Conquer Britain’s Oldest Trail
Race to the Stones travels across the Ridgeway, the UK’s oldest footpath. Passing through ancient landscapes and ending at the iconic Avebury Standing Stones, this is no mere ultramarathon – it’s a journey on foot through 5000 years of history.
- Date: 11th – 12th July 2026
- Location: The Ridgeway
- Distances: 50km / 100km Non-Stop / 100km Over Two Days
- Cut-off: 25+ hours
- Price: From £45pp; payment plans available across all packages
Explore the Event
Use the sections below to find out more about Race to the Stones.
THE OLDEST TRAIL IN BRITAIN
Britain’s First Trail
5000 years ago, the landscape of Southern Britain looked very different.
Following the end of the last Ice Age, nearly the whole of Britain was covered with forest – oak and elm being the most common species. As Neolithic society developed, people began to clear the trees for agricultural grazing, inadvertently creating the vast chalk grasslands we now see today.
The Ridgeway emerged as a trading route around this time, connecting the Southern and Eastern parts of Britain via a natural ridge of hills traversing the island. It provided travellers with a commanding view of their surroundings, protecting them from potential attacks, as well as providing easier passage over the high ground.
Castles and Monuments
During the Iron Age, around 4000 years ago, many hillforts were built along the Ridgeway, creating permanent outposts for tribal communities to defend themselves.
Race to the Stones passes by many of these structures, including Uffington Castle, Liddington Castle, and perhaps the most dramatic of them all – Barbury Castle, pictured above.
Alongside these more practical constructions, ancient people expressed themselves artistically in the land, creating vast chalk drawings such as the Uffington White Horse, which continues to watch over the hillside to this day.
Mystery of the Stones
At the western end of the Ridgeway, Race to the Stones finishes by the ancient and mysterious Avebury Standing Stones, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Constructed over hundreds of years during the Neolithic era, it is one of the largest stone circles in the world, with a diameter of over 330 metres. Comprising a large outer ditch, an outer circle, and two separate inner circles of stones, its construction took hundreds of thousands of man-hours, but its ultimate purpose remains a mystery.
For over a decade now, the Avebury Stone Circle has taken on a new role, welcoming runners and hikers to their long-awaited finish line at Race to the Stones. Truly a magnificent way to end your journey, the majesty and mystery of this ancient monument is sure to enchant and delight you as you reach your journey’s end.
THE UK'S FASTEST 100K
A Fast, Runnable Course
Taking in a modest 1350m of elevation gain over 100k, the undulating Race to the Stones is one of the fastest trail races in the country.
Long stretches of flowing, runnable trail give way to a handful of modest climbs and descents which offer some much-needed variety at key intervals throughout the course.
Throw in a few stretches of quiet tarmac and riverside paths, and it soon becomes clear why both the men’s and women’s course records are the fastest for a trail 100k in the UK:
- Men’s CR: 07:41:56 (2025)
- Women’s CR: Sarah Morwood – 09:14:14 (2015)
A Deeply Competitive Field
Every year we’re blown away by the calibre of athletes toeing the line at Race to the Stones.
In both the men’s and women’s field, the standard seems to rise each year as athletes perfect their approach to nutrition, kit, crew, and pacing.
Whether you’re chasing the course record or just your own PB, the quality of the competition at Race to the Stones makes it the perfect race at which to push your yourself to new limits!
Rolling Course Record Prize Fund
To incentivise the front of the pack to keep raising the bar, in 2025 we introduced the £1000 rolling Course Record Prize Fund to both the male and female Course Record Prize Funds.
If an athlete breaks their gender’s course record, they take home the prize. If the course record goes unbroken, the money rolls over to next year.
In 2026, the prize funds stand as follows:
Men’s Prize Fund: £1000
Women’s Prize Fund: £2000
Will you be the next to rewrite what’s possible?
THE PERFECT FIRST ULTRA
Accessible and Walker-Friendly
The same features that make Race to the Stones such a fast course for the frontrunners also make it perfect for first-timers.
Non-technical trails and paths, a mix of undulating hills and flatter sections, and our highly supportive approach all make it possible for hikers to not only take part, but have a blast!
That’s why we’re proud of the fact that, in 2025, over 40% of our participants planned to hike their ultramarathon or incorporate a mix of running and hiking.
Want to avoid hiking through the night? Take on one of the two 50k events on offer, or tackle both back-to-back with an overnight rest in between, completing 100k over the weekend.
Unrivalled Support
We know that ultras aren’t easy – which is why we do everything we can to make sure you reach your finish line.
We host regular pre-event training webinars to help you prepare for the challenge that lies ahead. Then, on race day, we go the extra mile so that you don’t have to. The course is marked every few metres to make sure you can’t get lost, and each of our seven main pitstops is stocked to the brim with food and drink.
Our infamous halfway basecamp on Lattin Down features hot food, showers, and even live entertainment – the hard part is leaving!
20,000 Finishes and Counting
The Race to the Stones finish line is truly one-of-a-kind. We might be biased, but we think every runner needs to experience it at least once!
