With four distances to choose from, the Malvern Hills Ultra offers something for runners looking for very different levels of challenge.

🥾 MHU23 – 23 MILES

A fantastic introduction to the Malvern Hills experience. Take on the trails, climbs and spectacular scenery without committing to the longer ultra distances.

23 miles. Plenty of hills. A proper challenge.

🏃 MHU31 – 31 MILES

Step up to ultra distance with 31 miles through the Malvern Hills.

A great choice for runners looking to complete their first ultra, or experienced runners wanting a shorter but still demanding day in the hills.

Your first ultra? This could be the one.

⛰️ MHU38 – 38 MILES

For those looking for something tougher, the 38-mile option delivers more distance, more climbing and more time on the trails.

Long enough to demand respect, but still one step below the full MHU47.

38 miles of serious Malvern Hills running.

🔥 MHU47 – 47 MILES

The full Malvern Hills Ultra.

47 miles and more than 2,900 metres of ascent, with competitors given a maximum of 13 hours to complete the challenge.

Starting at 07:00, you'll have until 20:00 to reach the finish.

This is the big one.

47 miles. 2,900m+ ascent. 13 hours. Are you ready?

The MHU47 starts at 07:00, with competitors given a maximum of 13 hours to complete the full 47-mile course.

To keep the event moving safely and ensure competitors remain on schedule, the following checkpoint cut-off times apply:

Competitors must leave each checkpoint before its stated cut-off time.
09:00 → 11:00 → 13:30 → 15:50 → 18:00 → Finish 20:00

If a competitor arrives after a checkpoint has closed, or the Race Director considers that they are unlikely to reach the next checkpoint safely within the required time, they may be withdrawn from the event.

47 miles. 13 hours. Keep moving forward.

🍲 HOT FOOD AT THE FINISH

After a long day taking on the Malvern Hills, there's something rather special waiting for you at the finish.

Every finisher will be treated to a hot serving of chilli & rice with crusty bread — completely free of charge.

Whether you've completed 23 miles or battled your way through the full 47-mile challenge, it's our way of welcoming you back and giving you a chance to sit down, refuel and enjoy that finish-line feeling.

You've conquered the hills. Now enjoy the chilli! 🌶️

Free to all finishers.

All four races share the spectacular landscape of the Malvern Hills, with each distance offering its own challenge.

Competitors can choose from:

🥾 MHU23 – 23 miles
🏃 MHU31 – 31 miles
⛰️ MHU38 – 38 miles
🔥 MHU47 – 47 miles

The longer the distance, the greater the challenge — with the full MHU47 accumulating more than 2,900 metres of ascent over its 47-mile course.

Expect a demanding combination of trails, climbs and descents, together with some spectacular views across the surrounding countryside.

Choose your distance. Respect the hills. Enjoy the views.

Competitors who have paid for transport and taking part in the MHU23, MHU31 and MHU38 will be transported to their respective start locations.

Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time for registration and transport. Full timings and final race instructions will be provided to competitors before race day.

MHU Individual Race Start Times:

• MHU 47 will start at 7:00 from Abberley Village Hall, WR6 6AZ
• MHU 38 will start from The Admiral Rodney, WR6 6PL at 8:30
• MHU 31 will start from Suckley Post Office, WR6 5DU at 9:45
• MHU 23 will start from Sally's Place, WR13 6DW at 11:00

Finish:

All races will finish at Abberley Village Hall, WR6 6AZ

Complete your Malvern Hills challenge and you'll have something special to remember the day.

Every finisher of the MHU23, MHU31, MHU38 and MHU47 will receive:

🏅 Bespoke Malvern Hills Ultra finisher medal
👕 Malvern Hills Ultra technical T-shirt

And for those competing at the front of the field, we haven't forgotten you either...

🏆 Bespoke race trophies

Whether you're taking on the 23-mile challenge, stepping up to your first ultra, or tackling the full 47 miles and over 2,900 metres of ascent, reaching that finish line deserves to be celebrated.

Choose your distance. Earn your medal. Wear your T-shirt with pride.

Want to achieve a particular finish time? Not completely confident navigating the course? Or simply prefer some company along the way?

