Ultra Challenge Series

Ultra Challenge Series

Are you a walker, jogger, or runner looking for a challenge? If so, these events are for you!

The Ultra Challenge Series is the UK’s biggest and best series of mass-participation endurance events, with 16 unique events from January to October. The 2024 challenge invites fundraisers of all ages and abilities to walk, jog, or run distances of 25 km, 50 km, and 100 km at their own pace.

Whether it’s along a stunning coastline, or on trails through Britain’s beautiful countryside, your Ultra Challenge will be an unforgettable experience. This is a perfect way to raise funds for Frank Water and help us to build a water-secure world.

Everyone receives the best support and hospitality every step of the way!

To take part in an Ultra Challenge event and fundraise for Frank Water, search through the calendar of events, and book a place directly through the event organiser website, selecting the ‘Own Place Charity Fundraising’ option. Let us know when you’ve signed up by emailing hello@frankwater.com – we’ll get in touch to support you on your fundraising journey!

Easter 50 Challenge

Make it an active Easter in 2024 (6 April) and sign up for the 50 km Ultra, a historic 25 km or a new 10 km looped route through, starting from our basecamp in Windsor and leading into the Great Park with wonderful views of the historic Windsor Castleon to Runnymede, along the Thames Path, and taking in some wonderful countryside. Walk, jog, or run as an individual or a team, with full support and hospitality all the way.

Isle of Wight Challenge

Noting beats a coastal path on a fresh spring day, and there is no need to look any further as the Isle of Wight Challenge (4 and 5 May), offers all of this in its glory. The route takes you along the spectacular southern cliffs, past the iconic Needles, and up to historic Cowes at the halfway stop. For Full Island challengers, it’s on to historic Ventnor, and back to our welcome base camp in Chale after an epic 106km journey. Choose from 106 km, 50 km, or 25 km distance options, with full hospitality and support, including food, drinks, and medics.

Jurassic Coast Challenge

The hugely popular 100 km Jurassic Coast Challenge (18 and 19 May) offers coastal paths, steep hills, and challenging beaches. The route will take you through the spectacular World Heritage coastline, with a start in Corfe Castle, then heading down to Swanage, and along through Lulworth Cove, past Durdle Door, with ups and downs to Weymouth at halfway.

London 2 Brighton Challenge

Back for the bank holiday weekend, (25 and 26 May) the iconic 100 km London 2 Brighton Challenge is a staple in the Ultra Challenge calendar–the UK’s number 1 mass participation endurance event series. Walk, jog, or run capital to the coast, as an individual or a team, with full support and hospitality all the way. It starts in Richmond-Upon-Thames and is a route that takes in the North Downs, wonderful countryside, the South Downs and finishes at Brighton Racecourse. With the full 100 km Challenge, there’s a 2-day daylight option with camping, and with three-quarter, half, marathon, and quarter distance options also available –there’s a challenge for everyone.

Lake District Challenge

Join us on the Lake District Challenge (8 and 9 June) and take on England’s finest countryside at your pace. Our wonderful 100 km anticlockwise route takes you over some tough hills, Garburn Pass, into Ambleside, through our halfway point by the idyllic Lake Windermere, into some forests, and nature reserves all with some stunning views, all based around our Kendal basecamp, where you will get full support and hospitality, optional camping/hostel accommodation, and with half, a new marathon, quarter and 10 km distance options also, there’s a Lake District Challenge for everyone.

Cotswold Way Challenge

Taking place on 22 and 23 June, the Cotswold Way offers beautiful views and tough hills. The 100 km looped route takes you through quintessential English villages and well-trodden footpaths and trails. Our base camp in Cirencester is the hub for a full challenge looped route through the heart of the Cotswolds. Choose from the full challenge, a half challenge, or even a quarter distance option. Sign up as an individual or a team, with full support and hospitality all the way–there’s a Cotswold Way Challenge for everyone.

Peak District Challenge

Our wonderful, but tough 100 km (6 and 7 July) and varied figure of 8 route through Derbyshire’s finest scenery, serves up the best of the Peak District. With the trail leading you through the Peak District National Park to our comforting Bakewell basecamp. You’ll get full support all the way, and with three-quarter, half, quarter, and 10-mile distance options also pass Chatsworth House–there’s a Peak District Challenge for everyone.

North Downs 50 Challenge

Back by popular demand, the North Downs 50 has returned for 2024. Setting out from our Guilford basecamp, and a looped 50 km route that takes in some of the best of the Surrey hills, the North Downs Way, and the surrounding countryside. It’s a varied route, with some wonderful scenery and fabulous views out to the south – and easily accessible from London. You’ll get full support and hospitality, and with 25 km and 10 km options also available, and University style accommodation at basecamp as a bookable extra–there’s a North Downs Challenge waiting for you in 2024!

South West 50 Challenge

The stunning ‘South West’ challenge (3 August) begins in the shadow of the impressive Dunster Castle ‘basecamp’, while the start of the route commences at Minehead leading into the famous 630-mile Coastal Path. The 50 km loop then heads over Exmoor with ups and downs and some magnificent views and with a 25 km option also, plus a family-friendly 10K event–along with camping options and festival-style hospitality at basecamp across the weekend.

Thames Path Challenge

The famous and ever-popular Thames Path Challenge (4 and 5 September) provides a wonderful route along England’s greatest river. The route heads upstream to Henley along the famous Towpath. It’s through Richmond, Hampton Court, Runnymede, and Windsor, with some wonderful scenery to a riverside finish line. Walk, jog, or run 100 km, 50 km & 25 km options also available–plus the separate 25km Thames Bridges Trek & The Moonlight 10 Walk through Central London as part of the weekend festival.

Thames Bridge Trek

Taking place on 14 September, walkers trek across the Capital taking in unrivalled views of the skyline, and historic landmarks. Setting out from the Putney Bridge start and head East towards the City, zig-zagging over 16 historic bridges–each with its own fascinating story–with a rest stop near Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, before reaching the spectacular Tower Bridge and completing your challenge at Southwark Park, it’s a party-style finish line celebration and is a great way to enjoy a weekend in London.

Chiltern 50 Challenge

Our end-of-season Chiltern Challenge (28 September) covers some of the best of the Chilterns countryside and is a brilliant way to either end your Ultra Challenge season with a bang, or a great challenge to start your Ultra Challenge journey. Walk, jog, or run a 50 km, 25 km, or 10K loop as an individual or a team, with full support and hospitality all the way. With a start and finish at our basecamp in Henley, there’s also a Saturday night celebration BBQ, bar, and entertainment, with extensive on-site camping and parking options–there’s a Chiltern challenge for everyone!

Halloween Walk

On 26 October, choose your distance and get your bravest team together of guys and ghouls, or go it alone if you dare and meet up with other chilling challengers to take on the scary streets and historic haunts of London. With a start and finish at the Oval Dungeon, come dressed to distress to take part in a hair-raising hike around London. There’s ghostly looped routes, with zombie rest stops, and if you manage to get back in one piece there’s a macabre medal, a glass of the Devil’s fizz, and some horrific hot food and drink!