Going ahead this Saturday
No cancellation listed for Saturday 31 October.
Parkrun
Crathes Castle parkrun
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you! Nearby Sunday 2k junior parkrun events for 4 to 14 year olds and their families can be found here.
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United Kingdom
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Scotland
- 5 kilometres
- Crathes Castle
Meeting point: 57.06118, -2.44095. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.
Coordinates 57.06118, -2.44095.
The course
Course description
A beautiful and challenging course starting in front of Crathes Castle and winding through ancient woodland.
The course is marked with arrow signs, cones, and also has marshals at various key points along the way.
The route is effectively a single “figure of eight” with two loops through woodland, separated by a long stretched neck where parkrunners may pass each other in opposite directions. Please keep to the right on our paths.
The first, clockwise, loop begins from our start in front of the castle with a straight-ish 1km descent on tarred paths (which is uneven in places) before turning right into the woods. The second km is a long uphill stretch mostly on a new, wide forest track which tapers into a rough trail towards the top. At roughly 2km, near an estate cottage, the route turns right and goes downhill again (crossing the initial path). The surface here is mostly old, worn, rough tarmac. 500m down there is a 90 degree left turn onto forest trails, winding through trees until the start of the second, anti-clockwise, loop at around 3km. Please keep the right in this section.
The second loop starts with twisting, undulating trails (with exposed tree roots) before veering left on to a long, relatively flat, wide straight which can be muddy after heavy rain. At the end of the straight the course turns left onto a narrow path (again with exposed roots and stumps) through trees before emerging left again to return on a gravel path running parallel with the narrow estate road.
At the end of this loop (just after 4km) you’ll rejoin the earlier path, this time heading back towards the castle. Again, please remember to stay to the right, especially around corners. Arrows and/or a marshal will direct you off this path to the right for a “short cut” up through the trees and then left onto one final, tarred, hill past the castle to the finish line.
On the course
The course is 5k long. The course is at Crathes Castle, Banchory. The course is run entirely on trail paths. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.
Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.
Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.
Facilities
Toilets, baby changing, disabled accessible toilets and children’s play area. (All close to w3w: ///goodness.desiring.reader)
More details
Public transport
Bus: Stagecoach bus services 201 and 202.
The Stagecoach service drops off close to the main driveway entrance (w3w: ///dumplings.apricot.punt). It’s a 15 minute walk from there to the course start.
On foot
Access on foot from Banchory is via the footpath from the West Lodge (w3w: ///caked.sidelined.director). It’s a 15 minute walk from there to the course start.
By road
Sat Nav postcode is AB31 5QJ.
Access is from the main driveway on the A93 between Crathes and Banchory. Ample parking on site, £4 per car (cash and card payments accepted) or free to Nations Trust for Scotland or National Trust members.
Coffee
Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: the Crathes Castle Café (Café 1702, w3w: ///goodness.desiring.reader). Please come and join us!
We're friendly
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at the Crathes Castle Café (Café 1702, w3w: ///goodness.desiring.reader) - please come and join us!
Course safety
Crathes Castle parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:
- Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
- Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
- Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
- We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
- Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
- Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
- Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
- If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
- If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
- It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
- Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
- You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
- parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.
We hope these tips help to ensure that Crathes Castle parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.
Age grading
All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.
parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.
For more information, please see our Support page.
Volunteering
All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email crathescastle@parkrun.com to help.
Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.
To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.
Event stats
- 278
- Events
- 6,634
- Finishers
- 26,010
- Finishes
- 670
- Volunteers
- 3,827
- Personal bests
- 536
- Groups
- 00:31:34
- Average finish time
Nearby parkruns
- Stonehaven parkrun Mineralwell Park · 17 km
- Hazlehead parkrun, Aberdeen Hazlehead Park · 18 km
- Castle Woods parkrun Castle Woods · 21 km
- Duthie junior parkrun Duthie Park · 22 km
- Kellands Park junior parkrun Kellands Park juniors · 25 km
- Aberdeen parkrun Aberdeen Beach Esplanade · 25 km
- Ury Riverside parkrun Ury Riverside Park · 26 km
- Montrose parkrun Roselea Football Club · 37 km
Challenges this parkrun helps with
- Alphabeteer Challenge Starts with C
- Pirates! Starts with C (needed for Pirates!)
- UK Postcode Areas Postcode area AB
- Periodic Table Matches symbols: C, Cl, Ca, Cr, Cu, Cs, …
High quality prints
Get your parkrun achievements in stunning detail. Choose from digital downloads to print yourself, or opt for our premium professional printing service featuring high-quality glossy paper with deep, vibrant inks for exceptional color depth and clarity.
Available in both A4 and A3 sizes, perfect for framing and displaying your running accomplishments. Every print is crafted with precision to showcase your milestones, challenges, and legends in the finest quality.
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Park5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026