The Gower Peninsula is the original UK Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and an amazing setting for a new Ultra Challenge. Penrice Castle, dating back to Norman times – is our basecamp hub, with plenty of parking and easily accessible from Swansea. It’s a ‘figure of 8’ route for the Full 100km challenge – made up of 50 km west & 50km east loops which take in the best of the stunning landscape – from golden beaches & dramatic cliffs to saltmarsh & sand dunes, with ancient woodlands inland – and a wide diversity of wildlife. With two fabulous 50km ‘Half’ challenges, a Marathon option if you’re up for a classic distance, 25km & 10km basecamp loop options also – and camping across the weekend for you & your supporters, with a bar & entertainment – it will be a summer highlight not to be missed!
A magnificent challenge – setting out from Penrice Castle basecamp with a range of camping options. It’s a figure of 8 route – heading on a clockwise west loop first, heading down to Oxwich Bay and joining the stunning the Wales Coast Path. You’ll be stopping every ~12.5 km for refreshments & whatever support you need – and we head inland, join the elevated Gower Way, with a main halfway stop back at Penrice Castle basecamp. Another 50 km on the east loop – along the coast past Mumbles Head, inland up to Gowerton – and then a final push back to basecamp where a massive welcome awaits!
100 km & ~2200 metres
Every 10-15km under marquees with support – toilets, massage, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 / Sat 19 July.
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
4 available (tbc)
Day 1 – West Loop – 50 km & ~1200 metres
Day 2 – East Loop – 50 km & ~1000 metres
Day 1 – Sat 19 July
Day 2 – Sun 20 July
Every 10-15km under marquees with support – toilets, massage, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 July.
Penrice Castle basecamp – Sat 19 July
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
4 available (2 for each day – tbc)
The popular 2 Day Full 100 km Challenge breaks down the route into its two ‘halves’ of ~50 km on Saturday & Sunday, both starting & finishing at our basecamp at Penrice Castle. You’ll get to experience the route in daylight, as well as the opportunity to get some welcome rest & sleep overnight. Camp with us at our fully supported basecamp on the Saturday night, with hot food, showers & more – or book a local hotel / B&B if tenting it just isn’t your thing!
A perfect ‘Half’ challenge as a 50 km – setting out from Penrice Castle basecamp, where we have a range of camping options and hospitality. It heads out on a clockwise west loop down to Oxwich Bay & its nature reserve, joining the stunning the Wales Coast Path and along to Rhossili for a picnic lunch. Up along the bay, with its sand dunes, and across to Landimore Marsh, before dropping down south inland and joining the elevated Gower Way, with a final push back to the basecamp finish line at Penrice Castle.
50 km & ~1200 metres
Every 10-15km under marquees with support – toilets, massage, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 July
Penrice Castle basecamp – Sat 19 July
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
2 available (tbc)
50 km & ~1000 metres
Every 10-15 km under marquees with support – toilets, massage, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 July
Penrice Castle basecamp – Sat 19 July
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
2 available (tbc)
A great option if you want to join someone on the Full Challenge on Saturday evening to finish with them, or just set off with most others on Saturday morning OR early Sunday morning on your own fantastic challenge! It’s 50 km on the east loop – along the coast past Bantam Bay, Caswell Bay, and around to Mumbles Head and along past the ‘Mumbles’ sand & mud. Then inland past Clyne Wood up to Gowerton – back down to the Gower Way, and a final push back to basecamp where noisy welcome and medal awaits!
If a marathon is your classic distance – this is a great one! Setting out from Penrice Castle basecamp, where we have a range of camping options and hospitality. It heads out on a clockwise west loop down to Oxwich Bay & its nature reserve, joining the stunning the Wales Coast Path and along to Rhossili for a picnic lunch. We then cut inland, head back east and join the elevated Gower Way, with a final push back down to the basecamp finish line at Penrice Castle.
42 km & ~900 metres
Every 10-15km under marquees with support – toilets, massage, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 July
Penrice Castle basecamp – Sat 19 July
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
25 km & ~550 metres
Every 10-15km under marquees with support – toilets, changing rooms, medics, rest areas, hot drinks, water & snacks & much more.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 July
Penrice Castle basecamp – Sat 19 July
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
A perfect Saturday ‘entry’ challenge as a 25 km – setting out from Penrice Castle basecamp, where we have a range of camping options and hospitality. It heads out on a clockwise west loop down to Oxwich Bay & its nature reserve, joining the stunning Wales Coast Path. The route then heads north and inland, joining the elevated Gower Way with fantastic views, with a final push back to the basecamp finish line at Penrice Castle for a medal and a picnic lunch.
A perfect Saturday 10K for all ages, and maybe for those supporting others on the longer distance challenges – setting out from Penrice Castle basecamp, where we have a range of camping options and hospitality. It heads out on a clockwise 10 km loop down towards Oxwich Bay and then back to the basecamp finish line at Penrice Castle for a medal and a picnic lunch.
10 km & ~250 metres
Snacks & drinks at start.
As your challenge starts & finishes at Penrice Castle, you can either park here all weekend, or be dropped off & picked up.
See ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Penrice Castle basecamp – Fri 18 July
Penrice Castle basecamp – Sat 19 July
Visit ‘Bookable Extras’ for full details
Join our Newsletter list & keep up-to-date with our latest news & special offers. Your details will only be used by the Ultra Challenge event organiser.
