Run Balmoral 2026 – 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 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 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.
Are you ready for another Run Balmoral? We are! And so is The Hill!
VisitAberdeenshire Balmoral Castle run ABC Scotland Runner's World UK Trail Runner magazine YoungMeldrum Runners
#scottishrunning #runninginscotland #runningfestival #trailrunninguk #balmoralcastle #balmoralestate #trailrunningscotland #hillwhathill ... See MoreSee Less
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That’s a better date than this year! 👌
Thoroughly enjoyed it this year but man that hill....... Lilys Outdoor Adventures again??
How come it's a full month later ?
Susie McConnachie 👏🏻 xx
Kirsty Laura get your running shoes out
Paula Milne get ready!!
Brody Collie 👀
Stuart Olsson
Caroline Jack Haggis xx
Same weekend as ULTRA X Scotland which is a shame!
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Did you run our @jgcollie 15 Mile Trail Race this year? Runner’s World did …. And wrote a great feature on it for their July ‘Adventure’ issue! The mag is on newsstands now. It’s also available through Apple News and some public library apps! #runnersworldmag #balmoralestate #trailrunning #visitcairngorms @balmoral_castle @visitabdn @visitcairngorms @mrsdebbiegreig @aaronodentz ... See MoreSee Less
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Many thanks to Runner's World UK for their fantastic article on our James & George Collie LLP 15 Mile Trail Race.
With gorgeous scenery, challenging weather (thanks, Storm Dave) and two slogs up our infamous Hill, the altered 15 Mile course let author Jeff Pyrah experience a little bit of everything Run Balmoral offers ... and share it with his thousands of readers.
The July issue of Runner's World is available on newsstands now, as well as through Apple News and some public library apps.
apple.news/A2DjKuw_DT9WB5UX0hKnHXg
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🏃🏼♀️Sunday at Run Balmoral 2026 didn’t quite go to plan with the weather, but that didn’t stop hundreds of runners having an amazing day on our gorgeous trails! ❄️ Enjoy our recap of the day! #runbalmoral #trailrunning #balmoralcastle @jgcollie @balmoral_castle @stuartrossmedia @tgcnortheast ... See MoreSee Less
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🏃And was this really TWO weeks ago? 🏃
It wasn't the weather we hoped for, or our usual stunning route for the 15 Miler, but we have some great memories of Sunday at Run Balmoral 2026!
We're sure our video will bring back your great memories too!
James & George Collie LLP Stuart Ross Media Balmoral Castle John Clark Motor Group Tidy Green Clean
#runbalmoral #aberdeenshirerunning #devilofdeeside #hillwhathill ... See MoreSee Less
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Legs are still recovering! Feel like I’m running through treacle…
Lynne Towler Susan Naysmith
Still a bit broken, as bruised ribs take time to heal! 🙄 Glad I was able to finish though and though very proud of my achievement 😈, relieved I won't have to do it again! 🤣 ....... may need to do the proper 15 miler though 😉
Got the running bug last weekend at Run Balmoral? 🏃
Keep your motivation and your miles up by taking on Run Barra on Saturday, 30 May, organised by one of our charity partners, Kayleigh's Wee Stars.
With a junior fun run, a 5k, a 10k and now a testing Half-Marathon, there'll be something for everyone at the Oldmeldrum event – and all for a great cause: raising funds to help families across Scotland make precious memories together.
For more information, or to sign up, visit www.kayleighsweestars.co.uk!
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Was it really a week ago? 🏃🏃🏃
Relive all the excitement of Saturday at Run Balmoral 2026 in our incredible video.
Can you see yourself or your family and friends?
📸 Produced by Stuart Ross Media
🙏 Sponsored by Tidy Green Clean
#runbalmoral #stuartrossmedia #scottishrunning #balmoralcastle #RunningFestival
Stena Drilling James & George Collie LLP RAM Tubulars McIntosh Plant Hire & Heavy Logistics Run4It John Clark Motor Group Balmoral Castle Kayleigh's Wee Stars Marie Curie UK VSA COTAG 4x4 Response ... See MoreSee Less
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It gets more special every year 👏
This has made me smile, 😀 reliving some of the miles and seeing the all kids having a blast 😊 thank you again. Run Balmoral 👏🏻👏🏻
Rebecca Carr here’s us😆😆
Great video. Thank you for a super experience. Xxx. 🏃♀️❤️
Looking forward to next year..🏃♂️🏃♀️🏴😀
And absolutely loved every minute!
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