Edinburgh Marathon Festival 10K charity places for 2026 | NSPCC

Timetable

Saturday

• 09:00 | 10K
• 11:00 | 5K
• 12:00 | Junior 5K
• 13:00 | 2K Junior
• 13:30 | 1.5K Junior 
• 14:00 | Kids Kilometre

Sunday

• 08:00 | Half Marathon
• 10:00 | Marathon
• 10:00 | Hairy Haggis Team Relay

Event HQ

Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH8 8AS
UK

The Scottish capital is renowned for its heritage and culture, with medieval architecture and cobbled streets helping to create a spellbinding atmosphere. It's the perfect setting for an active festival of running, with each route taking full advantage of its stunning location.

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival offers an ideal opportunity to explore the historic streets on closed roads and enjoy a Bank Holiday weekend in the Scottish capital.

Route highlights

• Starting from Dynamic Earth, at the edge of Holyrood Park
• Stunning views of Edinburgh Castle
• Panoramic views of the city
• Heading east, you'll pass the tranquil Dunsapie Loch
• Continue along Queen's Drive before enjoying a loop around Duddingston Loch
• Enjoy incredible views of the towering Salisbury Crags
• Arrive to a rapturous welcome at the finish line in the shadow of Arthur's Seat

Map

Route description

Starting and finishing near the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful, scenic route takes place in Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The route offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and panoramic views of the city.

Runners start on Queens Drive with a 200m downhill section before heading past the steep sides of Arthurs Seat on your right and Dynamic Earth, The Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace on your left. Continuing on towards the 1km mark you will pass St. Margaret’s Loch before starting the ascent around the east side of Arthurs Seat.

As you continue the clockwise route around this famous old volcano, you will pass Dunsapie Loch at around 2.5km. Now on the far side of Arthur’s seat at 3km runners can enjoy spectacular views of Duddingston Loch below and across the southside of Edinburgh and beyond towards the Pentland Hills. Approaching the 4km marker you will enjoy a panoramic view of the City.

The route then doubles back on itself along Duddingston Low Road at 5km and through Duddingston Village at 6km. The route joins the Innocent Railway Road through 7km and 8km and then heads back up onto Queens Drive. Passing the 9km it’s now downhill all the way, back through the Start Line again and the final 250m dash to the cheering crowds and the finish line on Holyrood Gait.

Cut off

1hr 30 mins.

The cut off time for the 10K is 1 hour 30 minutes (from when the back of the race crosses the start line).

Sustainability overview

This event is committed to minimising the impact it has on the local environment, implemented in the following ways:

• Online entries rather than paper forms
• Marketing material online rather than flyers and posters
• Runner information online rather than printed
• Public transport encouraged
• Communication with residents and business regarding road closures, to reduce traffic congestion
• Reduce noise pollution
• All waste collected and recycled/repurposed wherever possible
• Unused food donated to food bank

Included

• Wicking finisher's t-shirt
• Finisher's medal and distance keyring
• Finisher's pack
• Personalised event number with accurate timing chip
• Event baggage facilities
• Hydration on route
• Hydration and nutrition at the finish
• Results posted in your account within 48 hours
• Fantastic running experience

How to fundraise

Wondering whether to run for charity but unsure how to fundraise? Charities are experts in this topic and will provide the reassurance you need. Here are some tips:

• Start fundraising early

  Starting your fundraising early gives you the best chance of reaching – and even exceeding – your sponsorship goal.

• Make it known

  Keep talking about your fundraising target to your friends, family, colleagues, social media followers - everyone!

• Have some fun

  Seize the chance to make it your own: sell unwanted clothing online, hold an afternoon tea, host a ticketed dinner party, wash some cars, shave your beard; be inspired!

... I really enjoyed the event. It was well organised and I liked the course which started up by the university and then had a 5 mile downhill run through the city to the coast, followed by an out and back coastal section which was pretty flat.

Really enjoyed this run. Beautiful settings and a fantastic atmosphere.

It's true that this is a perfect race for chasing PBs - I got one today and I hadn't trained as much as I should have.

Couldn’t have picked a better location for my first marathon! Amazing atmosphere with super helpful marshals and wonderful support from spectators especially the welcoming locals who utterly emmersed themselves in the event and were out in their hundreds. Topped off by lovely finish crew who didn’t mind being hugged and sobbed over ecstatically!! and the most beautiful medal and lovely (perfectly fitted) finishers shirt!

The route itself took you through lovely historical parts of the city and then out across the gorgeous coast before returning to the city for a rapturous welcome (despite the crazy headwind along the final four miles!). Terrific choice of route and I bet an experienced marathoner could get quite a pace as it’s relatively flat. A most excellent event and definitely one to recommend!

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck