Bewl 15 Trail

Race Description

The Bewl 15 has built a serious reputation over the quarter-century-plus that Wadhurst Runners have organised it, including a spell being voted among the best races in the country by Runner's World readers. It's the original round-Bewl-Water route, and the only version of the race that takes in the nature reserve section of the lake, the largest area of open water in South East England, giving runners a long, genuinely scenic stretch along the shoreline that few other Sussex races can match.

From Wadhurst, the route descends to join the lakeside path, alternating gently undulating shoreline miles with a shorter but distinctly hilly section on quiet country lanes before returning to the start. It's a demanding but fair fifteen miles: enough climbing to test marathon-training legs, but nothing technical enough to require dedicated trail shoes. The race supports the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, whose crews respond to thousands of incidents a year across the three counties, and there's a real community feel to the day, with a four-hour cut-off keeping it welcoming to slower finishers as well as competitive club runners.

It suits anyone training for a spring marathon who wants long miles somewhere properly beautiful rather than on a training loop, and the combination of lakeside views, established organisation and charitable purpose has made it a genuine Sussex institution rather than just another long trail race.