Butcombe Trail Ultra.
The 50-mile race at the Butcombe Trail Ultra is a long, self-navigated loop through the Mendip Hills, with seven checkpoints between the start and finish at the Mendip Activity Centre. Close to 1,800 m of climbing is spread over many hills, and the hardest block sits between Axbridge and Priddy, a little past 30 km.
Butcombe Trail Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The race starts and finishes at the Mendip Activity Centre near Rowberrow, and in between you find the way yourself: the Butcombe Trail Ultra is a self-navigation ultra, put on by volunteers from Bristol's Town & Country Harriers for the benefit of the Mendip Hills Fund. Only the long route takes in the Litton Reservoirs, and it strings seven places together as checkpoints: Bleadon, Axbridge, Draycott, Priddy, Hinton Blewett, Compton Martin and Charterhouse.
The opening half eases in with two longer, steady climbs from km 8 and km 13 before Bleadon at km 15. The first real test arrives at km 20.6, just under a kilometre at an average above twelve percent that tips past 20 percent at its steepest. Beyond Axbridge come two climbs of roughly two kilometres each at around ten percent, one from km 31 and one straight out of the Draycott checkpoint at km 35.
After Priddy the support thins out, with 15 km to Hinton Blewett and nothing in between. The last major climb starts at km 62 and carries you up to Compton Martin, leaving twelve kilometres via Charterhouse to the finish. The loop descends as much as it climbs, and only about a fifth of it is flat.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 8.1 | 1.4 km | 4.9 % | 7.4 % | +70 m | — |
| km 13.3 | 2.2 km | 6 % | 13.5 % | +131 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 20.6 | 0.9 km | 12.1 % | 22.2 % | +112 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 22.3 | 0.7 km | 8.7 % | 16.3 % | +61 m | — |
| km 31.1 | 2.2 km | 9.7 % | 15.7 % | +212 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 35.3 | 2 km | 10.9 % | 18.4 % | +213 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 59.8 | 1.3 km | 5 % | 9.3 % | +66 m | — |
| km 62.4 | 1.7 km | 9.8 % | 19.5 % | +162 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Butcombe Trail Ultra.
Start under control
On a loop where close to four fifths of the distance runs uphill or downhill, your result depends less on flat speed than on how cheaply you climb. Walk the steep sections from the outset, including the short ramp at km 20.6 that feels runnable on fresh legs. Running it costs you ten kilometres later.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 31 and km 37. The two long climbs at around ten percent sit close together, and the Draycott checkpoint between them invites a breather followed by a restart that is too eager. Leave that block feeling you could still go harder, because the second half of the race only starts there.
Spend what is left
The real trap is the long gaps between checkpoints, above all the 15 km from Priddy to Hinton Blewett. Eat and drink there before you feel the need, and keep something back for the climb from km 62: it comes after more than 60 km, and Charterhouse still leaves you twelve kilometres from the finish.
Training plan for Butcombe Trail Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
For an age-group runner, the loop means roughly ten to fourteen hours on your feet. The effort is mostly aerobic but rarely steady for long: steep climbs you walk alternate with descents of equal length, and flat running is the exception.
Train race pace
The decisive phases come late. The double climb from km 31 and the climb from km 62 ask for strong power hiking on tired legs, and around a tenth of the distance is steep descent that keeps working your quads all the way to the finish. Build long sessions with plenty of climbing where the steepest hills fall in the second half, and practise running downhill deliberately once you are already fatigued.
Rehearse the course
Navigation is part of the preparation. Run with the route on your watch or phone until following the line still feels easy after hours, and get the current version before race day, since the route may still be adjusted. A runner who never had to navigate on long training runs loses time and focus in the race.
Arrive fresh
Then there is self-sufficiency. Up to 16 km can separate two checkpoints and the race is cup-free, so you carry your own cup and enough fluid. The checkpoints offer sweet and savoury food, water, squash and flat cola; use your long runs to find out what your stomach still accepts after many hours.
Courses
Download the Butcombe Trail Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Butcombe Trail Ultra dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Butcombe Trail Ultra.
How long is Butcombe Trail Ultra?
Butcombe Trail Ultra is 81 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Butcombe Trail Ultra have?
Butcombe Trail Ultra has around 1,785 m of elevation gain over 81 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Butcombe Trail Ultra?
Butcombe Trail Ultra is classified as Hilly, averaging 22.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 21% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Butcombe Trail Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Butcombe Trail Ultra starts at kilometre 35.3, runs for 2 km at an average of 10.9% and gains 213 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Butcombe Trail Ultra a loop course?
Yes, Butcombe Trail Ultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Butcombe Trail Ultra course?
Yes. The Butcombe Trail Ultra course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Butcombe Trail Ultra?
Preparation for Butcombe Trail Ultra should account for 81 km, 1,785 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Butcombe Trail Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Butcombe Trail Ultra should reflect 81 km, 1,785 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Butcombe Trail Ultra take place?
Butcombe Trail Ultra takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Butcombe Trail Ultra take place?
Butcombe Trail Ultra takes place in Rowberrow, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Butcombe Trail Ultra offer?
Butcombe Trail Ultra offers 2 distances — BTU50M — 50 mile: 81 km; BTU50K — 50 km: 50 km.
How do I register for Butcombe Trail Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: butcombetrailultra.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