Follow a Time Lord.

Our Time Lords are experienced volunteers who know the Malvern Hills course and aim to complete the race in one of three target times:

⏱️ 11-Hour Time Lord – aiming for an 11-hour finish
⏱️ 12-Hour Time Lord – aiming for a 12-hour finish
⏱️ 13-Hour Time Lord – bringing up the back of the pack and aiming to finish within the 13-hour race allowance

Competitors are welcome to run with a Time Lord, whether you're targeting a particular finish time or would simply appreciate the reassurance of following someone who knows the course.

You can stay with them for the entire race or use them to help manage your pace during part of your journey.

The Time Lords are there to help you pace your race, navigate the route and keep moving towards that finish line.

Choose your time. Find your Time Lord. Follow them home.

Time Lords are volunteer runners and target finish times cannot be guaranteed. All competitors remain responsible for following the race route and complying with the race rules.

Our checkpoints are there to help keep you fuelled, hydrated and moving throughout your Malvern Hills challenge.

Checkpoint provisions may vary, but typically include a selection of:

Malt loaf • Cake • Jam sandwiches • Peanut butter sandwiches • Cheese or Marmite sandwiches • Sweets

Drinks will typically include:

Water • Squash • Cola

The Malvern Hills Ultra is a cup-free event, so all competitors must carry their own reusable cup or drinking vessel.

Please remember that checkpoint food is intended to supplement your own race nutrition. Competitors should carry sufficient food, fluids and any specialist nutrition they require for their chosen distance.

Refuel. Rehydrate. Then get back out there. ⛰️

MHU Photo coverage

Ultra Running Ltd. reserves all exclusive rights for photo coverage of the MHU. Participants agree that Ultra Running Limited may use exclusively their individual or collective names and pictures for anything related directly or indirectly to their participation in this event.

Our photographer, Gerda, will be out and about throughout the day capturing the moment.

Navigation

The course is self navigation and tough - although it is all on the 'Worcestershire Way' which does benefit from 'WW' signage along the route. With the use of the GPX files, or the maps and the written directions you can eliminate navigation issues. For those less confident with these navigation tools, but still wanting to take on the challenge, running with a timelord is the way to go.

MHU 2027 Maps

Click HERE for Malvern Hills Ultra Route Directions 2027

Upkeep of the Malvern Hills Paths:

Entry fees include a contribution to the Malvern Hills Trust, who look after the paths and hills that we use.
Contributions to date = £600

For more information on the Malvern Hills Trust click HERE.

Malvern Hills Ultra

What3words:

Abberley Village Hall (Start) - ///magically.reboot.cure

CP1 / CP5  - The Admiral Rodney - ///grips.mile.asks

CP2 / CP4 – Suckley Post Office - ///demotion.deflection.exhale

CP3 – Sally’s Place - ///strange.towel.lighter

Closest Train Stations:

Abberley Village Hall (Start / Finish)
Hartlebury Train Station - click HERE
Worcester Foregate Street - click HERE
Worcester Shrubhill - click HERE
Droitwich Spa Station - click HERE

CP1 / CP5 - The Admiral Rodney
Worcester Foregate Street - click HERE
Worcester Shrub Hill - click HERE

CP2 / CP4 – Suckley Post Office
Malvern Link - click HERE

CP3 - Sally’s Place
Colwall Station - click HERE

Addresses:

Start /Finish – Abberley Village Hall, Clows Top Rd, Abberley, Abberley Common, Worcester, WR6 6AZ

CP1 / CP5 – The Admiral Rodney, Berrow Green, Worcester, WR6 6PL

CP2 / CP4 – Suckley Post Office, Suckley, Longley Green, Worcester, WR6 5DU

CP3 – Sallys Place, British Camp, Upper Colwall, Malvern WR13 6DW

MHU Advised Kit List:

• Backpack or equivalent
• Ordnance Survey Map 150 (Our downloadable maps are ok)
• Compass or GPS device
• Whistle
• Mobile phone
• Emergency food pack consisting of two chocolate bars, Mars or similar
• Basic First Aid Kit

Please visit our shop to see a wide range of race related products;

• Personalised Hoodies
• Personalised Shirts
• Personalised Caps
• Personalised Race mugs with your name and finishing time
• Reusable race Cups

By signing up to one of Ultra Running Ltd events you agree to abide by our general race rules;

The following are the race rules that apply to all Ultra Running Ltd events and should be adhered to by all race participants.

