Winter on the Downs 2024

This is a single loop event around the trails of East Sussex. Starting and finishing in the seaside town of Eastbourne, runners will begin over Beachy Head and the famous Seven Sisters before heading up towards Mount Harry, Blackcap and Lewes. The route then passes Mount Caburn, through Glynde and Firle before finishing back in Eastbourne. The views are spectacular, and the course is a combination of grass trails, farm tracks and woodland paths. There is 7,500 ft of elevation to navigate, but the route is generally very runnable and best described as rolling hills with some longer, steeper climbs also. The weather at this time of year can be unpredictable with anything from glorious crisp sunny days to strong winds, rain, sleet and snow. East Sussex, and the eastern side of the South Downs, lends itself to being ideal for a race at this time of year with it having probably the driest climate in the U.K. The terrain has fantastic drainage meaning although some places can and will become wet and muddy, it is generally speaking, very runnable all year round