St Peters Way Ultra
The St Peters Way Ultra is a long-distance trail race that follows approximately 42 miles of footpath from Chipping Ongar to the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell on Sea. The route follows an ancient pilgrimage way dating back to the 7th century and passes historic churches and varied Essex countryside, with some sections recorded in the Domesday Book.
The course runs mainly on footpaths and bridleways with occasional road and village pavement sections. Underfoot surfaces range from short grass to very sticky mud; the final section runs along a raised sea wall and can be exposed, cold, wet and windy. The route is waymarked but runners must be prepared to navigate; organisers provide downloadable GPX files and fit each competitor with a tracker for live tracking and results.
There are four outdoor checkpoints offering water, squash, coke and basic food including sweet and savory options and some vegan and vegetarian items; nut products will be handled at checkpoints. There are no indoor facilities along the route; toilets are available at the registration hall and at some pubs listed as checkpoint locations, while the finish has no toilets.
The event emphasises safety and requires compulsory kit: capacity for 1 litre of fluids, emergency food totalling about 400 kcal, waterproof jacket and trousers with taped seams, spare warm long sleeve layer, headtorch (minimum 100 lumens) and a charged mobile phone. Entry details for 2027 include a standard fee and an early-bird price for the first entries, a minimum age of 18, optional T-shirt and buff purchases, and a small donation from each entry to the chapel. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Dates
February 22nd 2026 - Start 8:30am
Entries open now - Entries close 2 weeks before the race date.
Timings
Registration and Kit Check opens 7am
Briefing 8:10am
Start 8:30am
CP1 Cut Off time 11am - Approximately 7.9 miles total ( 2hours 30mins )
CP2 Cut Off time 13:15pm - Approximately 15.8 miles total ( 4hours 45mins )
CP3 Cut Off time 4pm - Approximately 25.4 miles total ( 7hours 30mins )
CP4 Cut Off time 7pm - Approximately 34 miles total ( 10hours 30mins )
Finish Cut Off time 9pm - Approximately 43 miles total ( 12.5hours )
Finish Bus Timings - 3:30pm, 6pm and 8:30pm. - These timings are fixed and if you miss one you have to wait for the next bus, if the bus is full already you must wait for the next one as we fill it in order of finishing.
Depending on numbers of entrants closer to the event we may change the timing of these busses if fewer or more are needed.
Location
Start Location - The Pleasance public car park, High Street, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9AB
Registration is in the Budworth Hall, opposite the start car park.
Finish Location - The Chapel of St Peter on the wall, East End Road, Bradwell on Sea, Essex - There is no postcode and the nearest postcode takes you to the wrong place so use google maps or just follow East End road until it runs out and you will see signs for the Chapel.
Route Conditions
The route is a mixture of muddy trails, fields and rural tracks and roads with the final section being on raised sea wall. It can be very exposed in places and if wet can be very muddy. There are some hills but it's mostly rolling countryside and very runnable. The Last few miles to the finish can be cold, wet and windy.
Checkpoints
There are 4 checkpoints along the way. Each will be stocked with similar food, coke, water, squash, sweet and savory foods including vegan and veggie options. If you have specific dietary needs please be sure to list them when you enter or message us before the race so we can plan for them. There will be nuts and nut based products handled at checkpoints.
CP1 - Opposite Viper Pub, Mill green, CM4 0PT - small local car park.
CP2 - Small green opposite Three Compasses Pub, West Hanningfield, CM28UQ - do not obstruct the pub car park, please park on the road safely.
CP3 - Grass by the Bell Pub, Purleigh, CM36QJ - IMPORTANT - Please do not park in or near the pub car park as it's very small and busy on Sudays, we will lose permission to have the CP there if you park in the car park. If you park in the car park or refuse to move if CP staff ask you to move, we will DQ your runner. Please park your car further down the road.
CP4 - The Star Inn, Steeple. If you are visiting this CP please do not use the pub car park as it gets busy on Sunday's. Please use the road or the village hall car park opposite if its not being used for anything. We will lose permission if we block the car park.
Parking/Transport
The start and finish are both remote locations with little public transport, especially the finish.
You have the option on the entry form to book a minibus back to t