Bamburgh to Edinburgh: 2027 Mini Event Guide

Friday 2nd July between 1200 - 2000 at Bamburgh Pavilion, NE69 7DB.  You must register and pick up your tracker between these times, there is no option to register on the morning of the event. You MUST bring your running backpack to Tracker Collection so your tracker can be taped on when allocated.

These will be posted out in advance of the event. UK residents should expect to receive their adventure pack  around 1-2 weeks before the event. International participants will be required to collect their adventure pack from Tracker Collection. Please ensure you have your current address on your entry, you can update this by logging into your Rat Race account.

Bamburgh Castle at 0700 on the 3rd July. Please arrive at the start with all of your water bottles/reservoirs etc full of water, there is no water fill up point at the start. 

There will be a mass start at 0700. We encourage you to line up in accordance with how you plan to take on the event i.e faster runners towards the front, walkers towards the back. We will not be implementing start ‘waves’ on this occasion.  

We will move up to 4 bags for you at the Rat Race 100. You will drop all of these with us on the Saturday morning at the start line.

If you have a support team they can bring your bags to you if you prefer, they can also take them from you when you are finished with them. You do not have to use this service but it's there if you need it. Note: supporters cannot access Pit Stop 4 so if you want to use the Dowlaw drop bag option you will need to leave that with us at bag drop.

IMPORTANT: Your drop bags/contents MUST be waterproofed as they will be exposed to the elements at various stages during their transport. Your bag labels will be provided in your adventure pack.   

​Bags we will transport:

1. Eyemouth Drop Bag (PS3 – 33 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

This bag is intended as a small resupply bag of your nutrition or a spare pair of socks etc. This comes straight before the most technical and difficult section of the route as you go over St Abb’s head – if it’s wet you might appreciate new socks with you! We would recommend a dry bag of about 10L as an easily transportable option. 

​After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

2. Dunbar Drop Bag (PS6 – 60 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

Recommended items for here would be spare clothes, a change of shoes as the route from here is predominantly road, spare socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, a top up of snacks and nutrition.  

After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

If you want to sleep at this stop, please see 'Sleep Station Bag' section. You are permitted 25L and 10kg.

3. Aberlady Drop Bag (PS8 – 83 miles) up to 5kg and 15L 

Recommended items for this bag would be spare clothes, spare socks, a top up of snacks and nutrition. Maybe something to help push you through this last section!  

After you have finished with this bag we will transport it to the finish for you. 

If you want to sleep at this stop, please see 'Sleep Station Bag' section. You are permitted 25L and 10kg.

​ 4. Finish line bag up to 15kg and 70L 

We ask that these are duffel style vs hard suitcases. This will go straight to the finish from the start and it will be waiting for you in Edinburgh. 

Supporters may bring you additional items to the Pit Stops. 

You will choose in advance your designated sleep station, the options are: 

• Pit Stop 6: 60 miles 

• Pit Stop 8: 82 miles ​

All of these pitstops have a standard dedicated drop bag logistic to them anyway (5kg and 15l), however, if you wish to sleep at one of these, you are permitted an increased allowance of up to 25L and 10kg to accommodate your sleep kit.​

Please note you cannot change your sleep station once you have dropped your bag off with us at the start. It cannot be transported to another location. This bag will only be transported onwards to the finish. 

You are not obliged to sleep. If you do plan to sleep, we would recommend a power nap of no longer than 90 minutes - 3 hours max.  ​

If you do plan to sleep. the additional kit you would need to add to your pitstop bag should be no more than:  

• Sleeping bag 
• Small pillow 
• Rollmat ​ 
• Eye mask & Earplugs ​​

What can I expect from the sleep stations?

​​​Sleep station facilities will be in the same room as the pitstop, this will be a warm room where you can find space in the sleep area to set up and get some shut eye. Please bring earplugs as there will be other participants and crew in and out of this pitstop. There are no beds provided so we recommend a good roll mat or thermarest style inflatable mat for comfort but it is personal choice. 

When utilising pitstop facilities at a pitstop that also has a sleep station, please be mindful of those sleeping and keep noise to a minimum where possible, 

Sleeping in Supporter Vehicles

If you have a supporter and plan on sleeping in their vehicle rather than utilising the sleep stations, this is permitted. If you do this, you MUST text the Race Director phone number with the following specific info;

1. Bib number
2. Time you are leaving the route
3. Where you are leaving the route (mile / location)
4. Intended time to end sleep & rejoin route

Then another text when you are back on route:

1. Bib number
2. Time back on route
3. Location rejoining route

Princes Street Gardens, right at the base of the Epic Edinburgh Castle.

How do I get to the event?

If you are completing this event without a support team the best way to travel to this event is in a car and parking it in our car park at Bamburgh and using our post-event bus service back to the car park. It is not a location easily reached by public transport. If you are an international participant, we strongly recommend hiring a car from the airport and driving to the event and utilising this service.  