Each participant will be given a race number which must be clearly attached by safety pins to the front chest. If this is not clearly visible you may be delayed at checkpoints.
Teams must have pre-registered before the day and consist of at least three competitors who will also count as individual competitors amongst the rankings. For a Team to successfully complete the race, a minimum of three members of that Team must finish.

Each participant must make sure he/she is carrying all items detailed in the mandatory kit list

You cannot change your race entry category or team once the race has started.

Relay team members: All originally designated members of a team must complete the leg they have chosen, and the following team member must not start the race until the person they are handing over from has arrived at that CP, otherwise automatic disqualification will apply. Changes to the team members and/or race order can only be made up until the team has signed in on the day of the race.

Competitors must go through all check points and it is their sole responsibility to ensure that the check point attendant has recorded their race number and entry/exit time along with any injuries; failure to do so at any check point will mean the competitor has failed to complete the race and will be disqualified.

All entrants must be 18 years or over on the start day of the race.

Mandatory Kit List

Competitors must carry the following items. Random bag checks will be made on registration. Anyone found not to have the correct kit will not be allowed to start the race

Backpack or equivalent
Ordnance Survey Map 150 (Our downloadable maps are ok)
Compass or GPS device
Whistle
Mobile phone
Emergency food pack consisting of two chocolate bars,
Basic First Aid Kit

Competitor Retirement

If any competitor has to retire for whatever reason they must contact the race organisers immediately, either by advising a checkpoint attendant or by telephoning the emergency number which will be written on the race numbers of each competitor.

Time Constraints

The organisers want to give every competitor the opportunity of completing the race and will, where reasonable practicable, allow generous opening times of CP Stations; the allowance should be within an average of 4.0 miles per hour. If you fall below the 4.0 miles per hour you will be pulled from the race without concession.

Cancellation

In the event of Ultra Running Ltd. having to cancel the event, an alternative date will be provided. If re-scheduling of the event isn’t possible, or a competitor cannot make the revised date. URL undertakes to refund payments received, less any out of pocket expenses which are determined at 25%.

For all other circumstances, including Competitor cancellations due to personal reasons, refunds are not allowed. But at the discretion of the organisers an entry may be transferred to the following years race providing the request is within four weeks of the event date.

Any ‘transferred races’ or ‘reduced rate races’ are not refundable or transferable in any respect.

Race Photography

Ultra Running Ltd. reserve all exclusive rights relating to photographic coverage of their races. By entering an event, participants agree that Ultra Running Ltd may exclusively use any photographic or textual content captured during the event for advertisement purposes.

Ultra Running Limited (URL) Terms & Conditions

The Agreement

This document constitutes an agreement between you (the Entrant) and URL (the Organiser). Entry into any of the URL races (the Events) is strictly conditional upon the entrant agreeing to all of the terms and conditions contained within this document (the Agreement). It is all entrants responsibility to have read and accepted this agreement before entering/registering for one or more of URL events. All entrants must be aged 18 and over.

Registration Process

Entrants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their personal records within the event database. Should any information change between registration and participation, it is the individual entrants’ responsibility to ensure that they contact URL to update their records accordingly.

Entry Fees must be paid in full before entry to the event will be confirmed.

All event fees are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.

By entering one of URL events, all entrants have acknowledged that they have read and agree to the event terms and conditions prior to their entry in to the event being confirmed. By doing so, the entrant is unreservedly accepting all of the terms and conditions of this agreement.

Use of Personal Data

The organiser or their agents will maintain a registration database for all entrants and their chosen emergency contact. All information will be collected, stored and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

The organiser may use the entrants contact information to keep them informed of the event or to notify them of other events organised or promoted by URL.

