We are very pleased to announce that entries have now opened for Run Balmoral 2025. The event will take place over the weekend of April 26-27.
And, in a major move towards improving our sustainability objectives, Run Balmoral 2025 will contribute to one of the biggest nature restoration projects ever undertaken in the Cairngorms.
The River Dee Trust conservation charity has committed to planting a million native trees along the riverbank between now and 2035 as part of a massive scheme to help protect Atlantic salmon and other wildlife in and around the River Dee and its tributaries. The project was launched in 2020 and already over 460,000 native trees have been planted.
So, in 2025, instead of providing t-shirts to competitors, Run Balmoral will contribute one new tree for every runner who signs up to take part in our races. This means we could be planting more than 5,000 trees next year.
It’s something we have been aiming to do for some time and after discussion with our sponsors and listening to comments from runners, we feel this is the right decision to make.
We also have a new event for 2025, with the duathlon being replaced by a six-mile trail race on day two.
Our other popular races will remain: the MPH primary schools 1.5k, the RAM Tubulars secondary schools 2.5k, the Harbour Energy 5k, and the Stena Drilling 10k on the Saturday, followed by the new six-mile trail race and the Bristow 15-mile trail race on the Sunday.
And, of course, the John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside offers the ultimate challenge – with runners tackling the 5k, 10k, six-mile, and 15-mile races.
We will be awarding all runners with The fifth and final medal in our series depicting notable landmarks within and around the Balmoral Estate. In 2025, it will feature the Auld Brig o’Dee.
We’ll look forward to welcoming you to Run Balmoral next April. Make sure of your place by signing up today.
James Knowles
Chairman, Balmoral Road Races Ltd
Run Balmoral 2025 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 2025 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.
We are absolutely delighted to announce that Bilfinger UK is to sponsor the new 6 mile trail race at Run Balmoral 2025.
Sandy Bonner, President of Bilfinger Engineering and Maintenance UK, said: “We are excited to be part of this great community event. At Bilfinger, we believe in promoting health, wellness, and sustainability, and this event perfectly aligns with our values.
“The Bilfinger 6 Mile Trail Race is a new feature for 2025 and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of all participants who take on the course, which will be held in the spectacular surroundings of the Balmoral Estate with the famous Castle providing an excellent backdrop!”
Run Balmoral Chair James Knowles added: “We are thrilled to have Bilfinger on board as sponsor of our new six mile trail race next April and we’ll look forward to working closely with them to ensure the success of the event.”
The new event will also be part of the John Clark Devil of Deeside Challenge in which competitors tackle the Harbour Energy 5k and the Stena Drilling 10k on the Saturday followed by the Bilfinger 6 mile trail race and the Bristow 15 mile trail race on the Sunday. The winners are those wth the best cumulative times from the four races.
All races are held on traffic-free roads and trails, offering amazing views of the Deeside countryside and the Cairngorm mountains. Competitors in each run will receive a special medal featuring a local landmark, with the 2025 medal showcasing the Auld Brig o’Dee.
In a move towards sustainability, rather than issuing t-shirts, a significant contribution will be made to a tree planting project in the River Dee Valley.
The 2025 event takes place over the weekend of 26-27 April.
Run Balmoral 2024 Annual Report
Run Balmoral 2024 has once again surpassed expectations, drawing a record-breaking 4,302 runners to the scenic routes of Aberdeenshire. The event showcased extraordinary talent, with Scotland international Sean Chalmers clinching three race victories and Sally Wallis setting a new benchmark in the women’s Devil of Deeside competition. Looking ahead, Run Balmoral is committed to environmental stewardship, pledging to plant a tree for every participant in 2025, marking a shift towards sustainability. With the introduction of a new six-mile trail race and continued community and sponsor support, the event is a beacon of athletic excellence and ecological responsibility. Discover the full story of triumph and future aspirations in our comprehensive annual report (pdf 21.7MB).
A smaller, alternate download version of the report can be found here (pdf 3.4MB)
Every year hundreds of runners take part in Run Balmoral to raise much-needed funds for the charities and good causes close to their hearts.
👉 Were you one of them in 2025? We'd love to hear who you ran for and how you got on in the comments!
#balmoralestate #balmoralcastle #runbalmoral2025 #aberdeenshirerunning #trailrunning #scottishcharities #scotlandcharity #CharityRunners #charityrunner #CharityRunning #CharityRunning #fundraising #FundraisingEvent #fundraisingchallenge
I thought big headphones were not allowed in the race 🤔 😕 😐
What a beautiful photo! Having fun raising money for Beat at the same time
The trails, the hills, the views ... Welcome to Sunday at Run Balmoral 2025, whose spirit and epic challenges (and rewards) are captured perfectly by Stuart Ross Media in his latest video, sponsored by Tidy Green Clean. 🎬 🏃♀️🎬
👉 See yourself out there on the trails? Let us know in the comments!
