Run Balmoral 2026 Event Information Leaflet
Balmoral Estate is approximately 50 miles West of Aberdeen, just off the A93 in scenic Royal Deeside and can be reached from the South on the A93 (Deeside Tourist Route) via Perth and Glenshee. Download the Event Information leaflet for more event info – find out more you can download the pdf here.
Run Balmoral 2026 Event Programme
Each year we produce an Event Programme with a summary of the event, so if you would like to find out more you can download the pdf here. Download it to your phone for quick reference on the event weekend.
Run Balmoral 2025 – Saturday Highlights
Run Balmoral 2025 – Sunday Highlights
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Message from the Chair
After another very successful race weekend in 2025, I’m delighted to announce that entries for Run Balmoral 2026 (Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th April) is open.
Like any other major event, Run Balmoral could not happen without its sponsors. On behalf of Balmoral Road Races Ltd, I would like to thank McIntosh Plant Hire (1.5km Primary Schools Race), RAM Tubulars (2.5km Secondary Schools Race), Harbour Energy (5K), Stena Drilling (10K), the John Clark Motor Group (Devil of Deeside), Tidy Green Clean (Photo/Videography), Run4it (Retail) and VSA (Gold Charity Partner) for their continued support of our event.
I would also like to extend thanks and a very warm welcome to James & George Collie as the newest member of our Run Balmoral family of sponsors. The well-known local solicitors and estate agents will be supporting our 15-mile offroad challenge on Sunday, now to be known as the ‘James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail
Race’.
Next year’s event will signal the start of a new five-year series of specially designed medals. While the last series featured well-known landmarks in and around the Balmoral Estate, this new series will feature its wonderful wildlife. We will reveal which animal (or bird!) will be gracing our first medal later this year.
But a new series of medals isn’t the only change happening next spring. As part of our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment, our eco-friendly event t-shirts – featuring one design for our schools races and one for our main races – will be an optional extra, to be added at registration.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Balmoral Estate next Easter for another fantastic weekend of running for the whole family.
James Knowles
Chair, Balmoral Road Races Ltd, October 2025
Run Balmoral 2025 Annual Report
Run Balmoral 2025 was another great success with 4299 runners taking part out of an overall entry of 5126,
representing an 84% turnout, which is excellent. We were also treated to some wonderful individual performances with four course records being broken. Sean Chalmers enjoyed a double success with wins in the Harbour Energy 5k and the Stena Drilling 10k, while it was amazing to watch Millie Glass Park smashing her own record in the MPH Primary School Girls’ 1.5k, while Nathan Lawson set a new standard in the RAM Tubulars Secondary School Boys’ 2.5k. These are outstanding athletes, but we admire each and every one of the runners who participated in the series of races over the
weekend. They are all winners. Discover the full story of triumph and future aspirations in our comprehensive annual report (pdf 39.9MB).
Saturday Events
Stena Drilling 10K
The Stena Drilling 10K takes you through some beautiful Highland scenery on the Balmoral Estate and will be clearly marked and well marshalled.
Harbour Energy 5K
The Harbour Energy 5K all takes place on estate tarmac roads. The race begins heading west from the Castle adjacent the river Dee to a turn point at the Highland Pony Stud. There is a slight incline as the route returns to the castle via the “top road” which has magnificent views of Balmoral Castle and gardens.
MPH Primary Schools Run 1.5k
The race where some of our national and International runners started! The race is completely contained on tarmac roads in the estate and passes right in front of Balmoral Castle! Well marshalled and signed throughout with a lead cyclist and sweep runner. The race starts and finishes at the main finish gantry.
RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5k
Once past primary School age many of our runners graduate to the 2.5K event. The race is completely contained on tarmac roads in the estate and passes right in front of Balmoral Castle! Well marshalled and signed throughout with a lead cyclist and sweep runner. The race starts and finishes at the main finish gantry.
Sunday Events
James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race
An epic 15 miles of Highland scenery. There is something special about this event! You start in view of Balmoral Castle and run out west adjacent the magnificent river Dee before beginning a gradual climb through the Ballochbuie pine forest. Then at mile 8, you leave the river and begin a climb to the base of Lochnagar, an ascent of about 120 meters. The last 3 miles are a rush as you hurtle down towards the Castle once again; but beware..there is a sting in the tail!
Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race
With a mix of tarmac, track and turf, the Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race is a true all-terrain event! Open to anyone over the age of 15, the race can be approached as an introduction to trail running for beginners or as challenging sprint for the more experienced. Each lap runs alongside the River Dee to start before heading uphill – and then down again for a fast mile back to the start.
Weekend Challenges
John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside
Can you handle the John Clark Motor Group Devil O Deeside? To dance with the Devil you have to complete the Stena Drilling 10K, Harbour Energy 5K, James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race and the Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race! There will be two categories of winner; male with the fastest overall cumulative time and female with the fastest cumulative time. That’s it!
Stena Drilling / Harbour Energy Corporate Team Challenge
Corporate Challenge Trophy The StenaDrilling – Harbour Energy Corporate Team Challenge is an exciting competition embodied within RunBalmoral. It provides a wonderful opportunity for you to get together with your work / colleagues to compete for the magnificent team trophy to be awarded to the RunBalmoral Corporate Team Challenge Champions.
Support Women’s Health Research at the University of Aberdeen
Friends of the Neonatal Unit is the official charity of Aberdeen Maternity Hospital’s Neonatal Unit for premature and sick babies.
The FOS Group has been formed by engineering experts Apollo and offshore construction specialists AquaTerra to give our clients in the North Sea a simpler, smarter alternative to delivering projects on and offshore for the oil and gas business.
And our last winner of the day … Nicola MacDonald in the Stena Drilling 10k … having finished third in the Harbour Energy 5k not long before! #runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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Nicola MacDonald our hero! ❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻🔥🔥
Well done to all involved, was “run” brilliantly 🤭🤭 just one question, I ran with 2 friends who got their times through straight away but I’ve yet to get mine for the 5k, is there a set time these should be texted by?
Congratulations! (I did the 10k today, but forgot to pick up the medal and goodie bag. I'm doing the 6mile trail tomorrow. Is it possible to grab one then? Thanks)
Ross McMurray
It was down to the last few metres in the men’s division of the Stena Drilling 10k, with Scott Melville narrowly taking the win over Aaron Odentz. What a race! #runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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Meet our women’s 5k podium … also on the move! Ginie Barrand, Fiona Brian and Nicola Macdonald! #runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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Well done ginie 🥳👊🏻
Superb, well done Ginie!
Meet our men’s Harbour Energy 5k podium … on the move. Congrats Stephen MacKay, Scott Melville and Nathan Lawson!
#runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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Millie Glass Park is our new RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5km winner and new record holder!
Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club YoungMeldrum Runners #runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations Millie 💕🏃♀️ Kathleen Glass ❤️
Well done Millie👏
Well done Millie 👏
Well done Millie 🤩🏃♀️
Wow incredible - well done Millie 🙌🏼🫶
Well done Millie
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Nathan Lawson setting a new record in the boys’ RAM Tubulars 2.5km Race!
RAM Tubulars #runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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The RAM Tubulars 2.5km Race is go!! ... See MoreSee Less
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Spot my wee rocket, age 8, getting stuck in with the big kids
Aww check him! Well done Brodie 💪🏻☺️
Emily Birnie of BSAC is the 2026 MPH Primary School 1.5km Race girls’ champion! #runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
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Well done Emily .So chuffed for you .xx
Brilliant! Well done Emily and Ella too 👏🏻🤩🥳
Nice one Emily!
Amazing Emily!!❤️
Excellent, well done
Wow impressive! 🏃♀️🤩
how clever of the third place!
Well done Emily!
Well done Emily👏🏻👏🏻
Excellent running! Well done Emily and Ella!! 👏👏
Well done Emily x
Well done!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤩
Amazing, well done Emily 🥰
Well done Emily, 👏🏅x
Well done Emily 👏
Well done Emily 🏃♀️
Well done Emily 🏃♀️🥇 x
Well done Emily!!
Brilliant well done Emily
Amazing, well done Emily and Ella! 🏃🏼♀️➡️🏃🏽♀️➡️
Woooo Emily 👏🏻👏🏻
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