Welcome to the Winter Wanderlust 50km

A Trail Adventure Through Kent’s Stunning Winter Landscape

Date: Sunday 20th December 2026

Start Location: Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone ME14 3JF

Finish Location: Wye Village Hall, Bridge Street, Wye, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5EA

Start Time: 09:00 AM

Cutoff Time: 19:00 PM (10-hour cutoff)

Distance: 50km

Elevation Gain: Approx. 1,000m

Experience the Winter Wanderlust 50km, a breathtaking ultra-trail race along the North Downs Way, taking you from Detling to Wye. Featuring rolling hills, stunning vineyards, historic landmarks, and a truly festive atmosphere, this race is the perfect winter trail-running challenge. Whether you’re a seasoned ultra-runner or looking for your first long-distance trail race, this is an adventure you won’t want to miss.

What’s Included in Your Entry?

Finisher’s Medal – A special keepsake for completing the race within the official cut-off time.

Live GPS Tracking – Share your progress with friends & family.

On-Course Medical Support – Safety is our priority.

Fully Marked Route – No navigation required.

Three Well-Stocked Checkpoints – Including two indoor stations with hot food & drinks.

Podium Awards – Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Open & Female Finishers.

Hot Food & Drinks at the Finish Line – Celebrate your finish with warmth and comfort.

The Course

The Winter Wanderlust 50km delivers an unforgettable journey through Kent’s most scenic and historic trails, blending challenging climbs, rolling countryside, and breathtaking ridge-line running.

The race begins at the Kent Showground in Detling, where the first 10km takes runners out to Boxley Warren, an ancient woodland filled with towering trees and winding trails. As you climb steadily onto the North Downs, you’ll pass through stunning vineyards and beautiful woodlands, enjoying a peaceful yet exhilarating start to your adventure.

Once on the North Downs Way, the next 10 miles showcase some of the best trails in the county. The route passes the imposing ruins of Thurnham Castle, an ancient stronghold perched above the landscape, before opening up to breathtaking views across the Kent Downs. A rolling, fast-flowing section follows, guiding you effortlessly towards Lenham Cross, a striking war memorial etched into the hillside—one of the most iconic viewpoints on the trail.

Beyond Lenham, the trails transition between open fields, sheltered woodland, and expansive farmland, demanding both mental focus and physical resilience as you navigate the changing landscape. This section captures the diverse beauty of Kent’s countryside, rewarding runners with ever-evolving scenery.

As you enter Wye, the race isn’t over yet—the final 8km loop takes you through the breathtaking Wye Downs Nature Reserve, home to one of Kent’s most dramatic landscapes. You’ll ascend onto the Wye Downs, passing the impressive Wye Crown, a landmark carved into the hillside, before reaching the epic Devil's Kneading Trough. This steep, natural valley offers uninterrupted views across the Weald of Kent, an awe-inspiring backdrop for the final stretch of your journey.

A final descent through Devil's Kneading Trough provides one last exhilarating challenge before you return to Wye, where your well-earned finish line, hot food, and warm festive celebration await.

The Winter Wanderlust 50km is more than just a race—it’s an amazing winter trail running adventure in one of the UK’s most scenic locations.

Race Day Schedule & Logistics

Race Registration & Start

Location: Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JF

Registration: 07:30 AM - 08:45 AM

Race Briefing: 08:45 AM

Race Start: 09:00 AM

At registration, runners will collect their race number, tracker, and drop bag label.

Toilets and water refills are available before the start.

Finish Line & Post-Race Facilities

Finish Location: Wye Village Hall, Bridge Street, Wye, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5EA

Final Cutoff: 19:00 PM

Runners will cross the finish line at Wye Village Recreation Ground, where they’ll be welcomed with:

Hot food & drinks

Toilets and changing facilities

Drop bag collection

Medical support & post-race recovery area

Celebrate your achievement with fellow runners, enjoy a warm meal, festive celebration and reflect on your incredible journey.

Checkpoints & Cutoffs

There will be three checkpoints along the route:

Checkpoint 1 (10km) – Indoor checkpoint with snacks, drinks & toilets.

Checkpoint 2 (25km) – Outdoor checkpoint with snacks & drinks.

Checkpoint 3 (39km) – Indoor checkpoint with hot food, drinks & toilets.

