Trek26
Trek

Trek26 Suffolk Coast

Event Type Trek
Date 3 August 2024
Start Location Thorpeness
Level Moderate
Registration fee £25 for 26 miles, £20 for 13 miles
Fundraising target £300 for 26 miles, £200 for 13 miles

Use code LOVE to receive 20% off your registration fee

The challenge

Trek for loved ones and bring help and hope to everyone affected by dementia. Trek through stunning coastal villages, nature reserves with an abundance of wildlife, past ancient monasteries and through forests. 

‘The whole day was one of the best ever experiences, there is such a feel good, happy atmosphere. Seeing the finish line and hearing the music, the MC and the cheers from the crowd lifts you up and all your aches & pains disappear and you literally float over the line and the pride in what you have just achieved is exhilarating’ 

- Dave, Trek26 participant 2022

What's included when you take on a Trek26?

  • A friendly team to support you every step of the way with fundraising tips and ideas.
  • Bespoke digital training plans put together by our professional training coaches.
  • Access to our event Facebook Group.
  • A fully supported route including regular rest stops with snacks, drinks and toilets.
  • Free breakfast, lunch and hot drinks included.
  • Trek leaders and medical support.
  • A medal and glass of bubbly on finishing the route!

Where?

You'll start and finish the trek at our event hub in The Ogilvie Pavilion, Thorpeness, Leiston, IP16 4FD. 

The route

Both routes start and finish in Thorpeness, a pretty coastal village on the Suffolk Coast. Both routes take you North through the town of Leiston, passing the remains of Leiston Abbey. The 26 mile route continues North through Dunwich Forest before turning South, walking through serene Dingle Marshes to Dunwich, home to an ancient monastery. You'll journey through RSPB Minsmere with its incredible birdlife, before joining the Suffolk Coast Path past Sizewell and its imposing power station. 

The 13 mile route crosses the picturesque Dunwich Heath, walking through the famous pink and purple heather. You'll then pick up the final section of the 26 mile route, walking South along the Suffolk Coast Path where you'll take in vast sandy beaches as you return to Thorpeness for the finish. 
 

*The map above can be expanded for more detail. Simply click the box in the top right corner.

**Please note the route and rest stops above are subject to change.

Kit List

Download our kit list which you can tick off when packing for the trek. We also have some top tips on how to find the best kit for you

Fundraising

Fundraising Target

Your fundraising will ensure that people facing a dementia diagnosis won't be alone. The money you raise will pay for vital services and research into treatments to improve people's lives. 

13 miles

  • Registration fee: £20
  • Fundraising target: £200

26 miles

  • Registration fee: £25
  • Fundraising target: £300

Your fundraising target covers the cost of your place on the event and still have plenty of money left to help us get closer to a world without dementia.

It's always best to hit your target early, so once you sign up you'll have access to our exclusive online event hub packed full of helpful fundraising tips and tools. Plus, by hitting your target, you'll bag yourself a FREE trekking top to wear with pride on the day.

FAQs

The route is designed to be challenging but is achievable for most people provided you train well in advance. When you sign up we’ll email you a training guide to help you prepare.

The minimum age limit for the Trek26 series is 14. All participants must be at least 14 on event day.

If you're under 18 you'll need an adult to take part with you, who also needs to sign up online and fundraise.

Absolutely! You can create your team when you register by clicking 'Create'. To join an existing team click on the ‘Find’ button and type either the team name or the name of the team captain. Every member of the team must register for the trek via the website (joining a team on Just Giving is not a valid entry for the trek).

Your fundraising target is still £200 per person for the 13 mile route or £300 per person for the 26 mile route, but you're welcome to combine your targets into one team total. 

When you register as a Team Captain, your team members will receive 20% off their registration fee when they sign up. Details of the discount will be emailed to the Team Captain upon registration.

You will need to be able to carry all essential kit required for the challenge e.g waterproofs, layers, water (minimum 2 litres), sun cream and snacks. See full Kit list above

Please make sure you have trained with your backpack on and carrying everything you need, so that you are used to trekking with your pack at full weight.

This route is categorised as Moderate and the terrain is reflective of that. This is a mostly flat, with some small hills to conquer but no significant climbs. There is a total elevation gain of 236m on the 26 mile route, and 117m on the 13 mile route.

Both routes consist mainly of gravelly coastal paths, moorland and field footpaths. You’ll walk along well-defined paths with fairly even terrain, but you should still wear boots with ankle support to avoid injury. You’ll encounter some country lanes and road walking where the ground can be hard underfoot, so boots with a thick sole can provide cushioning to your feet. 

We'll have members of the team spread along the route, and a back marker walking at the rear. The route will be well-marked with brightly coloured marker arrows and there will be extra marshals at any sections that are less straightforward. 

There'll also be staffed rest stops along the route – usually one halfway lunch for the 13mile route and one in the morning, one in the afternoon, plus a lunch stop for the 26 mile route. We’ll be on hand to provide help and plenty of encouragement and there will be first aid support, as well as toilets.

This event is not a race; everyone should be able to trek at a comfortable pace. In order for the event to be managed safely, there will be a cut-off time.

The 26 miles should take approximately 8-9 hours but can take some walkers up to 12 hours. The 13 miles should take approximately 5-6 hours. 

There will be facilities at the event hub (where you start and finish) and each rest and lunch stop along the route.

We provide food, hot drinks, and water re-fill stations for every participant on a Trek26 event. We plan these rest stops every 6-7 miles to ensure our trekkers are fully supported, with lunch at the halfway rest stop for each distance.

• The start line - A breakfast snack, hot drinks, and water re-fill stations.

• Rest stops - A selection of snack bars, chocolate, fruit, crisps, hot drinks, and water re-fill station.

• Lunch - A selection of sandwiches, snack bars, chocolate, fruit, crisps, hot drinks, and water re-fill station

If you smash your fundraising target one month before your event day we’ll send you out a free trekking top. You don't need to get in touch to claim it - as long as you have hit your target on your JustGiving page or paid in cash donations, we'll send out your top automatically. 

If you hit your target after the one month deadline you can still claim your free trekking top on the day (visit our merchandise stand)

If you are fundraising in a team, please let us know by creating a team when you sign up so we can make sure you all receive your tops.

We carry on! Do make sure you check the kit list and come prepared for all types of weather.

No, we’re afraid not, everyone taking part needs to be fully registered and fundraising to beat dementia.

Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted to take part in the trek due to safety issues and due to us trekking on privately owned land.

They are welcome to be on the event hub with friends and family but must be kept on a lead and the person looking after them is responsible for cleaning up any mess. 

There will be plenty of parking at the event hub at the Ogilvie Pavilion, where you will start and finish your trek. Parking is free and no booking is required.

Start times for the trek are staggered in waves from 06:10 until 7:00am for the 26 mile route, then from 8:30 until 9:30am for the 13 mile route. You can choose your preferred start time when registering.

If you will be walking at a slower pace, we advise you to choose an earlier start time to allow plenty of time to complete the route.

We recommend arriving 30 minutes before your start time so you can grab breakfast, meet the team, and prepare for your trek.

Volunteer

Not a trekker? You can still do something incredible and make a difference to people affected by dementia.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support trekkers at rest stops and to cheer them over the finish line. We'll kit you out with an Alzheimer's Society t-shirt and provide you with everything you need to give our trekkers an amazing event day experience.

You'll help to set them on their way to raising even more money to change the lives of people affected by dementia. And we can guarantee you'll have a great time!

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