Hillsborough Castle Festival Half Marathon
Hillsborough, Down
26 Jul 2026
⚠ Start times change frequently. Always check with race organiser or their website for this year's confirmed start time before travelling.
Course map
Map based on 2025 route
⚠ This map is for indicative purposes only — routes can change, or be reversed, year to year. Check with the race organiser for this year's confirmed map.
Elevation profile
About this race
The Hillsborough Castle Festival Half Marathon begins and ends within the magnificent grounds of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, the official royal residence in Northern Ireland. The closed-road course leads participants through scenic parkland and tree-lined avenues before heading out toward local landmarks such as the historic Hillsborough Fort and the tranquil Hillsborough Lake. Runners navigate a picturesque loop that extends onto the surrounding rural forest areas and the Ballynahinch Road, offering a variety of beautiful landscapes. The terrain is described as multi-terrain, consisting of a mix of well-maintained paths and public roads that are notably hilly. With a finish line located in the heart of the event village, this race provides a unique and inspiring challenge set against a backdrop of 18th-century elegance.
Course profile & record eligibility
World Athletics record-eligibility rules cap net elevation loss at 1m per km of race distance, and require the start and finish to be no more than 50% of the race distance apart — both meant to stop a course gaining an unfair edge from downhill grade or a point-to-point tailwind. This is based on this course's recorded elevation and GPS data, not an official measurement or certification.