Maverick Jurassic Coast Trail Review 2026: Half Marathon Race Report
Written by Andy Hood · Ultra runner, cancer survivor and Runna ambassador
Published 19 October 2026
Overall rating: 4.9/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In short: The Maverick Jurassic Coast is a superbly organised trail race on Dorset's Isle of Purbeck, with jaw-dropping views of Studland Bay and Old Harry Rocks, slick logistics, a two-speed aid station and a crew that genuinely cares about runners. I ran the half marathon route on Saturday 17 October 2026 and would happily do it again tomorrow, legs permitting.
Category | Score |
Pre-race communication | 4.75/5 |
Parking and arrival | 5/5 |
Registration and event village | 5/5 |
Start, course marking and aid station | 4.9/5 |
Overall | 4.9/5 |
In this Maverick Jurassic Coast review:
Where else would I want to be on a chilly, blue-sky Saturday morning in October than deep in the Dorset countryside, waiting to start a trail run? The Maverick Jurassic Coast was my first Maverick event, and it ticks every box for my kind of run: a trail winding through stunning countryside, climbs and descents that pop the heart rate up, single track that gave my Kailas Fuga EX330s a chance to impress, and aid stations stocked with my favourite gels, chews and drinks from Precision Fuel & Hydration.
Disclosure: Gifted Race Entry from Runderwear
Before we go any further: I was gifted my bib for this race by Runderwear. I don't have a commercial relationship with either Maverick or Runderwear, but I was fortunate to meet the Runderwear team on their shakeout run in Chamonix this year and we struck up a great relationship. Gifted place or not, this review is 100% Andy, full of honesty, and neither brand gets to see what I say before it's published.
What Is the Maverick Jurassic Coast Trail Race?
The Maverick Jurassic Coast Trail is an annual trail running event held in October on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, the home patch where Maverick Race started out. The routes run across marshland and coastal ridgelines along part of the 95-mile Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, passing landmarks including Studland Bay and Old Harry Rocks. The 2026 event sold out well before race day.
Maverick Jurassic Coast Distances and Elevation
Across the Trail and X-Trail races, Saturday 17 October 2026 offered five routes, all finishing at Burnbake Campsite:
Route | Distance | Elevation gain | Start location | Start time |
100K Ultra (X-Trail) | 100 km | +2,463 m | Hardy Monument | 06:30 |
50K Ultra (X-Trail) | 52 km | +1,107 m | Burnbake Campsite | 09:00 |
Half Marathon | 25 km | +406 m | Burnbake Campsite | 10:00 |
Middle | 12 km | +105 m | Burnbake Campsite | 11:00 |
Short | 6 km | +35 m | Burnbake Campsite | 11:00 |
The two ultras are entered separately as the Maverick Jurassic Coast X-Trail. The 100K starts at Hardy Monument and takes in Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove before joining the 50K route, and in 2026 there was £1,000 in prize money for both the men's and women's winners. Maverick grades the half marathon as technical, with long steep climbs and descents, and a challenge for all levels. My watch made it just over 25K, so nobody can accuse Maverick of short-changing us on distance.
Where Is the Maverick Jurassic Coast Race Held?
Race HQ, start and finish is Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite near Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset (BH20 5JH). The nearest train station is Wareham, around a five-minute drive away, with direct South Western Railway trains from London Waterloo. If you want to make a weekend of it, you can camp on site.
Maverick Jurassic Coast Review: Race Ratings by Category
I set a high bar for running events. I've experienced some extremely good ones and others at the poor end of the spectrum, namely Race to the Stones in 2023, where the ending was awful, the food disgraceful and the crew really couldn't give a toss. So let's break the Maverick Jurassic Coast down into the elements that make a great event.
Pre-Race Information and GPX Route Files: 4.75/5
Emails arrived regularly with useful information on race-day details, venue location and car parking, including a well thought-through one-way system. That matters, because Burnbake is reached via single-track lanes. Living in North Devon, at the end of miles of single-track lanes myself, I see the havoc caused when cars meet head-on, especially when one driver has never learnt where reverse is on their car. Top marks, Maverick, for making arrival and exit easy. It's these small details that remove the hassle from your day, especially on arrival when nerves are heightened, and on leaving when your brain has ceased to function because it's tired.
