Chiltern 20 2026

Message to Leaders and Chiltern 20 Team Managers:

Here is some important information with regards to this year’s event, which takes place on Saturday 17^thOctober 2026, with the start and finish venue somewhere in the Chiltern Hills.  The online entry database will open on 1^st September 2026.

There has been increased interest in this event each year and the database will close once maximum numbers have been reached.  It is highly recommended that Leaders and team managers start to plan and commence training from now onwards and be ready to enter teams once the database opens.

Feedback from last year’s event encouraged the event organisers to create more challenging routes.  We have listened to your comments and as a result, this year’s two routes will be longer, tougher and in more challenging terrain. The senior route has been measured at 18.5 kms and the junior route has been measured at 13 kms.

We have also made it clearer about participants taking part in the Junior event.  They will all need to be under the age of 12 on the day of the event.  All teams taking part in the Junior event will still need to have one or two adults walking with them for safety purposes.

The Senior event rules are unchanged.  Teams can either have one or two adults walking with them, or if the Scout Leader has assessed that the team is competent enough, then the team will be allowed to walk without an adult accompanying them.

When teams enter the event, the team manager will need to tick a box to show that all the participants are competent.

The event organisers have been concerned about participants not wearing or carrying the correct kit.  We need your help to make sure that you emphasise this point.  The bottom line is that participants will not be allowed to take part in the event if they arrive with missing kit.  The full kit list for participants and teams can be found at the bottom of this message.

We will be updating our website with these changes soon.

Navigation Workshop

Once again, the event organisers are offering training for Scout Leaders and participants.  This training will be particularly useful for teams who registered slow finishing times last year.  We have organised a free Introduction to Navigation Workshop navigation training evening for Leaders and team managers on Monday 11^th May 2026 from 7.40pm to 9pm at Turkey Street Scout HQ, which is on the corner of Turkey Street and Dendridge Close EN1 4PL.  What 3Words ///later.star.hooks.  The aim of this workshop is to reduce your fears that navigation, maps and compasses can all be a bit confusing and there is an overwhelming amount of information out there, not all of it simple or helpful.  The workshop will provide you with all you need to build the skills and confidence to start teaching navigation to your Scouts and also for your own trips and adventures.  We will cover all the basics and can answer any navigation based questions you may have, including helpful tips for big events like the Chiltern 20 and Southern 50 Challenge Hikes.  To book your place on this workshop, please contact Asa Kitchiner at chiltern20training@gmail.com

Personal Kit List

All participants must wear walking boots or robust shoes with a gripped sole (no trainers). Participants will not be permitted to walk if they are not wearing walking boots or shoes with gripped soles.

All participants must wear suitable clothing for the conditions (no denims). A sunny start to the event does not guarantee that it won’t be wet and cold later in the day, so be prepared.

In addition to what you are wearing to start off the event each participant must wear or carry:

·       Walking boots or walking/approach/trail shoes which must have gripped soles (no trainers). Suitability of footwear will be entirely at the discretion of the Kit Check team.

·       Waterproof jacket with hood

·       Waterproof over-trousers

·       For the upper body – at least 2 layers [base layer and Jumper or fleece].

·       For the lower body – Long trousers or shorts (no denim)

·       Reflective Hi-vis jacket (with or without sleeves)

·       Head torch

·       Identification wristband (issued to each participant when teams check in)

·       Tracker wristband (issued at the start of the event and collected at the finish)

·       Gloves

·       Hat

·       Lunch

·       Water in a suitable container

·       Emergency rations

·       Any personal medication you need

·       Mug (optional – for drinks on route and at the finish).  There are no cups provided at the checkpoints or finish.

All participants must make sure that they have sufficient provisions to sustain them for a whole day’s walking.

Team Kit List

·       Maps to be confirmed

·       Two compasses (Silva or similar)

·       Compact basic First Aid Kit

·       Watch

·       At least two mobile phones which must be fully charged at the start of the event and must be switched on throughout the event so that the event organisers can contact teams at any time.

·       “What Three Words” app upload on the two mobile phones.

·       One torch which has a red coloured light. This is for the back marker.