Next edition - 17th April 2027
An iconic 50K ultra marathon in the Chiltern Hills, traversing the stunning ridgeline trails between Ivinghoe Beacon & Whiteleaf.
Starting from Berkhamsted Castle our route takes runners to Ashridge, Ivinghoe Beacon, Coombe Hill and Whiteleaf, showcasing some of the best trails and viewpoints in the Chiltern Hills.
Explore the route and elevation profile below, or download the route for your watch, OS Maps, Garmin and more.
The race starts from the historical grounds of Berkhamsted Castle and finishes within Hampden Meadow in Wendover.
The Ridgeway National Trail traverses these two locations and runners join the trail from Ivinghoe Beacon, having completed an enjoyable undulating first 10K through the Ashridge Estate (National Trust).
The trail from Ivinghoe to Aldbury is arguably the best 5K of the entire Ridgeway (139K long!) and will treat runners to some brilliant views.
As the route heads towards Wendover there are many ancient woodlands and rolling hills to tackle.
After a pit-stop in Wendover the route continues up Coombe Hill and along to Whiteleaf Hill before looping back into Wendover to complete the 50K distance.
Last updated - March 2026 - New CP3 location due to pub closure
Where each checkpoint is, how far into the route, and what to expect when you get there.
Bib collection: Open on both Friday evening, and on race morning.
There is no parking directly at Berkhamsted Castle, please utilise car parks within the town, or book onto our coach transfer.
Pitstone Hill
Crew & spectators: No – crews can support at other suitable points on the route
Hampden Meadow, Wendover
Crew & spectators: Yes – Supporters are welcome at Hampden Meadow.
Monks Risborough Cricket Pavilion
Crew & spectators: No – crews can support at other suitable points on the route
There are three full checkpoints on the route. Satellite water points will be added if the weather is particularly hot. The checkpoints will contain at a minimum:
The event starts at the historic Berkhamsted Castle and will finish at Hampden Meadow in Wendover.
Refreshments will be available at the finish.
Runners are advised to either be dropped off at the start, or to utlise our coach transfer service
All runners will be required to carry the following items for the entirety of the run:
Entry is open to all runners aged 20 years or older. There is no qualifiying criteria.
Technical race t-shirts will be available to purchase during registration and on the event day.
We've answered some common questions below. Please contact us if you have any further queries.
The Chiltern Ridge Classic 50K is considered to be a challenging run on undulating/hilly terrain. That being said, during previous editions of the race we have seen many runners complete this as their first ultra, well within the cutoff time.
Overall drop-out rates are very low and providing you adopt an intelligent strategy, such as a walk/run approach, we are confident all runners can complete this course within the 9-hour cutoff time.
No, there are no qualifying standards required to enter this race.
Our route will be marked throughout with orange signage/ribbons, along with marshals at several key points. Course checkers will be out during the race ensuring that signage remains in place.
We ask runners to make sure they have access to the route via a phone or watch, to act as a backup in an emergency.
We recommend using our coach transfer to the start, or back to Berkhamsted after the race. This can be booked during registration, or at a later date. Spaces are limited. Click here to book
There is an overall 9-hour time limit for this race. Anyone running significantly behind this time at checkpoints will be monitored and may be advised to stop for safety reasons. Please see our runner's guide document for more information on CP cutoff times.
There are toilets at start/finish and at all three checkpoints. The majority of these will be unisex, however we will provide female-only portaloos at the start and finish. Sanitary products are available at all locations.
No
Berkhamsted and Wendover both have train stations very close to the event start and finish locations.
Please wear trail running shoes for this race. You will encounter varied terrain along the route that will become slippery/muddy in wet weather conditions.
There are awards for the top three male and female finishers overall, along with age category awards for FV40, MV40, FV50, MV50, FV60, MV60, FV70, MV70.
Most GPS watches allow you to upload a GPX file of the route for you to follow whilst running. Typically this is done by loading the route GPX file into the app (i.e Garmin Connect), and then syncing your phone/watch together.
If you don't have a GPS watch we would recommend using OS Maps (£20/year) or Strava Premium (£48/year).
There is no parking at Berkhamsted Castle. If you are using the pre-race coach, park in Wendover, where the train station car park is the easiest option. If you are using the post-race coach, park in Berkhamsted at St John's Well Lane, Berkhamsted Train Station or the Lower Kings Road multi-storey.
All runners must collect their race number in person at Berkhamsted Castle. Registration timings will be confirmed in the runner's guide ahead of race day.
Yes, small bags (max 30 litres) can be dropped off at Berkhamsted Castle on race morning and will be transported to the finish in Wendover. Please label your bag clearly with your race number.
There are three checkpoints: Pitstone Hill (14.3km), Hampden Meadow in Wendover (29.6km) and Monks Risborough Cricket Pavilion (41.8km). Satellite water points will be added if the weather is particularly hot.
Checkpoints stock water, Coke, Precision Fuel & Hydration electrolyte drink, gels and chews, flapjacks and bars, fruit, crisps and sweets. This is a cupless race, so please bring a soft cup or bottle if you would like to take on fluids at the aid stations.
Please see the full list in the kit section above.
Yes, there is plenty of space for friends and family at the start and finish, and crews can support runners along the course in suitable locations. Crews should not use the official checkpoints due to parking restrictions.
No
Yes, this is a UTMB World Series Index race in the 50K category. The race is also licensed by the Trail Running Association and held under UKA rules.
The men's course record is 03:37:55, set by Richard Loader in 2026. The women's course record is 04:46:31, set by Rachel Fawcett in 2025.
Live results are available immediately after the race on our website, and a selection of race photos will be available to download for free 24-48 hours after the event.
By entering our race, you agree to the following withdrawal policy. This policy applies to all runners with the exception of women of cannot compete due to pregnancy.
Credits are only redeemable once, and can be used on future race entries, any time during the following 12 months.
Withdrawal requests must be completed online via our manage booking functionality.
Manage Booking
It was so well organised both in the weeks building up to it and on the day, and the course was so well marked you couldn’t possibly go wrong out there.
Chiltern Ridge 50km, 2021
Loved this! Course was beautiful and very well signposted. Friendly and really helpful marshals. Aid stations well stocked. Very well organised- would definitely do again.
Chiltern Ridge 50km, 2023