A cutoff of 16:45 PM (7hrs 45mins) will be in place for checkpoint 3.

Shuttle Bus Transfer

Optional Shuttle from Wye (Finish Line) to Detling (Start Line)

Departure: 07:15 AM from Wye Village Hall

Cost: £12 (Pre-booking required)

Limited to 100 tickets (No on-the-day sales)

This one-way shuttle ensures your car is at the finish line when you complete your race.

Parking

Detling Showground (Start Location):

Free street parking available.

If you're leaving your car at the showground, you must be able to return to site to collect it no later than 3pm on Sunday 20th December.

Wye (Finish Location):

Free parking at Wye Village Hall.

Additional street parking available.

Please do not park in the Tickled Trout pub bays.

Mandatory Kit List

Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment throughout the race:

Fully charged mobile phone (with Race Director & Medic contacts saved).

Minimum 1L water capacity (bottles or hydration pack).

Waterproof jacket (10,000mm+ sealed seams).

Survival blanket (1.4 x 2m minimum).

Primary headtorch (min. 75 lumens).

Red rear flashing LED light

Long-sleeved base layer (carried, not worn at the start).

Warm hat & gloves.

Reusable cup (cupless race).

There will be mandatory kit checks at the start line and randomly during the race. Runners missing mandatory items will not be allowed to start and/or will be disqualified from the race.

Race Rules

Age Requirements: All participants must be 20 years or older on race day.

Bibs: Race bibs must be worn on the front of your body and be clearly visible at all times. Altering, tampering, or transferring your bib is prohibited.

Tracking Devices: All runners must wear the tracking device provided at registration. The tracker must be returned at the finish line or upon withdrawal.

Stay on Course: Participants must follow the marked course. Taking intentional shortcuts or leaving the course will result in disqualification.

Checkpoints: Runners must check in at every checkpoint. Missing a checkpoint will result in disqualification.

Checkpoint Cut-Offs: Checkpoint has a cut-off time of 16:45 PM. Runners who fail to leave a checkpoint before the cut-off will not be permitted to continue.

Final Cut-Off: All runners must complete the race by 19:00 PM on race day.

Notification of Withdrawal: Any runner deciding to withdraw must notify the race director using the provided phone number and return their bib and tracker to the nearest checkpoint or Race Finish.

On Foot Only: The race must be completed on foot. Using any form of transportation (e.g., bicycle, vehicle) will result in disqualification.

Road Crossings: Runners must use caution when crossing roads. These will not be marshalled, and it is the responsibility of the runner to ensure they cross safely.

Rail Crossings: Runners must not cross the level crossing at Wye when the lights are flashing. This will be marshalled and any runner caught breaking this rule will be disqualified. Runners may use the pedestrian footbridge in Wye station.

Trail Etiquette: Be respectful of other trail users, volunteers, and participants. Yield to others where necessary and avoid blocking the path.

No Littering: This is a zero-tolerance event. Any runner found littering will be immediately disqualified.

Crewing: Crewing is allowed only at designated crew access points, as outlined on the course map. Support outside of these areas is not permitted.

Pacers: Pacers are not permitted at this race

No Dogs: Dogs or other animals are not allowed on the course or inside the start / finish venues, either accompanying runners or in the care of crew members at checkpoints.

Leave No Trace: All participants must respect the environment. Do not damage vegetation, disturb wildlife, or leave waste behind.

Medical Assistance: If you or another runner require medical attention, contact the emergency number provided during registration.

Medical Withdrawal: Event staff and medics have the authority to remove any runner from the race if they believe continuing could pose a danger to the participant’s health or safety.

Other Information

Bag Drop: Runners will be able to leave a bag at the start line, which will be transferred to the finish. Bags must be labelled with tags provided during registration, but please note that all items are left at your own risk.

Trail Running Association Permit: The race is run under a Trail Running Association (TRA) permit and adheres to England Athletics rules.

Medical Support: Qualified medics will be stationed at key points along the course and at the race finish. If you or another runner require assistance, contact the emergency number provided on race day. If you are unable to continue the race, notify the nearest checkpoint and return your tracker and bib.

Weather Contingency: In the event of extreme weather, the Race Director may modify the course, delay the start, suspend the race, or postpone the event to ensure everyone’s safety. Decisions will be communicated as early as possible via email, social media, and at race registration.

Description supplied by the event organiser.