About This Event
The Big Night Out Winchester offers runners a unique adventure through the historic countryside surrounding Winchester in Hampshire. Under the cover of darkness, participants navigate a fully marked course using headtorches, following ancient pathways including the South Downs Way and Pilgrims Trail. The course takes runners from Winchester Athletics Track onto the rolling terrain of the South Downs, passing through landmarks like Cheesefoot Head and St Catherines Hill. The route incorporates sections of the South Downs Way, MOD land at Deacons Hill, and the scenic Itchen Way as it follows the river back to the finish. With bespoke fluorescent directional markers lighting the way, the event combines the thrill of night running with the rich history of Winchester's ancient trails and travellers ways.
Choose Your Distance
12K
The shorter option meets the 22K runners at MOD land on Deacons Hill, joining the Pilgrims Trail for the return journey. This distance focuses on the historic section through St Catherines Hill and the scenic Itchen Way river path back to Winchester Athletics Track.
22K
Both distances start from Winchester Athletics Track and head onto the South Downs Way under cover of darkness. The 22K route climbs steadily to Cheesefoot Head for panoramic night sky views before descending through Fawley towards Morestead in a circular loop. Runners then traverse MOD land at Deacons Hill where they join 12K participants on the historic Pilgrims Trail, passing St Catherines Hill before following the Itchen Way river section back to the finish line at the athletics track.