IN A NUTSHELL 

A point to point 50 with a pancake flat first half and an undulating second half but with a quarter of the total elevation of the Hilly 50. Ideal for first time 50 mile runners, people looking for a fast 50 mile race or friends who want to run together and have a great day out.

COURSE RECORDS

Male: BEN WARREN – 6:55:43 (2021)
Female: KATE DREW – 7:34:38 (2017)

 

Westcountry Ultra Flat 50 begins with 15 incredibly flat miles along the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal Path. There’s a good chance of spotting a kingfisher at some point along here if you keep your eyes peeled, along with various other wildlife. In Bridgwater you transfer to the River Parrett Trail, where it becomes a little more uneven underfoot but still flat and the river gets wider and more estuarine as it opens out to the Bristol Channel.

You will pass around the edge of Steart Marshes nature reserve, where again it’s worth keeping an eye out for any interesting wildlife (this applies to most of the route to be honest!) before you join the coast path proper. A diversion around Hinkley Point Power Station is necessary, then you pass the world famous limestone formations of Lilstock and Kilve beaches before heading inland for a few miles.

The inland diversion takes you up to West Quantoxhead on the edge of the Quantock Hills. You will head through some pine forest, then through the village (look to your right when there’s a gap in the houses and you may spot Minehead in the distance) and then over the fields to Williton before heading up an incline and then down to Watchet with its enchanting harbour. Look out for the famous mariner statue (the inspiration for several of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s most famous poems was gained in this area.)

You’re getting closer to the finish by this point – after one of the most undulating sections of the whole race over the coast path to Blue Anchor it all flattens out. The section over to Dunster Beach does involve a rocky beach to contend with first, but then onto the cycle path all the way to the final aid station, which is only a few miles from the end. Then it’s just past the beach houses, around the golf course and you’re basically at Minehead. Before you head up towards the finish take a moment to look out across the harbour to North Hill – the ‘mountain’ that towers above the town, which is the first climb on the Hilly 50! From here it’s just a final mile or so on tarmac to the finish at West Somerset College.

 

CUT-OFF TIME 

 

14 Hours

 

NUMBER OF AID STATIONS 

 

6 – please note that this is a cupless race so you will need a bottle or two for water and a cup for coke if you want it (All aid stations have water, coke, squash, sandwiches, crisps, fruit, nuts, sweets and a range of other sweet & savoury snacks.)

 

COURSE MARKINGS

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There will be markings (red & white tape) on the inland section between a little past Kilve and Watchet because this section does not already have decent signage. The diversion around Hinkley Point will also be marked along with one or two other key points but the canal path, river parrett trail and coast path are easy to follow so will not be marked. There is an excellent gpx file that will be sent out with the race info. If you would like a copy of this to recce the route before the race please email albionrunning@hotmail.com

 

MEDICAL SUPPORT 

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Professional medics will cover this race – details of who to contact if you require medical support during the race etc. will be provided in the race info, which is sent out a few weeks before the event. As always, if you have a medical emergency and are not in the immediate vicinity of the medics the best thing to do is to call 999.

COACH 

 

There is coach transport available from the finish in Minehead to registration in Taunton for those who require it at an additional cost of £3 per runner – you will confirm your need for this when the race info gets sent out a few weeks before the race and will be emailed an invoice that can be paid by card or Paypal for the coach fee.
 

START LOCATION 

 

Canal Road, Taunton, TA1 1PN. Registration will take place nearby; location will be in the race info, which is sent out a few weeks before the race.

 

FINISH LOCATION

 

West Somerset College, Bircham Road, Minehead, TA24 6AY.
 

 

PACERS

 

Pacers are not allowed on this race.

 

CREW

 

You are allowed to have a support crew, who can meet you along the way and are allowed to hand you food/drinks/supplies etc. You are allowed to sit in their vehicle but not while it is moving for obvious reasons. Crews must show respect to local residents in terms of parking and show consideration to anyone else who is out for the day. There will be suggested meeting points for crew sent out with the race info based on up-to-date local information at the time.

 

SUPPORTERS

 

You are allowed to have supporters come out to cheer you on – as with crews it is crucial that they show respect to local residents in terms of parking and show consideration to anyone else who is out for the day – if this does not happen it can have serious implications for the future of the event.

DROP BAGS 

 

You will be allowed a VERY SMALL drop bag to be taken to the finish – no large rucksacks or suitcases etc. There will be tags for these at the start on which you should write your race number and FLAT 50.

 

KIT 

 

There is no mandatory kit for this race but these are suggested items that you should consider carrying: -
* Waterproof jacket that you have used in rainy conditions and know will do the job

* Hat and Gloves in case of unseasonably cold weather (possible in Somerset!)

* An additional base layer (this can be lightweight, and it's advisable if it is, as long as it's an additional layer)

* Headtorch with spare batteries in case of late finish

* High viz clothing for night

* Whistle

* Compass

* Mobile phone that is fully charged at start – battery pack if you can get one
* Some Emergency food that you like/water, plus at least one 500ml water bottle to carry with you

* Foil survival blanket in case of emergencies

* Personal first aid kit with plasters, savlon etc.

 

AWARDS 

 

There will be a trophy for the first male and first female finishers, and all finishers will receive a medal.

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By agreeing to take part in this Albion Running Race: 

You declare that you will be 18 years or over on the day of the event
You are fully aware of the actual and potential risks in participation in this event
Although the race is organised with a full risk assessment having been carried out, will have medical support and will be carried out with the safety of the runners in mind at all times, you declare that you willl compete in the race entirely at your own risk
To the extent permitted by law, you accept that the organisers and sponsors of the race, or any of their agents, will not be liable for any loss, damage, action, claim, costs or expenses, which may arise in consequence of your participation of the event 

 

 

 

 

AID STATION LOCATIONS (These were 2024's locations and will be confirmed in the race info for 2025) : -

 

CP1: - BOAT & ANCHOR INN, HUNTWORTH (Meads Crossing, Huntsworth, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 0AQ)

 

This first aid station is located by the side of the canal path and will come after you've covered a bunch of easy, flat early miles

 

 

CP2: - THE ANCHOR, COMBWICH (Riverside, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 2RA)

 

Not to be confused with the Boat & Anchor, this is located in the pretty village of Combwich on the River Parrett Trail and will be outside the pub 

 

 

CP3: - STOLFORD (Stolford Car Park, Stolford, Somerset, TA5 1TW)

 

 

 Within sight of Hinkley Point power station, this will be your last stop before you get onto the West Somerset Coast Path proper (that will come when you have gone around the Hinkley Point diversion) – a welcome refuelling stop

 

 

CP4: - KILVE BEACH (Kilve, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1EG)

 

With Hinkley Point power station behind you, by this stage you will be running past the spectacular limestone formations of the West Somerset coast. Some of the best ones are here at Kilve Beach, where you can pause for a short while as you enjoy the scenery

 

 

CP5: - WINDMILL INN, WEST QUANTOXHEAD (West Quantoxhead, Williton, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4DS)

 

At this point it may feel a little bit like you're on a pub crawl but this aid station is on the edge of the Quantocks and from nearby you may catch your first glimpse of Minehead, where the flat 50 ends

 

 

CP6: - DUNSTER BEACH CAR PARK (Sea Lane, nr. Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6TH)

 

Now you’re really getting pretty close to the finish! Only a few more miles to go from here, and so take it all in and get some refreshments to get you ready for that final push…. Unless you’re doing the 100 of course, in which case you still have quite a long way to go ; )

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