Glen Tanar Trail Running Festival 2026

The 25km race begins and finishes within the stunning trails of Glen Tanar Estate in Royal Deeside, located within the Cairngorms National Park. This challenging yet runnable course covers approximately 25km with around 523m of elevation gain, combining flowing forest tracks, steady climbs, and rewarding descents through some of Scotland’s most beautiful trail-running terrain. Start to 7.5km – Forest Trails and Early Climbing The race begins near the event hub on Glen Tanar Estate, quickly heading onto wide estate tracks beneath towering Caledonian pine forest. Runners settle into a steady rhythm on runnable trails before the first sustained climb begins, gradually gaining elevation as the route winds deeper into the glen. The terrain is a mixture of compact forest track and natural trail, offering a good opportunity to find your pace early on. The first checkpoint and aid station appears at approximately 7.5km, providing water, energy drink and snacks. 7.5km to 15km – Rolling Trails and Remote Glen Views Leaving the first checkpoint, the route continues through quiet forest sections before emerging onto more open terrain with views across the surrounding hills and moorland. This middle section features rolling terrain with a series of climbs and fast descents, rewarding runners with sweeping views typical of Royal Deeside. The second aid station is reached at approximately 15km, marking the halfway point of the race. 15km to 20km – The High Point From the halfway point, runners tackle the most demanding section of the course. A longer climb leads to the highest point of the route, where the landscape opens out across the surrounding hills and forest canopy. Although challenging, this climb is steady rather than technical, allowing runners to maintain momentum before the course transitions into a long, flowing descent. 20km to Finish – Fast Forest Descent The final section returns runners toward the estate along fast, flowing forest tracks, where tired legs are rewarded with a predominantly downhill run. The course winds back through the pine forest alongside sections of trail near the River Tanar, offering a scenic final stretch before the route re-enters the event village. Cross the finish line back at the Glen Tanar Estate hub where finishers receive refreshments and join the festival atmosphere.