RUN Barnstaple 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 

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.   

Set up JustGiving page

Download route map (PDF)

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 then goes along the Strand to the old Civic Centre car park accessing the Tarka Trail via the bridge. It’s straight out to Wrafton where the route takes a turn from the trail onto the road up towards the William’s Arms. A turn left onto the path adjacent to the main road towards Braunton, until the roundabout, where the runners will turn left and head down towards Velator.  

At the next roundabout, the route takes a left to rejoin the Tarka Trail heading back to Barnstaple, back up the Strand where you pick up the Half Marathon route, head across 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  (full marathon runners only) turn left towards Instow until you do a loop in the tunnel then head back again on the Tarka Trail towards Fremington.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

On the Marathon route, there are water stops every 2/3 miles:

• Taw Wharf
• Fremington Quay
• Fremington Green
• Yelland
• Civic Centre
• Ashford
• Chivenor
• Velator

Important details for on the day 

All race routes are well marked, with mile (km for 10k) markers, directional signs, and marshals. Most of the route is on either closed road, managed road sections, or the Tarka Trail. Please be aware that the park and Tarka Trail is open to the public as usual. 

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 Park School sports hall (Park Lane, Barnstaple EX32 9AX) which can be accessed via steps from Rock Park/Ladies Mile.  

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO ACCESS OR PARKING AT PARK SCHOOL CAR PARK  

Allow plenty of time to park, register, get your number and drop your bags before your race as it gets busy.  

Registration timings: 

Registration is in the Sports Hall at Park School, Barnstaple EX32 9AX. There are steps to the sports hall from Ladies Mile  

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

You must attend in person to collect your number; we do not post numbers out. 

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.  

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

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.  

On the full marathon route, Chivenor roundabout is great, and you get to see the runners in both directions, so it is busy. 

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
• Full and 10K - Civic Centre
• Full marathon - Ashford  
• Full marathon - Chivenor
• Full marathon - Velator 

At CHSW 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. We encourage runners to bring their own bottle or cup. There will also be water dispensers in the event village including at the finish line.  

At each water station there will be water and jelly sweets. PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NOT HAVE ISOTONIC DRINKS OR GELS

There are rubbish bins at each station, please do not throw cups, gel wrappers, or any type of 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.  

Timing

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

Medals and Prizes 

All races have the same prizes for male and female runners: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall.   

The marathon and half marathon will also have 1st in the following age groups: Senior, Vet 40, Vet 50, Vet 60.   

Prizes need to be collected on the day, we do not send out prizes, if you think you have won a prize please stay for the presentation. 

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 are looking for volunteers to help make RUN Barnstaple a continued success. 

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

Volunteer at RUN Barnstaple