The Maverick South Downs Trail
Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the South Downs Way.
| Distance | Ascent | Per km |
|---|---|---|
| 50k Ultra | 1,032 m | 20 m |
| 42 km Marathon | 886 m | 21 m |
| 21 km Half Marathon | 450 m | 21 m |
| 9 km Middle | 206 m | 23 m |
| 6 km Short | 139 m | 24 m |
Nobody has reviewed this one yet
No reviews of the Maverick South Downs Trail, and nothing on what people wore. Both are things no organiser publishes and every runner wants before they enter — how it actually went, and what was on your feet.
Ran it? Write the first reviewRunning it soon? Connect Strava and we will ask you about it the day you finish, so you do not have to remember to come back.
Pick your distance
VERY HARD
TRP grade · E4·T2
This file is from a previous running and the course may have changed since. If you are navigating with it, get the current version from Maverick Race first.
What you’re in for
Five routes from Queen Elizabeth Country Park at the Hampshire–Sussex border in October, aimed squarely at getting people to a first ultra. All five head straight out into the woodland and pick up the South Downs Way; the Marathon and Ultra get a 15km stretch of it, and the Ultra goes through Harting Down and West Dean Woods. The Short is 5.7km with 139m of climb, the Middle 8.9km and 206m, the Half 21.5km and 450m, the Marathon 42.0km and 886m, the 50k Ultra 51.3km and 1,032m. Ultra and Marathon start at 08:30 with cut-offs giving eight and a half hours: Harting Down at 12km by 10:30, Staple Ash Farm at 24km by 12:30, Harting Down again by 14:10, Chalton by 16:00. No outpost on the Short. Dog entries sell out.
Terrain and trail
Rolling chalk downland, woodland and short sharp climbs — the organiser's own summary, and right. Hard-packed chalk track and forest path, fast when dry and slick when wet, with the climbs steep but never long. A good first ultra course because the ground never fights you. A trail shoe with some grip for the chalk. Maverick's format on every event: a fully marked course, outposts stocked with Precision Fuel & Hydration and a spread of sweet and savoury food as a top-up for what you carry, no cups (bring one), a bag drop, an event village with food and a non-alcoholic beer at the end. Mandatory kit is checked on the longer routes.
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Other races near here
South Downs races →Races from other organisers starting within 30 km of Horndean, Hampshire, nearest first.
16
Jan
2027
BigBeyond Trails (Aether)
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Gravel Hill, Horndean · BigFeat Events · 0 miles away
New January night race on the South Downs Way from QECP, 12 miles to 50km
Not open yet
£38–£70
30
Jan
2027
Queen Elizabeth Country Park Trail Run
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Gravel Hill, Horndean · UK Running Events · 0 miles away
QECP near Petersfield: woodland, South Downs Way and War Down, 21.6k to 7.9k
MODERATE TO HARD
Not open yet
£34.5–£44.5
21
Feb
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BigMud Trails (Earth)
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Gravel Hill, Horndean · BigFeat Events · 0 miles away
Muddy February South Downs race from QECP that climbs Butser Hill twice
Not open yet
£44–£68
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Aug
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South Downs
Waterlooville, Hampshire · RunThrough Trails · 0 miles away
The South Downs Way from Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Entries open
How to enter
No date announced for the next running yet. Maverick Race’s site ↗ is where it will show up first.
Common questions
- The Maverick South Downs Trail offers 5 distances: 50k Ultra (31.1 miles), Marathon (42.0 km / 26.1 miles), Half Marathon (21.0 km / 13.0 miles), Middle (9.0 km / 5.6 miles), Short (6.0 km / 3.7 miles).