Since 2013, we’ve witnessed over 20,000 finishes – from quietly triumphant to loud and ecstatic. However your race panned out, we celebrate your bravery and deeply personal achievement, with a live MC welcoming everybody across the line to the cheers of your supporters.
This isn’t a “get your medal and go home” deal. Enjoy a free hot meal and shower post-race in our Finish Line Village, soak in the glory and share tales with your fellow athletes of what you’ve achieved together.
Choose Your Challenge
There are multiple distances on offer at Race to the Stones. Whether you’re a first-time walker or an elite racer, you’re sure to find something for you – check out the Packages on offer below.
100K NON-STOP
11th July 2026
Explore the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road, along a remarkably isolated and unspoilt corner of Southern England. Traverse sweeping chalk downs and pass through ancient forests before finishing by the 5000-year old Avebury Standing Stones, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Price: £180
SELLING FAST – WHEN THEY’RE GONE, THEY’RE GONE
100K OVER TWO DAYS
11th July 2026
Explore the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road, along a remarkably isolated and unspoilt corner of Southern England. Traverse sweeping chalk downs and pass through ancient forests before finishing by the 5000-year old Avebury Standing Stones, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Price: £165 excluding camping / £255 including camping
DAY ONE – THAMES VALLEY 50K
11th July 2026
Cross England’s longest river at the halfway mark before finishing with a triumphant climb towards our iconic Lattin Down Basecamp finish line.
Price: £85
DAY TWO – RIDGELINE 50K
12th July 2026
An ideal choice for your first ultramarathon. Enjoy dramatic views of the vale to your north before finishing at the iconic Avebury Standing Stones.
Price: £85
RUN FOR CHARITY
Every year, Race to the Stones raises thousands for good causes via charity fundraiser participants.
Whether you’re taking on a 50km challenge or tackling the full 100km route, your charity of choice will part-fund your place and will provide you with all the support and materials to help you reach your target.
You’ll benefit from reduced entry fees starting at just £45 – and maybe some snazzy new kit to rock on race day!
What’s Included?
Our intention is to create ultras which anyone with a dose of grit and determination can finish. We believe you won’t find a better-supported ultra anywhere in the UK – or perhaps the world!
Preparation
From the moment you sign up we’re here to help you prepare for your ultramarathon
- Training plans tailored to your package and level, courtesy of Runna, our Official Training Partner
- Regular webinars in the build-up to the event covering all aspects of training and preparation
- Exclusive offers from our Event Partners and suppliers
- Our team are on-hand via event-specific inboxes to answer any questions you may have
- Thriving online forums with past and future participants, where you can ask questions and share advice
On The Trail
Take on some of the UK’s most iconic routes through breathtaking natural landscapes
- Fully signposted trails for easy navigation, day and night
- Our iconic routes pass through heritage sites, AONBs, and along National Trails
- Route checking and support throughout the event
- All routes and wave timings planned for minimal bottle-necks on the trail
- Individual chip timing throughout the event
- Event photographers at all the top spots along the trail
Safety
Safety really is our top priority – our approach has been refined over thousands of miles of experience
- Independent event and route risk assessments
- Rapid response paramedic teams throughout the event
- Qualified medical personnel at all pit-stops
- Medical clinics at the basecamp and finish points
- Centralised event control system for runner emergencies
- Additional support contingencies for extreme weather events
Food & Drink
Our fuelling provision is designed to suit everyone, from hardy walkers to elite athletes
- Our famous pit stops are truly top-of-the-line, stocking a wide variety of real food including cereal bars, chocolate, sweets, fresh fruit, crisps, sandwiches, tea, coffee, porridge and more
- Access to hot food at halfway and a free hot meal at the finish
- Cooked and continental breakfasts for those camping overnight
- Sports nutrition including electrolyte, hydration and recovery products from High5
- Additional food concessions at the Start, halfway and Finish for supporters
- Bars at the basecamp and at the finish
- Offerings for special dietary requirements throughout
Transport
We arrange transport for your bag and offer a range of bookable shuttles for those who can’t be dropped off or picked up
- Bag transfer to your finish line for all runners and walkers
- Bookable shuttles to and from the start and finish points (additional cost)
- Parking at the start and finish (additional cost)
- Subject to availability, we do our best to shuttle people to finish or basecamps in case of injury or withdrawal
The Finish
The grand finale has all you need for that unforgettable medal moment
- Top quality finisher’s medal
- Live MC welcoming you over the line
- Finish line photographer
- Hot meal when you cross the finish line
- Spectator zones at the finish with food and drink concessions
- Onward shuttle options
- Merchandise stand
- Bag collection
Insurance
Your money is secure when booking with Threshold with refund, deferral, and transfer options
- Full refunds (excl. booking fee) in the case of event cancellation
- Deferral options if you can’t make the event
- Participant transfer options if you can’t make the event
- Enhanced booking insurance as an optional extra on registration
Optional Extras
Not enough? There are a few extras you can add on as well to make it the best possible weekend!
- Event merchandise via our Official Merchandise Partner, Pressio
- Shuttles to and from the start and finish
- Parking at the start and finish
- Individual Trackers to let friends and family follow along
- Individual event photos from Sportograf
