The Conquest of Avalon

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About
With our races we aim to showcase some of our region's best scenery; we've shown you some stunning coastlines, some sweeping panoramas from the hills and some quaint rural locations off the beaten track, but there can't have been many more spectacular finishes to any UK ultra than the descent into the enigmatic town of Glastonbury featured in Conquest of Avalon. Climb to the top of Glastonbury Tor for an astonishing 360 degree view, then descend through the quirky town to the spacious green fields next to Tor Leisure Centre, where the finish awaits. Have a lovely hot drink (or a lovely cold one if you finish in the day and it's warm like last year!) We would say it will be a once in a lifetime experience but you may find you want to come back and conquer Avalon again and again. There's a 30, a 50 or a trail marathon to choose from, all of which are steeped in history and showcase the heart of the south-west; these routes display a side of the region that remains undiscovered by many.
Participants
50 miler and 30 miler
View details
Calendar
Sat, 31 Aug 2019
View logistics
LocationPin
Stoke-sub-Hamdon, United Kingdom
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Star
3
(1 Review)
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Where and when
Location
Ham Hill Country Park, Ham Hill Rd, Stoke-sub-Hamdon TA14 6RW, UK
Start times
Sat, 31 Aug 2019
50 miler:
TBC |
30 miler:
TBC
Races summary
Here's what races are available for The Conquest of Avalon
50 miler
Distance
50mi
£50.00
30 miler
Distance
30mi
£35.00
Route information
The 50 miler starts at the wonderful Ham Hill Country Park, and you will follow the Leland Trail until you get to Bruton, then you will merge with the Land's End Trail shortly afterwards for the second part of your journey to Glastonbury. The first half of the route was based on royal librarian John Leland's journey in the 16th century to discover which artefacts were held in different churches and priories throughout Somerset. Along the Leland Trail you will pass near the 16th century mansion at Montacute House, the Iron Age hill fort at Cadbury Castle, and through Wales. You will then follow the Land's End Trail, a largely unknown route, the remainder of the way to Glastonbury. That magical tor will come into view at various points along the way and excitement will build as it gets closer and closer. From the top it's more or less all downhill to the finish.
​For the 30 miler you will follow the final 30 miles of the 50 mile route from Castle Cary to Glastonbury. This will feature a scintillating slideshow of south-west scenery, and of course the magnificent tor, and the astonishing panoramic view from the top
Organiser route images
What's included
An awesome medal
Special trophies for the winners
Medical Support
Our usual well-stocked aid stations
Changing at the finish plus refreshments
Coach to the start of the race from near the finish
A race experience never to be forgotten
Train
How to get there
Ham Hill Country Park, Ham Hill Rd, Stoke-sub-Hamdon TA14 6RW, UK
Get full directionsExternalLink
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION:
Glastonbury can be reached from Junction 23 of the M5, following the A39. From Taunton you take the A361 if travelling from that direction. There are various accommodation options in Glastonbury, ranging from Travelodge to nearby campsites to plush hotels which are full of character.
Backpack
Kit List
There is no mandatory kit list but it is STRONGLY advised that you carry the following items to be on the safe side:
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-vis clothing for dusk
Whistle
Compass
Mobile phone that is fully charged at start
Some Emergency food/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.
Reviews
3.0
1 reviews
FriendlyFaceFriendly atmosphere
SceneryStunning scenery
ValueGreat value
Keir T
Star
3.0
Did the race in 2019
Well that was an absolute shambles. The course, volunteers, aid stations and scenery were all fantastic - really enjoyed being out in the Somerset countryside for almost 12 hours. But the race was dangerously badly organised. The GPX file sent out by the race organiser didn't really match the course he'd marked; often it was 500-1000m out, with straight lines through fields that clearly weren't right. The trail markings were appalling as well: it was ominous when the leaders came barrelling back towards us after 1 mile having taken a wrong turn. There were tags on the right when the route went left (and the GPX went straight on), a tag on the second of three gates (which happened to be private) when the route was really the third gate which was hidden and around the corner. There were tags taking you straight towards Glastonbury Tor, and yet inexplicably had another set coming off down an overgrown path 90 degrees to the right. You'd enter a field (having dived under electric wire) and have no clue which of the five exits you were aiming for. At one point there was a single tag across three fields, and it took ages to find. Binoculars should have been on the kit list. The poor marking would have been okay had the GPX matched the route, but the two together made it a real struggle. The GPX file sent out before the race was labelled 2018 so I wonder if the organiser accidentally sent out the wrong one. I was lucky to team up with a group of seven midrace, and we problem solved together...if I'd been on my own I'd have pulled out. I feel for the leaders (one of whom I hear did an extra few km out and back and was taken out of contention). I'd read similar reviews about previous years, but this was the third running of it and there's really no excuse. Sadly would not recommend. TLDR: nice course, great volunteers and food, dreadful trail marking that could prove dangerous if runners get in trouble while lost.
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