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The Pilgrims Ultra epic trail running challenge was launched in 2021. It takes place annually in September and is a 50k, 100k and 100 mile ultramarathon along the route of St Oswald’s Way.
The race starts at 8am on Holy Island’s St Cuthbert’s Beach, with the route heading to Craster (finish for 50km), then on to Rothbury (finish for 100km), before eventually arriving at Heaven Field (finish for 100 mile). For safety reasons the route off Holy Island will be through the causeway road, not across the sands of the Pilgrim’s Way.
Entry fees include live GPS tracking, t-shirt and medal (for costs see event page).You’ll also get a laminated race map. The race crew provides full race support to participants. Aid and water stations are spaced along the route.
A shuttle bus service is available before the start of the race to take runners from their respective finish points to Holy Island (i.e. you can leave your car at the point where you will finish the race and be taken by bus to Holy Island), or you can stay on Holy Island if you’d like some extra sleep time. The race usually starts at 8am.
Runners can be tracked by their supporters live on the Pilgrims Ultra website on the day of the race.
To book the 2024 race, see the Pilgrims Ultra Event Page
The three routes:
50km route – Holy Island to Craster
After leaving the island, the route goes inland to Fenwick and Belford, and returns to the coastal path at Bamburgh, passing along Bamburgh Castle and carrying on to Seahouses, Low Newton, Dunstanburgh Castle and to the finish line in Craster. Time limit to finish is eight hours.
100km route – Holy Island to Rothbury
This route carries on from Craster (where the 50km stretch ends) through Boulmer, Alnmouth and Warkworth, where it heads inland and along the River Coquet to the finish line in Rothbury’s Jubilee Hall. Time limit to finish is eighteen hours.
100mile route – Holy Island to Chollerford
The hundred miles route continues from the 100km finish point at Rothbury to Harwood Forest, Kirkwhelpington, Great Whittington and Brunton to the finish line in Chollerford. Time limit to finish is thirty hours.
