The annual South West Coast 50 Challenge is being held this coming Saturday, 25th July. This will be the fifth year of the event and will follow a similar format to 2025. The event route is comprised of a looped 50km route, starting and finishing at Dunster Showground, 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, and the 25km Loop or 10km Loop Challenges.
In 2025 we completed 20 different Ultra Challenge events across the UK which are very much charity focused. Last year’s series has raised over £10.3 million for our charity partners and last year’s South West Coast 50 Challenge back in August 2025 helped raise over £250,000 for our charity partners. Thank you for all your support in helping us achieve this.
The Route
The main event route begins by heading from Dunster towards and into Minehead. From Minehead the route heads west along the southwest coastal path to Porlock. From Porlock we go south up to Dunkery Beacon via Horner and Cloutsham. From Dunkery Beacon the route drops down to Wootton Courtenay on the MacMillan Way and heads northeast and then east back 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, and follows PROWs up to and around Bat’s Castle and Dunster Deer Park.
The route is detailed in the “Event Overview” document, but I can create more detailed maps of specific sections on request. Click here to go to the event’s homepage: https://www.ultrachallenge.com/sw-coast-50/.
As in previous years, 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 follow the last walker around the route and takes down all signage put out, as well as litter associated with the event.
Please click here to read the Event Overview, including route information. Event management plan, risk assessment, and insurance can be shared on request.
The event is well marshalled, with static and walking marshals, and we have our own medical team supporting the event (https://www.trailmed.co.uk/) with medics positioned at all venues and vehicles / ambulance out on the route. We are also now in the process of notifying every level of local authority as well as key landowners and stakeholders filling out the relevant paperwork where appropriate and needed.
Neil Munro
Route and Venue Manager
Wootton Courtenay 
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