Runners to traverse 5,000 years of Ridgeway history

Runners and walkers of all abilities are invited to experience ancient landscapes and modern endurance on the Ridgeway.

Race to the Stones, on 11 and 12 July, is the UK’s longest-running ultramarathon, and the 2026 race invites participants to run or walk through 5,000 years of history along Britain’s oldest path.

Part of the renowned Threshold Trail Series, Race to the Stones follows the ancient Ridgeway, a 5,000-year-old trackway stretching from the world-famous Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. 

Threshold Sports CEO Nick Tuppen said: “Race to the Stones is more than an ultramarathon; it’s an opportunity to move through history.

"Every step follows in the footsteps of people who travelled this route thousands of years ago.

"It’s a deeply grounding experience that combines endurance, wellbeing and heritage in a way no other UK race can.”

The race offers a rare opportunity to experience Britain’s prehistoric past underfoot.

With 50km and 100km route options, the race welcomes runners and walkers of all abilities, from experienced ultramarathoners chasing personal bests to first-time participants embracing the challenge at their own pace.

Often described as Britain’s oldest road, The Ridgeway has connected communities for millennia, from Neolithic traders and Bronze Age travellers to modern-day adventurers. 

Today, Race to the Stones transforms this historic route into a living, breathing journey through time.

Participants pass prehistoric monuments, Iron Age hill forts, sweeping chalk downlands and untouched countryside, offering a powerful sense of connection, not just to nature, but to the generations who have travelled the same path before them.

Unlike traditional races focused solely on speed, Race to the Stones champions inclusivity and personal achievement. 

Participants can complete the full 100km non-stop, split the distance over two days, or take on a shorter 50km distance, making it accessible to a wide range of fitness levels. 

This flexibility reflects a growing appetite for slower, more meaningful race experiences, where the journey itself becomes the destination.

As interest in wellness travel and outdoor experiences continues to rise, Race to the Stones is billed as offering a uniquely British alternative, combining physical challenge with cultural discovery.

Participants are supported throughout by professionally managed basecamps, rest stops, and a welcoming community atmosphere, creating an experience that is as much about personal well-being and harnessing a connection to the landscape as it is about endurance.