BEWL 15
Every year, Wadhurst Runners organise the Bewl 5 & 15 mile races, voted as
one of the top 10 best races in the UK by readers of Runner’s World.
The race has been a popular feature of the South East’s Running
calendar for 22 years and is part of the Sussex Grand Prix series of
races. If the 15 Mile doesn't suit, why not try our 5 Mile Race? With both
you'll receive both a medal and t-shirt plus access to the post race cake
and beer! What more could you need?
The 2025 edition of the races will take place on Sunday 6 July and we will again be supporting
the fantastic work of Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS)
The 2024 race, held on 7 July, raised £3000 for KSS. Let's make it even more next time!
The 15 mile race is run largely off road on pretty, gently undulating hills
around Bewl Water which nestles on the border of Sussex and Kent.
Though the race is certainly challenging, runners of all standards are
welcome. The 5 mile race is over the first part of the course and is
entirely off road.
Some reviews of the 2023/24 races on LetsDoThis and Nice Work:
***** A great event and today was my third time in succession. Love the route and atmosphere.
Enjoyed it, the cake and food was delicious at the finish and all all the helpers should be congratulated
and praised for giving up their time.
***** Multi-terrain for a decent distance in stunning scenery
Superbly organised tough course (the hills at the end!) which never seems crowded even in the middle of the pack.
Good range of terrain on a twisting flat route for most of the course demands stamina with the hills on road at the end.
I always enjoy it and thoroughly recommend the race.
***** Brilliantly organised, fabulous atmosphere, clean loos, lots of
them, lively music, brass band at the end, free home-made cakes and
local beer, first aid… brilliant atmosphere.
***** Nobody organises a run event like a running club, and Wadhurst
Runners does an amazing job with the Bewl 15!
***** I was worried about this as it was my first time entering a 15 mile
event. Shouldn’t have worried- I ran, I walked, marshals were great and
I loved it
Race Location: Blacksmiths Lane, Wadhurst, East Sussex.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Watch the great film Stephen Cousins of Film My Run made at the 2016 race.
REFRESHMENTS
There are numerous water stations plus you’ll find jelly baby stations around the course. At the finish as well as a water station, and may be a free glass of beer, you’ll find a mouth-watering selection of cakes available free for all finishers.
GETTING HERE
The race headquarters is located near the starting line off Blacksmith’s Lane close to the centre of Wadhurst. The lane is closed to cars for the event and parking is available nearby.
THE COURSE
The 15 mile course descends for about a mile from Wadhurst down to Bewl Water and then covers a circuit around the lake before returning up to Wadhurst.
The race is mainly on trails and includes a section on quiet country lanes towards the end and which has three hills, contrasting with the gently undulating sections along the lake.
The 5 mile race is over the first part of the course and is entirely off road.
Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS)
This year, the Bewl 15 & 5 will be supporting the fantastic work of Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS).
We hope that you never need them, but every year thousands of people do. And if you do, they’ll be there to fight for your life. Their helicopters are flying emergency rooms. When there’s a life-or-death call, they bring specialised doctors, paramedics and treatment to the scene, fast. And they don’t stop. 24/7, 365 days a year. But without you, they can’t get off the ground. Your support gets their life-saving team to where they’re urgently needed.
Without you, they can’t keep flying. Without you, they can’t save lives.
When the call comes, they can reach any part of Kent, Surrey or Sussex in under 30 minutes. Their crews of pilots, doctors and paramedics responded to over 3,200 incidents last year. Every day they respond to nine emergency calls on average – giving people the best chance of survival and keeping families together.
But, this world leading, life saving care costs £16.6M a year or over £45K per day to operate with 87% of their total income raised through the incredible generosity of our supporters - just like you.