Tidy Green Clean RUN BALMORAL 2025 #devilofdeeside #runbalmoral2025 #stuartrossmedia #balmoralestate #balmoralcastle #runbalmoral #balmoralcastlerunning #bilfinger #johnclarkmotorgroup #bristowhelicopters Stuart Ross Media
I love this Stuart Ross
Nice footage Stuart.
All the energy, excitement and fun of Day One at Run Balmoral 2025 captured brilliantly in our first official highlights video by Stuart Ross Media, sponsored by Tidy Green Clean. Enjoy!! 🎬🏃🎬
#devilofdeeside #runbalmoral2025 #trailrunning #stenadrilling10k #harbourenergy #bristowhelicopters #bilfinger #johnclarkmotorgroup #aberdeenshirerunning #balmoralestate #balmoralcastle #balmoralcastle #stuartrossmedia #KronoSports
Lovely video, one of the most heartwarming moments of the day for me was the smile on the little boys with Down’s syndrome face as he ran to the finish line, with everyone cheering him on. Shame this wasn’t captured in this montage.
Stewart Norris 875 (Westhill) Sqn ATC
Kayleigh Laing
Run Balmoral Race Report 2025
runabc.co.uk
It was a record-breaking weekend for Sean Chalmers at Run Balmoral...
👀 Looking for your Run Balmoral race results? 👀
You can find full results from all our events, including the mighty Devil of Deeside Challenge, on the krono:sports website.
👉https://mytime.kronosports.uk/results.aspx?CId=20177&RId=511
#KronoSports #kronosports @kronosportsuk #runbalmoral #runbalmoral2025 #devilofdeeside
MEDAL MONDAY 🥇
It's medal Monday ... are you wearing your bling with pride today?
Which medals did you collect over the weekend ?
Let us know in the comments ...
Tag your friends and share your photos below ⬇️
#runbalmoral #runscotland #runningmotivation #medalmonday #medaladdict #balmoralcastlerunning #aberdeenshirerunning
& 12 years ago below
51 minutes 58 seconds! Fastest fancy dress outfit first place in 10k for this years competition
Brilliant photo Pamela Anne McDonald 👏👏👏
Pamela Anne McDonald , tell me your happy without saying you are happy 😊
Your famous Pamela Anne McDonald 💪🏻
Wow! What a Run Balmoral that was! A brand-new trail race, four course records smashed and thousands of amazing runners crossing our finish line over two brilliant days!
We all had a fantastic weekend ... but what about you?
👉👉 Share your stories with us in the comments and tag us on #runbalmoral2025
🙏Thank you to all the runners, supporters, volunteers, sponsors and race officials who made the weekend possible. 🙏
And thank you to the men's Devil of Deeside winners (1 Aaron Odentz, 2 Stuart MacDougall and 3 Finlay Murray) who took their title to heart on their podium, giving us all a big smile at the end of of a long day! How they still found the energy to do that after four tough races over two days, we'll never know! 😈😈😈
See you at Run Balmoral 2026!
#runbalmoral2025 #devilofdeeside #trailrunning
@runbalmoral
Fantastic weekend at Balmoral. Special thanks to Jackie, Peter and the Balmoral organisation team who make this all possible for everyone to enjoy. Keep it coming .. everyone loves Balmoral 👏👏👏
Well done all ! X
Where do find the overall times of all competitors please? Thanks
We all had a fantastic weekend and I was so happy to be a part of the COTAG 4x4 Response team to support all the amazing runners and assist with comms and dropping marshals off when needed. Even managed a cheeky picture at the end 😎 really well organised by the event team. See you next year 👍I'll need to bring more haribos though.... 😂 #runbalmoral2025
Huge congratulations to our 2025 John Clark Motor Group Devils of Deeside champions, Aaron Odentz and Debbie Greig! 😈😈😈
#johnclarkmotorgroup #devilofdeeside #runbalmoral2025
Congratulations Debbie Greig 🎉 and Aaron 😎
Smashing it 💪
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
Bristow 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!
Bilfinger 6 Mile Trail Race
This exciting new event is held over a testing two-lap course which takes you along the banks of the River Dee before turning uphill. For 2 miles on each lap you will climb 350 metres before descending for a fast mile back to the start. It’s a mix of tarmac, track and grass, making this is a true all-
terrain event!
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, Bristow 15 Mile Trail race and the Bilfinger 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.
Every year hundreds of runners take part in Run Balmoral to raise much-needed funds for the charities and good causes close to their hearts.
👉 Were you one of them in 2025? We'd love to hear who you ran for and how you got on in the comments!
