Cairngorms Trail Marathon

September 2026 was the first running of Cairngorms Trail Marathon from Kingussie and even with the limited amount of runners this was a great event. Our prediction is this race will grow and grow over the next few years. So get in quick.

The race briefing and number pick up is in the Crossing hotel and is a very relaxed affair. The staff in the hotel are lovely with the manager/owner appearing along the route as well as a marshal. Sam Cairns explains the route and also runs a quick warm up outside the hotel before the race starts. The start line is on the other side of the railway crossing and a piper pipes you from the hotel to the start. In 2026 the start time was a handy 11am - handy for the travelling runners.

The first of the race is on a small country road. You pass the ruins of the Ruthven Barracks along this section. A right turn just after a bridge takes you onto forest road and from here it's basically all uphill to about . Although you are climbing most of the climb isn't too steep. The scenery is just lovely and of course given that this is Scotland the sun is sure to shine. At the end of all that climbing is a short downhill to the water and food station. In 2026 this wasn't manned. We now much more appreciate those marshals on other races who help you get the Tailwind into the flask and filled with water. It's a fumble on your own with a wind blowing.

After the water station you hit a steepish downhill until about where you have a mix of forest road and tarred road mostly going down for . Just when you start thinking of the finish line another hill comes at and this one feels tougher even although it's only but packing about of climb. This section ends with a forest road downhill which really tests the tired legs.

At you leave the forest road and follow a trail for the next . We took a wrong turn here as there were no markers. The idea is to run towards an old bothy, but there are several trails about. We spoke to Sam at the end and he says they will sort it next year. Only requires a marker or two in the field.

Now back on forest road you reach a single track tarred road at and from there back onto the small road you started on and the back to the finish with Sam and the team giving you a very encouraging welcome.