The 26 mile & 15.5 mile Challenge Walk and the 6.2 mile walk follow the same route to begin with, leaving the Rugby Club and with historic Bury St Edmunds behind as they go into the Suffolk countryside, following footpaths, bridleways, country lanes etc.
The 26 mile route takes the walkers through various villages, going as far south as the hamlet as Willow Bridge on the A114, before heading back towards Bury St Edmunds, re-joining the 14 mile walk at the Rushbrooke Arms PH checkpoint in Sicklesmere. They then continue, through the village of Nowton, into Bury St Edmunds, joining the 5 mile route at the interesting Ouida Memorial (built with funds given by readers of the Daily Mirror!).
All three walks follow the same route through Bury St Edmunds, discovering various Suffolk Regiment connections.
There are checkpoints in the Suffolk Regiment Museum and Moyse’s Hall Museum.
The Suffolk Regiment Museum tells the story of the regiment from its foundation in 1685 to amalgamation with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1959.
Moyse’s Hall Museum houses the Suffolk Regiment Gallery which presents an overview of the 275 years of the Regiment’s history.
Also passed during the walks is the impressive Boer War Memorial on Cornhill, erected in 1904, the Suffolk Regiment Homes – a pair of houses opened in 1904 as a practical Boer War memorial for ex-servicemen and a rare survival of a street war memorial dating from 1920 in St Edmunds Place.
There are regular checkpoints along the routes, all having a supply of water and many having toilet facilities (these will be marked on the route directions).
The checkpoint halfway round the 26 mile walk will also have
energy bars for the walkers.
The 2011 event will be on May 1st, hosted by the Rugby Club. There will be a half-marathon (starting in the Abbey Gardens and finishing near the Rugby Club) for runners and three lengths of Challenge Walk (starting and finishing at the Rugby Club).
Top race day tips
Organisation is the key to a successful day. Take the race start time and work back from it. Read More
Marathon date confirmed for 2011
The Bury St Edmunds Marathon & Challenge Walks will take place on Sunday May 1st 2011. Read More
New Sponsors
New sponsors for the event will be announced soon! Read More
The 26 mile & 15.5 mile Challenge Walk and the 6.2 mile walk follow the same route to begin with, leaving the Rugby Club and with historic Bury St Edmunds behind as they go into the Suffolk countryside, following footpaths, bridleways, country lanes etc.
