Five Rivers Ultra
The Five Rivers Ultra is a continuous point to point trail event along the Suffolk and Essex coastline. It links sections of several long distance footpaths and circumnavigates five coastal estuaries, following the Stour, Orwell, Deben, Butley and Ore/Alde rivers. The route passes through Dedham Vale and the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Distances offered include:
- 100 miles
- 50 miles
- 50 km
More than 85% of the course is on soft dirt trail and the profile is described as relatively flat, with estuary waters visible for much of the route. The event provides regular support with snack and water stops, indoor checkpoints where competitors can access drop bags and hot food and drinks, and GPS trackers issued to all competitors for safety and live tracking.
Safety and entry requirements are stated: a mandatory kit list is checked at registration with random checks during the race, entrants must be at least 20 years old, and longer distance entrants must show recent trail experience (100 mile entrants require a trail event of at least 50 miles in the last 12 months; 50 mile entrants require a minimum 25 mile event). Time limits are set for each distance and the 50 km route will be waymarked for 2026 while navigation remains the competitor's responsibility. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Event Format
A continuous point-to-point race along the Suffolk & Essex coast, linking together sections of several well-established and waymarked long distance footpaths. The full 100 mile route ('5RU') circumnavigates 5 coastal estuaries. Shorter 50m and 50k options are also available ('5RU-50m' and '5RU-50k').
The Organising Team
2027 will be the third event organised by Hayley Coles and Dan Clark, aka the Coastal Trail Runners.
The Five Rivers
- The Stour - home of Constable Country
- The Orwell - home of Pin Mill & Arthur Ransome
- The Deben - home of Woodbridge & Sutton Hoo
- The Butley - home of Marshes & Burrow Hill
- The Ore/Alde - home of Shingle Street, Orford & Snape Maltings
GPS Tracking
ALL COMPETITORS WILL BE GIVEN A GPS TRACKER TO CARRY DURING THE RACE, FOR SAFETY AND ALSO TO ALLOW YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY TO FOLLOW YOUR PROGRESS IN REAL TIME DURING THE EVENT.
Regular Support
REGULAR SUPPORT ALONG THE ROUTE, WITH SNACK/WATER STOPS AND INDOOR CHECKPOINTS WHERE COMPETITORS CAN ACCESS A DROP BAG & HOT FOOD & DRINKS.
Giving Back
WE AIM TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO HELP PROTECT THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES WE RUN THROUGH IN THIS EVENT. IN 2025 A SMALL PORTION OF EACH ENTRY FEE WILL BE DONATED TO THE RIVER STOUR TRUST.
The Route
The full 100 mile route starts from the peaceful setting of Blaxhall Village Hall, heading quickly into the delightful heathland of Blaxhall Common and Tunstall Forest. It then drops gently to reach the shore of the meandering Alde/Ore River, following a grassy riverside trail all the way to Orford.After passing the imposing Orford Castle, the route makes a loop north and south to circumnavigate the bucolic River Butley tributary before returning to the banks of the River Ore and following it all the way to the sea.The route hugs the coast past the well-named Shingle Street beach before turning slightly inland to Alderton and thence to Ramsholt on the eastern shore of the River Deben. From here, the route follows the Deben north to Melton where it crosses the river and follows the riverside back south through Woodbridge, Martlesham, Waldringfield and Hemley.At Kirton Creek, the route veers inland for a few miles to head west and reach the River Orwell estuary just north of Felixstowe, marking the halfway point of the event. The remainder to the route follows closely along the shores of the Orwell and Stour Estuaries, crossing the Orwell via the huge graceful modern arc of the Orwell Bridge, and crossing the Stour by the much smaller arc of Flatford Bridge in the heart of Constable Country.In the final miles of the course, the route hops across from the Stour to the coast, thereafter following the esplanade through Dovercourt to reach the finish line at the distinctive Red Buoy outside the 1912 Centre in Harwich.