Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge®
The Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge is a trek and trail event on the Isle of Wight with multiple distance options and organised support along the route. Routes use coastal paths and southern cliffs, passing landmarks such as the Needles and historic Cowes, with a full island route reaching Ventnor and returning to the Chale basecamp for a 106 km course.
Support and logistics include marquee rest stops approximately every 12.5 km, with major rest stops about every 25 km. Rest areas provide cover, catering, seating, changing rooms, toilets, medical and welfare tents, and massage teams. The route is fully signed with pink arrows and glow-sticks at night, and an event app provides GPS tracking and route maps. A timing system scans participants at rest stops and a control room monitors progress.
Camping is available at the main Chale basecamp and a Cowes halfway campsite for multi day options. Optional shuttle services and transfers link Cowes ferry ports with basecamps, and parking is available for drivers. Event finishes include a finisher medal, a T shirt, a finishers meal and a downloadable challenge certificate.
Distance options:
- 106 km full island route
- ~50 km half island option
- 25 km quarter island option
- 10 mile Cowes Medina Estuary option
The Ultra Challenge Experience
UK’s #1 series of treks & trail runs for a wide range of ages, fitness & experience levels. Choose your Challenge – do it at your pace, and there’re 20 events to choose from. Our support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors, camaraderie, and the challenge! Marquee rest stops, lots of food & drink, medical & massage teams, with a fully signed route & GPS tracking to guide you. A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement, and once the aches subside you’ll feel energised, up for more of life’s challenges – and, maybe, personal horizons redefined!
Before your Challenge
Good preparation is key, and you’ll have access to our Challenge App – with training guides, maps, online forums, and the latest news & updates.
Covered Rest Stops
Rest Stops every ~12.5 km with ‘major’ ones every ~25 km. Marquee cover, large medical & welfare tents, catering services, seating areas for recovery, changing rooms, lots of toilets, and a friendly welcome!
Signed Route & GPS Tracking
Pink arrows + glow-sticks (at night) mark the route, and with Google route maps in the App you won’t get lost on an Ultra Challenge®! Our Timing System scans you at rest stops, with your progress logged and monitored by our Control Room. + an APP for your mobile with GPS Tracking – which you can share in ‘real time’ with family & friends – without draining your phone’s battery – and you also get all the info on the route lying ahead!
Free Food & Drink
We pride ourselves on the quantity & quality of our catering, and whichever distance you are on – meals, snacks & drinks are included. Snacks & drink stops every 12.5 km. Snacks – from the healthy to treats. Main meals / hot food every 25 km. Energy drinks. All dietary requirements catered for. Lighter options for ‘runners’. Finishers meal.
Camping Packages
Campsites at our main start / finish Chale basecamp for weekend camping – and one at Cowes halfway point for rest & sleep if you’re on the 2 day ‘Daylight’ 106km option, or if you finish / start a `53 km ‘half’ Challenge. Book an inclusive package or ‘pitch your own’ – there’re showers and chill out areas. Check out the ‘Bookable Extras’ for details.
Medics, Podiatrists, Massage
Doctors, Paramedics, First Aiders, and Massage Teams at Rest Stops + ‘Self Help’ areas with blister plasters, talc, Vaseline, and tape if you want to patch your own feet. Mobile Emergency Medical Teams are only a phone call away, via our 24 hour Control Room.
Medal, T Shirt, Glass of Fizz
Our Cheer Squad ensures you get a memorable finish. You’ll get a medal, finisher’s T-shirt, and a glass of fizz, before heading to for a meal and a well earned rest.