North Devon sees the introduction of arguably the UK’s most challenging coastal race staged to date. Supported by the North Devon Coast AONB as part of their 50th anniversary programme, the inaugural North Devon AONB Marathon will be held tomorrow, in aid of North Devon Hospice. Runners taking part in the full and half-marathon courses will race through spectacular but challenging landscapes within the coastal Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, around half of which is owned by the National Trust.
Centred on the idyllic Woolacombe Beach, this gruelling route will test the runners’ resolve with a total ascent of approximately 3,300ft and mixed terrains including the South West Coast Path, surfaced highways and the rural public rights of way network. For less avid runners, the half-marathon is an ideal track, reaching a total ascent of just 1,300ft. It’s hoped that the race will become an annual fixture and a highlight in the long-distance and fell-runners’ calendar.
