrees to pay a Fee for your place to the Ultra Challenge Organiser (similar to the Self Funding cost – or half of it for Mixed Funding as you’ve already covered half).
Failure to meet the deadline may result in cancellation of your place by your charity.
The remaining 50%, and any extra, should be with your Charity by 4 weeks after the Challenge.
All charity sponsorship and mixed funding places close 4 weeks before each challenge, so that you have enough time to fundraise and reach your target. Self funding places close for online registration on the Tuesday before each challenge.
Visit the ‘HELP CENTRE’ on the Ultra Challenge Website:
If you still need additional help or guidance – you can contact the Ultra Challenge Team at:
Tel: 0207 609 6695
Amazing Challenges!
Over 225,000 adventurers have taken on an Ultra Challenge®, and the 19 events make up the UK’s biggest & best series of treks & trail runs – which also raises £12+ million / year for charities.
Whichever challenge you choose, you’ll get full support all the way so you can set a new goal, enjoy the wonderful countryside & friendly community, fundraise for you favourite charity – and achieve something to be proud of!
If you’re up for a challenge – make it an Ultra Challenge®.
