Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival
Royal Hillsborough, United Kingdom • 26 Jul 2026
Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival
The Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Running Festival takes place on 26 July 2026 at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Northern Ireland (349 Hillsborough Rd, Hillsborough BT26 6GT). The event is presented by RunThrough and supports charities including Action Mental Health and Northern Ireland Hospice.
Race options include:
- 10K
- Half Marathon
- RunThrough Foundation Place (no fundraising required)
Both races start and finish within the castle grounds and follow multi terrain paths free from traffic. The course passes local sights such as Hillsborough Lake and Hillsborough Fort, and sections run through surrounding forest areas and onto Ballynahinch Road before returning to the event village. Each mile is marked with distance flags and pacers are provided on the course. There is a strict three hour cut off time for the half marathon due to road closures.
Entries include a unique themed medal, free race photos, chip timed results and post race goodies. The event features marshals, an event village with food and drink options and partner giveaways. Group bookings are available for six people at a set fee. A RunThrough Kit technical t shirt is offered as an optional extra through the event partner RT Kit. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.