#balmoralestate #balmoralcastle #runbalmoral2025 #aberdeenshirerunning #trailrunning #scottishcharities #scotlandcharity #CharityRunners #charityrunner #CharityRunning #CharityRunning #fundraising #FundraisingEvent #fundraisingchallenge ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I thought big headphones were not allowed in the race 🤔 😕 😐
What a beautiful photo! Having fun raising money for Beat at the same time
The trails, the hills, the views ... Welcome to Sunday at Run Balmoral 2025, whose spirit and epic challenges (and rewards) are captured perfectly by Stuart Ross Media in his latest video, sponsored by Tidy Green Clean. 🎬 🏃♀️🎬
👉 See yourself out there on the trails? Let us know in the comments!
Tidy Green Clean RUN BALMORAL 2025 #devilofdeeside #runbalmoral2025 #stuartrossmedia #balmoralestate #balmoralcastle #runbalmoral #balmoralcastlerunning #bilfinger #johnclarkmotorgroup #bristowhelicopters Stuart Ross Media ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I love this Stuart Ross
Nice footage Stuart.
All the energy, excitement and fun of Day One at Run Balmoral 2025 captured brilliantly in our first official highlights video by Stuart Ross Media, sponsored by Tidy Green Clean. Enjoy!! 🎬🏃🎬
#devilofdeeside #runbalmoral2025 #trailrunning #stenadrilling10k #harbourenergy #bristowhelicopters #bilfinger #johnclarkmotorgroup #aberdeenshirerunning #balmoralestate #balmoralcastle #balmoralcastle #stuartrossmedia #KronoSports ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Lovely video, one of the most heartwarming moments of the day for me was the smile on the little boys with Down’s syndrome face as he ran to the finish line, with everyone cheering him on. Shame this wasn’t captured in this montage.
Stewart Norris 875 (Westhill) Sqn ATC
Kayleigh Laing
Run Balmoral Race Report 2025 ... See MoreSee Less
Run Balmoral Race Report 2025
runabc.co.uk
It was a record-breaking weekend for Sean Chalmers at Run Balmoral...Comment on Facebook
👀 Looking for your Run Balmoral race results? 👀
You can find full results from all our events, including the mighty Devil of Deeside Challenge, on the krono:sports website.
👉https://mytime.kronosports.uk/results.aspx?CId=20177&RId=511
#KronoSports #kronosports @kronosportsuk #runbalmoral #runbalmoral2025 #devilofdeeside ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
MEDAL MONDAY 🥇
It's medal Monday ... are you wearing your bling with pride today?
Which medals did you collect over the weekend ?
Let us know in the comments ...
Tag your friends and share your photos below ⬇️
#runbalmoral #runscotland #runningmotivation #medalmonday #medaladdict #balmoralcastlerunning #aberdeenshirerunning ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
& 12 years ago below
51 minutes 58 seconds! Fastest fancy dress outfit first place in 10k for this years competition
Brilliant photo Pamela Anne McDonald 👏👏👏
Pamela Anne McDonald , tell me your happy without saying you are happy 😊
Your famous Pamela Anne McDonald 💪🏻
View more comments
Wow! What a Run Balmoral that was! A brand-new trail race, four course records smashed and thousands of amazing runners crossing our finish line over two brilliant days!
We all had a fantastic weekend ... but what about you?
👉👉 Share your stories with us in the comments and tag us on #runbalmoral2025
🙏Thank you to all the runners, supporters, volunteers, sponsors and race officials who made the weekend possible. 🙏
And thank you to the men's Devil of Deeside winners (1 Aaron Odentz, 2 Stuart MacDougall and 3 Finlay Murray) who took their title to heart on their podium, giving us all a big smile at the end of of a long day! How they still found the energy to do that after four tough races over two days, we'll never know! 😈😈😈
See you at Run Balmoral 2026!
#runbalmoral2025 #devilofdeeside #trailrunning
@runbalmoral ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Fantastic weekend at Balmoral. Special thanks to Jackie, Peter and the Balmoral organisation team who make this all possible for everyone to enjoy. Keep it coming .. everyone loves Balmoral 👏👏👏
Well done all ! X
Where do find the overall times of all competitors please? Thanks
We all had a fantastic weekend and I was so happy to be a part of the COTAG 4x4 Response team to support all the amazing runners and assist with comms and dropping marshals off when needed. Even managed a cheeky picture at the end 😎 really well organised by the event team. See you next year 👍I'll need to bring more haribos though.... 😂 #runbalmoral2025
View more comments
Huge congratulations to our 2025 John Clark Motor Group Devils of Deeside champions, Aaron Odentz and Debbie Greig! 😈😈😈
#johnclarkmotorgroup #devilofdeeside #runbalmoral2025 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Congratulations Debbie Greig 🎉 and Aaron 😎
Smashing it 💪