Retirement
Any hiker wishing to retire must do so at a checkpoint. Retired or disqualified competitors must go by official transport back to the hike control.
If any hiker retires or is disqualified the rest of the team must wait at the checkpoint and combine with other competitors to form a composite team before being allowed to proceed (waiting time will be given). Composite teams can only be made at checkpoints and at the discretion of the checkpoint marshal.
Some checkpoints operate a cut-off latest arrival times. Hikers arriving after these times will be compulsorily retired. For 2008, these checkpoints are:
| Checkpoint | Section Event | Cut-off time |
| Warren Farm | Scout | 1500 |
| East Ilsley | Explorer & Classic | 1800 |
| Pangbourne College | Explorer & Classic | 0100 |