The emails included links to the GPX files, always useful for getting a feel for the course, where the aid stations are and just when the first big hill is going to test your training (mile 6, if you're interested). I've knocked a small amount off the score here because the GPX link for my route returned a Page Not Found error. All the others worked; typically, just not the one I was running. A quick Google search found the right file.
Parking and Arrival at Burnbake Campsite: 5/5
Car parking was free for both runners and spectators. With some events now charging, a freebie is a welcome relief on the pocket. Running is not a cheap sport, and every included extra is a definite bonus.
Signage was spot on, and the car park was a large field with not just one harassed-looking attendant shouting into a radio, but several easily identifiable marshals in orange hi-vis, all welcoming you with a smile and calmly showing you to a space.
The main event entrance was just metres from the car park, another bonus, this time for the legs. You'd be amazed how far you sometimes have to walk to find your car after a race, often requiring you to sit on the ground for whole minutes or slump over a railing.
Race Registration and Event Village: 5/5
Registration for the half marathon opened at 09:15, and we were there well ahead of time because I wanted to see my friend Max off on the 50K. We made it with a minute to spare. Supporting people you know is an important part of the running community.
You entered the event village through the Precision Fuel & Hydration arch into a retail space with SunGod, Suunto, Pro:Direct Running, Hoka, Osprey and many others, all doing good business. The SunGod crew had their purple truck set up; the last time I saw it was in Chamonix in August.
I was about to deduct a quarter point here because the registration signage could have been better. Registration was towards the back of the retail area and not visible as you arrived, and I became an unofficial member of the Maverick team for a while, directing a steady stream of puzzled runners who all asked the same question: "Where's registration, mate?" On reflection, I left that quarter point alone, because registration itself was fast, efficient and staffed by a seriously friendly crew.
Maverick had also installed a huge screen tracking the 100K and 50K runners. I genuinely considered pulling up a chair, grabbing a hot chocolate and settling in for a few hours. I mean, who doesn't love dot watching?
Race Start, Course Marking and Studland Aid Station: 4.9/5
There's a difference between someone who puts on a race for runners and a race built around runners. You feel it in the atmosphere and the attention to small details. Top marks to the event MC, whose name I didn't catch. He kept everything lively and entertaining, and his well-placed, often dry humour had plenty of people around me laughing.
The start pen was well organised, the start calm, and the course signage was spot on. Even I, who now needs glasses for anything long range, could read every sign without my specs.
Now for an aid station detail many runners would have missed. The half marathon had one aid station (Maverick calls them outposts), at Studland Village Hall, roughly 9 km in. A marshal directed you up the steps, where the crew outside had water, Precision electrolytes, gels and chews. For those wanting a quick in and out, this was perfect: think Tesco checkout style, in, served, out. Anyone wanting to warm up, grab extra carbs in the form of fruit, cake and biscuits, sit down, change or use the toilets could head inside the hall. Two options, depending on what you need. Superb, Maverick.
I've taken off just 0.1 of a point here. The outside table had Coke, a favourite of many a runner, but it was freshly opened and fizzy. Flat Coke is preferred, because the bubbles can play havoc with your gut, which is why many events open the bottles hours earlier and let the bubbles float away.
One tip: the outposts are cup-free, so bring a reusable cup or bottle.
Maverick Jurassic Coast Course: Studland Bay and Old Harry Rocks
The course almost deserves a review of its own. From Burnbake, the half marathon heads out across marshland towards the coast before climbing to the chalk headland at Old Harry Rocks and following the coastal ridgelines of the Purbeck Way. The weather certainly helped: a cool, crisp, blue-sky day that turned the views across Studland Bay, Old Harry Rocks and beyond into the kind of scenery I'd happily lose whole minutes to, camera in hand.
Thankfully, I don't run for time. I run for experiences, and capturing them on camera is all part of that. I'd rather finish ten minutes later with a camera roll full of stunning images than reach the end relying on my ageing memory for what I saw.
