Bury to Clare Challenge 2026
An 18-mile point-to-point foot race through the stunning Suffolk countryside
Location
Nowton Park, Bury Road, Bury St Edmunds IP29 5LU
Telephone
01284 757098- Date
- 17th May 2026
- Time
- 8:00am - 5:00pm
About this event
An 18-mile point-to-point foot race through the stunning Suffolk countryside. Following Public Rights of Way across tracks, trails, and quiet lanes, this event offers breathtaking views and a true adventure.
They’ve got you covered with well-stocked aid stations at checkpoints along the route, ensuring you stay fuelled and supported every step of the way.
Ready to test your limits and enjoy the beauty of Suffolk? Sign up now and be part of something unforgettable!
Fields & Forest Events will again be donating £5 from every entry fee to the hospice to support their mission.
Date - Sunday 17 May 2026, 0900am (walkers) & 0930am (runners)
Location - Nowton Park, Bury Road, Nowton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP29 5BD
ENTRY COST
Standard entry £32 (UKA affiliated £30*)
*UKA affiliated entries must quote UKA URN on entry
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About the Venue
With almost 200 acres of landscaped Suffolk countryside there is something for everyone at Nowton Park.
Nature lovers can visit the unique arboretum which is home to trees from around the world such as eucalyptus from Australia, paperbark maple from China and Kentucky coffee trees from North America.
A panda was carved in 1998 and placed in the China region along with some bamboo to add to the vision of this geographical area.
The Nowton Park totem pole stands 35.4 feet (10.8m) tall near the centre of the North American region of the arboretum. It is carved from a western red cedar which is the species traditionally favoured by Native Americans for their totem poles.
To your left when looking towards the main house from the lime avenue, you will see the bird feeding station on the edge of the wood. In the winter a variety of woodland birds can be seen such as the blue, great and long tailed tit, nuthatch and the great spotted woodpecker
The lime avenue is one of the finest examples in the UK and was planted around 1880 to give the estate a sense of grandeur. In spring over 100,000 daffodils bloom beneath the trees.
Nowton Park also has a fantastic maze in the shape of a stylised oak tree (in commemoration of the Oakes family who were the former estate owners). The maze is open from May to October every year and is south of the park, 2km from the main car park. There are 2,500 hornbeam trees that make up over two miles of hedging, maintained at a height of around two metres. The centre of the maze is marked by a fastigiate oak (with upright branches).
There are two ponds in Nowton Park - the meadow pond which is rich in aquatic life and is a draw for grass snakes as a place to bask, hunt and swim, and the school pond which is home to moorhens, mallards and the occasional grey heron which feeds on the introduced mirror and crucian carp.#
The introduction of the wildflower meadow in 1990 with wildflowers, like birdsfoot trefoil has boosted the numbers of butterflies recorded in the park.
The park is also home to a large play area, football pitches, a picnic area, cafe and visitor centre.
Download the Nowton Park Guide now.Please note the maze is closed for the winter November to May.
Dog Friendly
Dogs are welcome but must be under control at all times, and in some areas on a lead.
