RUN Barnstaple Half Marathon 2026

Raising sponsorship  

Your registration fee only covers the cost of delivering this event. It’s your sponsorship that will help us make the most of short and precious lives across the South West. Without the support of wonderful fundraisers like you, we would not be able to keep caring for babies, children, young people and their families across the South West.  

Running miles and raising smiles

• £86 could help to fund 1 hour of care for a family at one of our children’s hospices  
• £150 could support a family through the early stages of their bereavement journey  
• £250 could help fund a weekend of sibling support for a brother or sister  
• £720 could cover the food bill for one of our hospice kitchens for 1 week 

Fundraising online

Set up JustGiving page

It’s the easiest way to get sponsored. Let everyone know why you’re taking part and update your page with photos and videos. Share your page on social media, WhatsApp and by email so your family and friends can sponsor you.

Download route map

The route is almost entirely flat with a small hill as you leave Fremington. The route can be breezy and there will be a headwind at some points on the course.

The race starts at Rock Park in Barnstaple and heads down Ladies Mile. Turning left onto Taw Vale, passing down one of the most scenic roads in the town.  

The route crosses the Old Bridge, turning right onto the Tarka Trail after the bridge following the Taw Wharf houses towards the Taw Bridge. Continue on the Tarka Trail until Fremington Quay, and then take the Fremington Quay road (closed to traffic) to the main road. Turn right and follow the main road to Yelland (the road is not closed but there is pavement for most of the route, sections that don't have pavement will be coned off but please take care and be aware of traffic). There is 1 small incline out of Fremington and that's the 1 bump in the whole race.  

At Yelland Quay take a right to head back to Barnstaple on the Tarka Trail (be aware the FULL marathon runners turn left towards Instow here!) Once back in Barnstaple cross the Old Bridge, turn left onto the Strand then turn left after Bridge Buildings, just before the old fountain, and left again to go through the underpass and head back along Taw Vale and Ladies Mile for a victorious finish in Rock Park.   

Water stations

There are 4 water stops on the Half Marathon route:

• Taw Wharf
• Fremington Quay
• Fremington Green
• Yelland

Important details for on the day 

All routes are well marked, with distance markers, directional signs, and marshals. Most of the route is on either closed roads or the Tarka Trail, however there is a section of around a mile in which participants will be sharing the road with cars. The Tarka Trail is open as usual to the public and bikes, walkers etc will be using the trail on race day. 

Race start and finish: Rock Park, Ladies Mile, Barnstaple, EX32 9AH 

Timings 

• 9am Marathon  
• 10am Half Marathon
• 11am 10k 

Registration, running numbers, bag drop 

Registration, running number collection and bag drop is in the Sports Hall at Park School (Park Lane, Barnstaple EX32 9AX) which can be accessed via steps from Rock Park/Ladies Mile. Please allow plenty of time to register, get your number and drop your bags before your race starts as it can get busy.  

Please note there is no access or parking at Park School car park  but there are steps to the sports hall from Ladies Mile

Registration timings: 

• 7:00am to 8:30am Marathon  
• 8:30am to 9:30am Half Marathon  
• 9:45am to 10:30am 10k  

Please wear your number on the front of your body, it must be clearly displayed on your torso. Do not fold it as the chip is contained on the number and you will damage it, and it may mean you don’t get a time or a finish position. 

Please attend the race briefings 10 minutes before the start of each race located at the start area in Rock Park.  

If you have purchased a CHSW running vest, CHSW running T-shirt or RUN Barnstaple T-shirt, we will post this out before the race to wear with pride during your training.  

Parking 

There is no car parking for this event, please use the nearby town centre car parks and walk to Rock Park.  

Road closures are in place around Rock Park and the town centre throughout the day for this event. Roads closed include Ladies Mile, The Strand, Taw Vale, Long Bridge and Fremington Quay. Park School car park will be closed throughout the day. 

Event Village 

The Event Village, and start and finish is: Rock Park, Ladies Mile, Barnstaple, EX32 9AH  

The event village will have food and drink stalls and children’s activities, entertainer and craft tent and face painter. 

Dogs on leads are welcome to spectate and in the event village but are not permitted to participate.  

Toilets 

There are toilets, in the event village and additional toilets at Fremington Quay.

Spectators 

The route offers many good vantage points for spectators; the map is a good source of information. Rock Park is great for the start and finish and there are food and drink stalls and children’s activities in the event. The Square and Long Bridge in Barnstaple are also good vantage spots for all races, but the runners do tend to pass here very quickly!

Fremington Quay is a fantastic place to watch the race, you get to see both full and half marathon runners twice. Please note however that the access road is closed from 10am - 3pm and no vehicles can enter/leave the access road or car park during those times.  

Water station locations

• All races  - Old Shapland site
• Full and Half Marathon - Fremington Quay  
• Full and Half Marathon - Fremington Green  
• Full and Half Marathon - Yelland  

At Children's Hospice South West we strive to make our events as 'green' as possible. Thirsty Work are providing the water and recyclable cups for us at the 8 water stations, there will also be water available in the in the event village and finish line. We encourage runners to bring their own bottle or cup.  

At each water station there will be water and jelly sweets  

Please note, we will not be supplying isotonic gels or drinks at the water stations, please bring your own.  

There are rubbish bins at each station, please do not throw cups or rubbish along the route, please give it to the volunteers at the water stations or put it in the bins. 

First aid 

First Aid cover is provided by Gardant Medicare.

Prizes and medals

Every finisher will get a medal, and all 3 races have prizes for male and female runners: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall.  

The full and half marathons also have prizes for 1st in the following age groups: Senior, Vet 40, Vet 50, Vet 60. These age groups are for Male and Female. Prizes need to be collected on the day, we do not send out prizes.  

Timing

DB Max are our timing company; results will be available at DB Max Sports Timing 

Marshals

Our fabulous route marshals, water station helpers, lead bikers and back markers are all volunteers giving up their time to ensure our event is safe and can go ahead. Please be respectful, they are there for your safety, look out for them and listen to any instructions given by them, failure to do so may result in a wrong turn or disqualification.  

Massage

We have sports massage therapists available from 12pm - 3pm, they will be in the sports hall at Park School.  

Headphones

We ask you not to wear headphones but know you will anyway! We ask this for the safety of our runners and for other people using the route. Please be aware of any other Tarka Trail users and pedestrians along the route and remove headphones for any road sections, this is for your safety.  

Final Mile Challenge

Primary schools across North Devon were invited to get involved to complete 12 miles at school then join us on the event day at 1pm to complete the Final Mile. Get your schools involved, more information is here: RUN Barnstaple Final Mile Challenge. 

Can you help at RUN Barnstaple?

We couldn't run this event without the help of a dedicated team of volunteers:

• Race marshalls
• Back-markers
• Water stop volunteers
• Registration and bag drop
• Finish line crew