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The Festival of Endurance - Triathlons

Hever Castle, Kent

Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever Road, Hever, United Kingdom

Sun 5th July 2020

Organiser's Description

The Festival of Endurance promises another exhilarating and atmospheric celebration of ‘going long’ at the iconic and stunning Hever Castle. Loved by competitors and spectators alike, the event is hailed the friendliest and most beautiful on the tri radar. The swim is in the main Hever Castle lake and a tributary of the River Eden; the cycle winds its way through the stunning High Weald of Kent and the Ashdown Forest; the run follows largely off-road tracks and bridle paths between Hever Castle and the historic local village of Chiddingstone. Individual and relay Bastion Iron distance and Gauntlet Middle distance events

Further challenges will be on offer for those looking for an opportunity to experience sections of the Bastion course: Duathlon, Aquabike and Aquathlon at Long and Middle distances; Long, Middle, Marathon and Marathon relay swims; Marathon and Half marathon runs.

Races

  • The Gauntlet

    1.9km/90km/21km

    £165.00

    CLOSED
  • Duathlon - Mid & Long

    From

    £64.00

    CLOSED
  • Aquabike - Mid & Long

    From

    £56.00

    CLOSED
  • Aquathlon - Mid & Long

    From

    £45.00

    CLOSED

Book

  • The Gauntlet

    1.9km/90km/21km

    £165.00

    CLOSED
  • Duathlon - Mid & Long

    From

    £64.00

    CLOSED
  • Aquabike - Mid & Long

    From

    £56.00

    CLOSED
  • Aquathlon - Mid & Long

    From

    £45.00

    CLOSED
The Bastion Details

3.8km/180.2km/42.2km – Full iron distance race

Set in close proximity to London and in the heartland of Henry VIII’s old hunting grounds, each leg of the Bastion has been designed to offer the ultimate physical challenge to athletes but in the most beautiful setting. The Bastion, which were the final strongholds of medieval castles, features an iridescent 3.8km river and ornamental lake swim, a true toughie of 180km bike course with 2,700m of climbing and a 42.2km trail run that takes place largely off road and incorporates the gardens of both Hever and Chiddingstone Castles. You won’t get a personal best over this distance but you will have the bragging rights to arguably one of the toughest and most iconic races of its kind anywhere in the world.

The Gauntlet Details

1.9km/90km/21.1km – Half iron distance race.

The half iron distance equivalent of the Bastion, we call the Gauntlet, previously British Middle Distance Championships event and filmed by Channel 4. Again no chance of a PB on this super-tough course but you will have undertaken a huge challenge of one of Europe’s most beautiful races.

Aquabike Details

Distances

  • 1.9k swim: 60k cycle: 4k optional run (Laps 1:1:1)
  • 3.8k swim: 120k cycle: 4k optional run (Laps 2:2:1)

There’s a training option for everybody who’s into long distance. After the unique swim you’ll head out on the fully marshalled and signed bike course with supported feed stations. This circular cycle route will take competitors out of Hever Castle, up through the High Weald of Kent before passing through and over the Ashdown Forest and into the village of Maresfield. After a quick tour of the village competitors retrace their steps to the top of the forest before returning to Hever via the historic and quintessentially English villages of Groombridge, Fordcombe and Penshurst. Finishers have the option of finishing with a gentle 4K run that circumnavigates the lake and stunning grounds of the Hever estate.

Aquathlon Details

Distances

  • 1.9k swim / 10k run (Laps 1:1)
  • 3.8k swim / 21k run (Laps 2:2)

After the unique swim (1 or 2 loops), competitors will then embark on the 10k/21km run course, which follows largely off road tracks and bridle paths between Hever Castle, through the historic local village of Chiddingstone, before finishing right in front of the Castle.

Duathlon Details

Distances

10.5k / 45k / 4k (Laps 1:1:1)

21k / 90k / 10.5k (Laps 2:2:1)

After a unique run (1 or 2 laps) through the glorious Kent countryside and around the private estates of Hever and Chiddingstone Castles, cycle up to the highpoint of the Ashdown Forest (1 or 2 laps) before finishing off with further laps of the beautifully manicured gardens and local network of paths and trails.

How To Get There

Hever Castle is situated three miles South East of Edenbridge off the B2026 between Sevenoaks and East Grinstead in the village of Hever. Situated 30 miles from London in West Kent, exit the M25 at junctions 5 or 6 and follow the Brown tourist signs. Also well signed from the Hildenborough exit of the A21.

With such a busy event we urge you to check your journey time and allow plenty of time to access the car parks. All car parks are in adjoining fields to the event. Please follow the below instructions to avoid delays

On approaching to the venue, be sure to follow the yellow triathlon car park signs. DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR SAT NAV.

Please follow directions from marshals.

It is roughly 10 – 15 minutes walk to the event village.

Camping

The Castle Triathlon Series is offering camping at all UK and Irish castles (but we don’t supply the tent). If you are a camper with a tent or have a Campervan or Caravan take this fantastic opportunity to stay within the spectacular grounds of the Castle at which you are competing.

There will be toilet and showering facilities available at all sites. There will also be an electric hook-up at Castle Howard and Hever Castle which can be added to your booking on the online shop. There is no human waste disposal for caravans or camper vans on any of the Castle camping sites.

What's On

There is plenty of entertainment for spectators coming along to Hever Castle to support their family and friends. Together with plenty of cheering they can enjoy live music, rides, climbing walls, children’s inflatables, archery and discounted entry in to the stunning castle grounds. Spectators will pay a nominal fee for car parking and entry in to the grounds. All money collected on the day is being used to help improve the estate for the benefit of the triathlons next year. It is advisable to bring cash to the event.

Reviews

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Who's In

See who else did this event

Andy Page

Ben Price

Location

Hever Castle, Kent

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