Entrants give permission for the organisers, their agents, or any other associated organisations to use any photographs, video tapes, motion pictures, website images, recordings, or any other record of the event. Such articles may be used or included on websites, social media publications, advertising, promotional information, or other publicly accessible sources.

Personal Ability to Participate

It is the entrants’ responsibility to ensure they train appropriately and have the requisite level of fitness to be able to complete safely.

Entrants must ensure their personal health is suitable for participating in the event. If in any doubt the entrant should consult their doctor.

It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure the organisers are informed at the point of entry of any medical conditions that could be relevant for any first-aid treatment.

If a participant believes that it is unsafe for them to continue in the event, it is their duty to notify an event official as soon as practicable.

Participants must be competent runners & confident in their ability to complete the course safely.

Participation in the Event

The event is a race. Athletes compete within their respective age and gender category. Relay Teams compete against each other as separate categories.

Prizes are awarded to podium finishers in all categories except where a low number of entrants means it is impractical to do so. This is down to the organisers discretion.

All finishers will receive the stated prize, as per each individual race.

Participants must act in accordance with the law and adhere to both the Highway Code and the Country Code, where applicable.

Participants are responsible for competing safely and with due respect for others.

Participants must comply with the instructions of the organisers and other course officials.

The majority of URL event routes are NOT signed, the onus of remaining on course rests with the athlete. Marshall’s are places in appropriate places, according to the individual event and are there for your safety.

Should circumstances dictate, or in the interest of safety, the organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the published event routes as may be deemed necessary at their absolute discretion. In the event of the landowner e.g. the Forestry Commission or National Trust deeming it necessary to close access to the public, we the organisers reserve the right to a) reschedule or if this is not possible b) cancel the event. This will, in all cases be a last resort.

The organiser reserves the right to require a participant to retire from the race where their conduct is considered to be inappropriate. If required to retire the participant must surrender their race number to an event official and take no further part in the event.

Participants have a duty to report to an event official as soon as practicable, anything that they see or hear which they reasonably believe may impact on the safety or welfare of themselves or others, connected to the event or otherwise.

Whilst appropriate risk assessments will be carried out before the event, competitors assume full and complete responsibility for any injury or accident which may occur whilst travelling to or from the event, during the event, or whilst on any premises related to the event.

Racing in public places can be dangerous, all participants in this event must agree to waive, release and forever discharge the event organisers, sponsors, promoters, and each of their agents, representatives, successors and assigns, and all other persons associated with the event, from any liabilities, claims, actions, or damages that they may have against them arising out of or in any way connected with participation in this event. This includes any claims, whether caused by negligence, the action or inaction of any of the above parties, or otherwise.

Cancellation & Refunds

Entry fees for all URL events are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.

Should circumstances dictate, or in the interest of safety, the organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the published event routes as may be deemed necessary at their absolute discretion. In the event of a force majeure, we the organisers reserve the right to a) reschedule or if this is not possible b) cancel the event. This will, in all cases be a last resort.

Entry fees are only valid for the original event, for which they were purchased. Places can be deferred to the next edition of the event (an additional cost of £15 is charged), where the event is more than four weeks away. After this point, this option is no longer available. In special circumstances, the organisers may be able to transfer names of individuals to another events. This is at the organisers discretion. Transfers can be requested by email up to 4 weeks before the event in question. No runner is permitted to enter or participate using another persons details.

If, for any reason what so ever, an entrant finds themselves unable to participate, they should notify the organisers as soon as reasonably practicable of their intention to withdraw from the event. This will allow the vacancy to be reallocated to anyone who may be on the event’s reserve list.

Entrants must exercise their own experience and judgement regarding their ability, equipment and preparedness to cope with the prevailing elements before they commence.

General Provisions

This agreement constitutes the whole agreement between the parties and any prior agreement, oral or written, are excluded.

Any failure by any party to enforce or to exercise at any time any term or any right under this agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of that term or right and shall not affect that party’s right to later enforce or to exercise it.

If any term of this agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable it shall be deemed to be omitted from the agreement and shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the agreement.

Nothing in this agreement confers any right on third parties to enforce the provisions of this agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.