Butcombe Trail Ultra
| 50 Miles | £62.00 | |
| £72.00 | (from 09/07/2025) | |
| £82.00 | (from 14/01/2026) | |
| 50 Kilometres | £47.00 | |
| £57.00 | (from 09/07/2025) | |
| £67.00 | (from 14/01/2026) | |
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50 Mile and 50 km self-navigation ultramarathons in the Mendip Hills
The official Butcombe Trail is a 47-mile route around six pubs in the Mendip Hills, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The route is mostly off-road and takes in beautiful running country and fantastic views as it criss-crosses the Mendips. It was devised as a hiking trail by local walker and writer Sue Gearing in 2007, in collaboration with Butcombe Brewery, and was first run as a single-day ultramarathon in 2016, organised by Bristol’s Town & Country Harriers trail-running club.
2026 will follow the same format as 2025 with 50km and 50miles races running anti-clockwise from our Race HQ at Mendip Activity Center.
The Entry Fees include £5 increase from 2025, which will go towards the cost of tracking devices. We decided to bring in tracking to improve accuracy of runners' timings, help spectators follow them around the course and help us find a runner in the unlikely event someone gets injured and needs assistance.
Both races will be qualifying events for the UTMB® and sister races : the 50 miles being a 100 km 'index race' and the 50 km being a 50 km 'index race'.
The organisers, marshals, and checkpoint crews are all runners, many of whom regularly run ultras and know what’s needed to make a great race and help people get to the finish. This is evident in the comments we receive from runners after the race, and you can read some full race reports and other feedback here.
Although runners will be well supported during the event, it is not to be taken lightly.
For the 50 mile race only runners who will have run a trail marathon by race date (either as a race or in training) since 1 January 2025 should apply.
For the 50 km race we do not require this but you should neverthelsss be confident you can run this distance self-navigated.
The races are organised by volunteer members of the Town & Country Harriers (TACH), a Bristol off-road running club, for the benefit of the Mendip Hills Fund. This is a community fund set up to conserve and enhance the environment, communities and economy of the Mendip Hills. The fund is a partnership between the Mendip Hills AONB and the Somerset Community Foundation. TACH is proud to have donated a total of £18,800 to the Fund from the proceeds of the race in previous years.
New Prize Categories for 2026
TACH wants its races to be as inclusive as possible. So, while the Female prize category is only eligible to those who meet the England Athletics criteria for Female category competition, we now have an Open prize category available for all competitors irrespective of gender. Please select your prize category when entering the race.
This is an evolving area in sport, and TACH will continue to investigate ways to improve the inclusivity of our races.
Event Rules
1. Headphones
We do not encourage the use of headphones on the Butcombe Trail Ultra. If you decline to follow this advice, be aware that this is your responsibility. Note that you must be alert to instructions from marshals, the risks of road crossings and the needs of fellow runners at all times. This is for the safety of yourself and others. Both earpieces MUST be removed at all checkpoints and marshalled road crossings, runners risk disqualification if they do not follow this requirement.
2. Pacers
One pacer per runner is allowed from the final checkpoint, the penalty for having more than one pacer or a pacer before then will be at the Race Director's discretion
3. Short-cutting the route knowingly
Runners must follow the course at all times, the penalty for deliberately cutting the course will be at the Race Director's discretion
4. Mandatory kit
Mandatory kit must be carried at all times, failure to carry the mandatory kit may result in time penalties or disqualification at the Race Director's discretion.
5. Pregnancy policy
We offer 100% refunds to runners who notify us of pregnancy. Please email us at [email protected] to arrange this.
6. Guide runners
Guide runners for the blind, visually impaired, or disabled runners are welcomed, both the blind, visually impaired or disabled runner and their guide runner must register for the event. We offer free entry for guide runners, please email [email protected] to arrange this. Note: guide runners will receive a finishers medal on event completion but are not eligible for any prizes.
For more details, see the various pages on our website, and to ask questions please visit our Facebook page.
View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.
View the Event Cancellation / Refund Policy.
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