Old Harry Rocks Hill Climb
The long uphill away from Old Harry is where plenty of runners swapped running for a walk, my wife included from about halfway up. If you follow this blog, you'll know I adore a hill, so I invented my own interval session on the spot: run ahead, stop, take photos of my wife as she climbed, let her rejoin me, then run ahead and do it all again. We both got exactly what we wanted from the hills: a rest for her legs and an uphill fix for me.
Maverick Jurassic Coast Elevation Profile
The elevation profile gives you a feel for the ups and downs, but don't miss just how steep that first descent is: quite a drop down some uneven wooden steps. That's what trail running is all about, exploring the bits that test your quads and calves. The first proper climb arrives around mile 6.
Is the Maverick Jurassic Coast Good for Beginner Trail Runners?
Yes, and I have proof. This was my first race with my wife, a casual road runner and not one for trails or races. I don't think there could have been a better way to introduce her to trail running or the trail community. The bursts of speed she found to overtake other runners in the final couple of miles, the huge grin all the way home, and the wearing and showing of her medal to every other driver we passed were the measure of success.
And we crossed the finish line holding hands. That was a moment I really enjoyed: sharing what I love with the person I love.
If you're new to trails, the 6 km and 12 km routes have no outposts and far less climbing, and the half marathon is a great step up as long as you respect the hills and the steps.
Maverick Jurassic Coast FAQs
When is the Maverick Jurassic Coast trail race?
The 2026 Maverick Jurassic Coast Trail took place on Saturday 17 October 2026. The event is held each October, and the 2026 edition sold out, so sign up to the Maverick newsletter to hear when the next one opens.
How long is the Maverick Jurassic Coast half marathon?
The official half marathon route is 25 km with 406 m of elevation gain. My watch recorded just over 25 km.
Where does the Maverick Jurassic Coast start?
The race starts and finishes at Burnbake Forest Lodges and Campsite near Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5JH.
Is parking free at the Maverick Jurassic Coast?
Yes. Parking was free for runners and spectators, with a one-way traffic system on the narrow lanes.
What aid stations are on the Maverick Jurassic Coast half marathon?
There is one outpost at around 9 km, at Studland Village Hall, offering water, Precision Fuel & Hydration electrolytes, gels and chews, plus fruit, cake, biscuits, seating and toilets inside.
Can I run the Maverick Jurassic Coast with my dog?
Yes, it's a dog-friendly event, but you must add your dog to your entry and spaces are limited. Dog places sold out in 2026.
Is there a longer Maverick Jurassic Coast race?
Yes. The Maverick Jurassic Coast X-Trail offers 50K and 100K ultra routes on the same weekend.
Final Verdict: Is the Maverick Jurassic Coast Worth Entering?
Absolutely. With an overall rating of 4.9/5, the Maverick Jurassic Coast is a race built around runners: stress-free arrival, free parking, a clever two-speed aid station, brilliant course marking and some of the best coastal views in the UK. Find a fix for the half marathon GPX link, make the registration tent a little easier to spot, and let the Coke go flat, and it's very nearly perfect.
Thank you, Maverick. The Jurassic Coast was fantastic.
About the Author - Andy Hood
Andy Hood is an ultra and endurance runner based in North Devon, and the man behind Running WestwardHo.
In 2021, at 48, a testicular cancer diagnosis took his running away from him. Surgery and chemotherapy followed, and what came back out the other side is what he calls Andy v2.0, a runner with a mission attached. Since then he has designed and run a string of deliberately attention-grabbing ultras, from 24 hours on a treadmill in a busy shopping centre to 170 miles of the South West Coast Path, and has raised more than £28,000 for cancer and mental health charities along the way.
He is the founder of Check Ya Balls, a men's underwear range with a cheeky look and a serious point to it, and a Runna ambassador. He has circled Mont Blanc on foot twice, in 2023 and 2025, and was in Chamonix for the full week of UTMB 2026. He doesn't run for times; he runs for hills, views and the people he shares them with, which is how his wife ended up on the start line of the Maverick Jurassic Coast.
His writing here covers race reports, training guidance, honest kit reviews and the occasional strong opinion. The message underneath all of it stays the same: check yourself, and don't wait to be told twice.
You can find Andy on Instagram @runningwestwardho, or read more at runningwestwardho.co.uk.
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