Dearg Up n' Doon
Sat 31 May 2025 Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, UK

Blair Castle Trail Weekender | Dearg Up n' Doon

Looking to try higher altitude trail running? Reaching heights of over 1000m, runners will experience extensive views across the Cairngorm mountains and the remote beauty of the bothy.

  • Sat 31 May 2025
Blair Castle and Gardens, Pitlochry

Dearg Up n' Doon

10:00

Age 17 & over

£45

  • 30 km trail running + 1000 m ascent

Event overview

The fifth edition of the Blair Castle Trail Weekender will be bigger and better than ever!

The next event features a wider range of trail races and exciting edition of the outdoor cinema, and a range of live music on the Saturday evening.

All running entries come with inclusive festival village access all weekend.

what's on

Staged within the grounds of the iconic Blair Castle on the Atholl Estate, this weekend of trail running has races for kids and distances from 7km right up to the 60km 'Full Tilt Ultra'. 

All respective races start at the Event Village based in the grounds of Blair Castle which nestles at the base of the Cairngorm National Park.

From here on out, depending on your choice of race, runners either loop round past Hercules Gardens and back to the start, fork off up the winding Glen Tilt or head toward the 1009m high summit of Ben Dearg. Which trail will you take?

Highlights

  • Five trail races
  • Outdoor cinema
  • Yoga workshops
  • Guided trail runs
  • Live music
  • Full weekend with camping
  • Festival vibes

Connect with the outdoors in this inclusive event in a truly epic location.

This event is part of Blair Castle Trail Weekender .

Event video

  • All fitness levels
  • Event expo
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Traders at event

Weekend festival

All running entries come with inclusive festival village access all weekend.

The festival has a diverse programme of yoga classes, outdoor cinema, live music and guided trail runs - it doesn't matter if you're running or not, all can get involved! Festival-only tickets are available and under 14s go free with a paying adult!

festival

Timetable

Friday

  • 16:00 | Campsite opens
  • 19:00 | Evening yoga
  • 19:45 | Festival welcome
  • 20:00 | Outdoor cinema

Saturday

  • 09:00 | Full Tilt Ultra
  • 10:00 | Dearg Up n Doon
  • 12:00 | Running drills
  • 14:30 | Wellness Workshop
  • 15:00 | First set live music
  • 15:30 | Afternoon yoga

Sunday

  • 08:30 | Morning yoga
  • 10:30 | Banvie Burn
  • 12:30 | Diana's Grove
  • 15:30 | Kids Trail

  • Bag transfer
  • Bar
  • Cafe
  • Camping
  • Entertainment
  • Free parking
  • Mountains
  • Music
  • Park
  • Restaurant
  • Rural
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Blair Castle and Gardens
Blair Atholl
Pitlochry
Perth and Kinross
PH18 5TL
UK

  • Cut off time
  • Food stations
  • Marshals
  • Mass start
  • Mountainous
  • Out and back
  • Sleeping facilities
  • Sweeper
  • Traffic free
  • Water stations

Summary

The Dearg Up n' Doon is quite a step up from the two shorter trail races.

Reaching heights of over 1000m, runners will experience extensive views across the Cairngorm mountains and the remote beauty of the Allt Scheicheachan Bothy. 

It's a great steppping stone for runners looking to dip their toe into higher altitude world of trail running.

Feed stations

  • Feed Station 1 - 11km
  • Feed Station 2 - 22km 

Cut off times

Full Route - 6hrs

  • Bring your own cup
  • Plastic bottle free
  • Public transport links
  • Recycling
  • Reusable cups
  • Sustainability policy

Summary

  • Event information shared digitally and not printed
  • Recycling points at event HQ
  • Race routes that respect the environment and their erosion impacts
  • Event discounts for those attending via public transport, or by bike
  • Ensure that plant-based food options are available for all event attendees
  • Seek out brands and partnerships who follow a similar sustainable approach
  • Prioritise procurement from local organisations
  • All staff, volunteers, officials to use multi-use drinks bottles and mugs for hot drink
  • Competitors must provide own cup/bottle to fill water – no single use cups

  • Chip timing
  • Medal

Included

  • Full festival access including outdoor cinema, live music, yoga classes and more
  • Fully marked course
  • Electronic timing
  • Eco event medal
  • Discounted rates in Event Village
  • Discounted camping prices
  • Public liability insurance
  • First Aid cover
  • Free parking all weekend
  • Fully stocked feed stations

  • Age 17 & over
  • Entries open
  • Enter online

Entry fees

Entry fee

£45.00

What participants said about last year:

We've been to Blair Castle Trail Weekender from year one and can safely say it's the best weekend of trail running on the Scottish calendar.

The atmosphere was amazing. We loved having the chance to camp and film on the Friday, and yoga to finish!

The family festival element of the whole weekend is an excellent idea. All members of our family had a great time!

Really fun to have so many races on the same weekend so all my friends could participate at different levels, also the music on Saturday night.

Will definitely be there for a third year next year. We were there with 5 other family and all except 2 didn’t run in any races. We all had such a good time.

Utterly stunning weekend!

Other races at event

  • Fri 30 May 2025
  • #1 of 6
Blair Castle and Gardens, Pitlochry

Full Tilt Ultra

09:00

Age 18 & over

£62

  • 58 km trail running + 2026 m ascent
  • Sun 1 Jun 2025
  • #3 of 6
Blair Castle and Gardens, Pitlochry

Banvie Burn

10:15

Age 16 & over

£35

  • 13 km trail running + 200 m ascent
  • Sun 1 Jun 2025
  • #4 of 6
Blair Castle and Gardens, Pitlochry

Diana's Grove

12:00

Age 12 & over

£27

  • 7 km trail running + 100 m ascent
  • Sun 1 Jun 2025
  • #5 of 6
Blair Castle and Gardens, Pitlochry

Kids Fun Run

13:30

Age up to 16

£10

  • 1 km trail running + 50 m ascent
  • Fri 30 May - Sun 1 Jun 2025
  • #6 of 6
Blair Castle and Gardens, Pitlochry

Festival only tickets

16:00

Age 15 & over

£30

  • 3 days walking