How far is the South Coast Challenge?

The South Coast Challenge offers 3 distances: 100km (62.1 miles), 50km (31.1 miles), 25km (15.5 miles).

Is the South Coast Challenge course marked?

Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.

When is the next South Coast Challenge?

Sat, 4 Sept 2027. Entries open.

Ultra Challenge South Coast Challenge

Eastbourne, East SussexSat, 4 Sept – Sun, 5 Sept 2027

A hundred kilometres of the South Downs Way from Eastbourne, or fifty or twenty-five.

Distance	Ascent	Per km
100km	—	—
50km	—	—
25km	—	—

chalkdownlandcoastalMarked course

Nobody has reviewed this one yet

No reviews of the South Coast Challenge, 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 review

Running 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

Start time not confirmed yet — check with the organiser.

What you’re in for

Eastbourne to Arundel along the South Downs: up Beachy Head, over the Seven Sisters, then the South Downs Way to a halfway at Hove, past Devil's Dyke and on west to Arundel, 100km with about 2,170m of climb on the organiser's figures. The 57km first half carries the sea cliffs and 1,250m of the climb; the 43km second half is the gentler one; the 25km quarter is the Seven Sisters. Early September, through Saturday night for the continuous distance. An Ultra Challenge event, which means walkers, joggers and runners on the same course, signed with pink arrows and glow sticks after dark, with a covered rest stop every twelve kilometres or so — food, drink, medics, toilets — and a bigger one every twenty-five. Runners can enter with a target time; most of the field will be walking.

Terrain and trail

Chalk turf on the cliff-tops and the Downs — the Seven Sisters are seven steep grassy climbs in a row — then the flinty track of the South Downs Way, a drop to the coast at Hove and the climb back up. Firm in September, exposed on the tops. Signed. A road shoe with tread or a light trail shoe.

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How to enter

Sat, 4 Sept – Sun, 5 Sept 2027 · Entries open

Enter on their website ↗

Entries are handled by Ultra Challenge, not by us. We take nothing for sending you there.

Add to your calendar · as an all-day entry, until the start time is confirmed

Common questions

: The South Coast Challenge offers 3 distances: 100km (62.1 miles), 50km (31.1 miles), 25km (15.5 miles).
: No course file for the South Coast Challenge yet, so there's no measured climb here. When Ultra Challenge publish one, this fills in.
: Not graded yet. A TRP grade is worked out from distance and climb measured off the course file, and there isn't one for the South Coast Challenge yet.
: Yes, the course is marked. Navigation skills are not required.
: We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the South Coast Challenge. Ultra Challenge confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.
: We don't hold published time limits for the South Coast Challenge. If Ultra Challenge set cut-offs, they'll be in the race information.
: We don't hold a checkpoint list for the South Coast Challenge. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Ultra Challenge race information rather than turning up expecting food.
: Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the South Coast Challenge. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.
: Sat, 4 Sept 2027. Entries open.