The Bog Trot

2025 BOG TROT RESULTS AVAILABLE HERE.

The Bog Trot is a hill race we disorganise in Holyrood Park every April. It usually is around 6.5km in length with approximately 240m of elevation. The exact course is liable to change each year, depending on which parts of the park are open.

This year the Bog Trot will be held on Saturday 18 April 2026.

Race registration: 12pm-12:40pm. Entry is £9 (or £6 if you are a Scottish Athletics member). Entry is on the day only – please arrive early to make sure there’s time to register everyone. Payment is by cash (please bring exact change!) or bank transfer (make sure to bring a phone to pay and sign in). You must be 16 or older to enter.

Race start: 1pm

Logistical bits and bobs

Location and facilities: Race HQ is on the grassy area north-west of Haggis Knowe (what.3.words:///pints.slug.gently). There are no changing facilities or toilets provided – please come ready to run. If you need a toilet, the nearest ones are at the Education Centre across the grassy Parade Ground (around a 4 minute walk). You can leave your belongings at the start at your own risk.

Things to bring: Please bring your own water (although we will have some emergency water bottles at the finish) and safety pins for your bib, if you can.
Please check the weather forecast beforehand and come prepared with the right kit. The terrain is steep and can become slippery when wet (or very dry!), and weather can change rapidly.

Travel: The race start is easily accessible on foot (1 mile from Edinburgh Waverley) or bike (there is cycle parking by Holyrood car park nearby). While there is limited car parking available, we do not recommend this for the sake of your wallet, logistics, and the environment!

Prizes: There will be prizes for category winners and the first men’s and women’s teams (3 to count), as well as the infamous spot-prizes. We cannot guarantee you’ll like them though (previous prizes have included brown socks, and tins of spam).

Route: You can view the route below, or here. The route will be marked with flour and marshalled at key points, but make sure to familiarise yourself with the route.

The Bog Trot is a Scottish Athletics licenced event – Licence #14109