A reminder that the annual South West Coast 50 Challenge will take place on Saturday 2nd August 2025. This will be the 4th year of the event and will follow a similar format to 2024. The event route comprises a looped 50km route starting and finishing at Dunster Showground, Dunster, with participants walking up to 50km on public footpaths, rights of way, roads, and pavements. Participants can choose to do shorter routes which include the 1st or 2nd half Challenge, 25km Loop or 10km Loop Challenges.
Last year we completed 18 different Ultra Challenge events across the UK, which raised over £10 million for our charity partners. Specifically, our South West Coast 50 Challenge back in August 2024 helped raise over £250,000 for our charity partners. Thank you for all your support in helping us achieve this.
This year, the 50km route starts in Dunster and leads towards and into Minehead. From Minehead the route follows the Southwest Coast Path to Porlock. From Porlock the route heads south up to Dunkery Beacon, then turns back towards Minehead, heading northeast and then east into Dunster and back to the start / finish location at Dunster Showground.
The 25km loop sits within the 50km loop and splits off after Minehead and heads south to Wootton Courtenay, where it rejoins the 50km route. The 10km loop is a separate route, starting and finishing at Dunster Showground.
The route is detailed in the Event Overview document – click here to read it – but more detailed maps of specific sections can be created on request. The route can also be viewed on the event homepage – https://www.ultrachallenge.com/sw-coast-50/.
As per previous years with our Ultra Challenge Series event format, there are no licensable activities taking place, nor will we be requiring any road closures. We do put signage out (pink A5 arrows); however, this is participant-facing at head height to help ensure that no one gets lost. Our route team follows the last walker around the route and takes down all signage put out, as well as litter associated with the event.
The event is well marshalled, with static and walking marshals, and we have our own medical team supporting the event, with medics positioned at all venues and vehicles and an ambulance out on the route (https://www.trailmed.co.uk/).
Neil Munro
UK Route & Venue Manager
Wootton Courtenay 