You can book parking and bus transport from your Rat Race account in your event entry, by scrolling to the bottom of your entry and adding extras. ​

If you are planning to use public transport we have popped some guidance below. 

The nearest small train station is Chathill, please note this is still 6 miles+ from Bamburgh Pavillion. Berwick train station and Alnmouth station have more frequent services and are both approx 20 miles from Bamburgh. You can view train times and book tickets on www.trainline.com  

Local bus services will not get you to the startline in time, but you can view all the public transport options available to you on Friday on this website: https://www.rome2rio.com/ which can help you plan your journey. 

How do I get to the start?

You have three options for event morning, and this should tie into your finish line departure plan.  

1) Supporter drop off 

If your support team are dropping you at the start line on Saturday and cheering you on as you start your adventure, they can make use of one of the local public car parks.

Spectators can use one of the many local parking options available nearby. ​​

2) Pre-booked Taxi 

Please be aware that Uber or similar on-demand services are NOT available in this location. If you are getting here without the help of supporters or your own vehicles, you will need to pre-book a taxi. Our Start venue is not close to any major transport hubs, so due to it’s location and the early start time, you MUST pre-book your taxi if you plan to arrive at this time. We have put some local taxi numbers below:  

Covering Seahouses, Beadnell, Bamburgh & Surrounds. 

• Parks Taxis based in Seahouses is 01665 720542. 8 Seater service. 
• Barrons Minibuses 01668 219100 
• Dial a ride - 01665 720955 or mobiles: 07919215910 & 07919215912 

Alnmouth & Alnwick 

• Knights Taxi Alnmouth 01665 714555 (useful for journeys from Alnmouth Station)
• Petes Taxis Alnwick 01665 605199
• ABC Taxis 01665 603000
• C&R Private Hire 01665 602460
• Yellow Taxi - 01665 541250 

Berwick upon Tweed 

• Berwick Taxis - 01289 307771 
• Woodys Taxi and Minibuses - 01289 309366 

3)Rat Race Long Stay Parking (available all weekend) available to book through your Rat Race account until 2nd June. After this date, parking can be purchased at Tracker Collection (subject to availability) 

If you wish to park up, leave your vehicle at the start line, then travel back to the start line after the event, we have 2 options for this. These must be pre-booked via your RR account and are available on a first come first served basis. You can book this parking in conjunction with a Rat Race bus ticket for £60 per person (includes parking for 1 car). Or you can book just the parking and make your own way back to the car park for £25 per vehicle. This is at Links Rd, Bamburgh NE69 7AX and it is a 800m walk to the start line. Google pin HERE. Please note all cars must be clear of this car park by 6pm on Tuesday 6th July otherwise they will be towed by the local authority.  

Both car parks will open at 0500 on Saturday 3rd July. You cannot access the car park any earlier than this and they are not available on Friday.  

There are 3 options available to you once you finish. 

1) Supporter Pickup 

The easiest way on those tired legs! Our finish line venue is easily accessible by road. Please note, there is no designated event parking for our finish line venue due to the city centre location. The nearest public car park to the finish line venue is the NCP Castle Terrace car park EH1 2EW. 

2) Public Transport 

Uber and taxi’s will be widely available in Edinburgh City Centre. The train station is a 10 minute walk away.  

3)Rat Race Coach Transfer back to Bamburgh 

​We have 3 buses from the finish line back to Bamburgh. These are available with pre-booking only, and spots are on a first come first served basis. Bus times will be departing Edinburgh on King Stables Road by Princes Street Garden at: 

• Sunday 4th July 6pm 

• Monday 5th July 10am 

• Monday 5th July 6pm 

We appreciate that your event may not go to plan and you end up finishing at a different time than you originally planned. If you miss your prebooked bus we will get you on the next one that has available seats. This may be the following day so you should be prepared to book accommodation if this happens to you or to find alternatives if you cannot wait. No refunds will be given in this instance for your bus ticket. 

You can book your bus seat which includes weekend parking in Bamburgh from your account in your event entry until 2nd June. After this date, parking can be purchased at Tracker Collection (subject to availability) 

The deadline is 2nd June 2027. You can find more information on our transfer policy HERE and process your transfer from your Rat Race account. We are unable to make any exceptions after the deadline has passed.​

Must follow our guidance notes to avoid being turned away at key locations. These will be issued in the Essential Event Information.

You can view the GPX for this event HERE. Please ensure you DO NOT follow this route on the day and instead follow our waymarking due to last minute changes that may occur.

We will have a waiting section at all pitstop locations between and including pitstop 3 to pitstop 9 where people who are a bit nervous about the next section through the night can hang fire for a buddy. Please make sure you check this section if you're happy to have some company along for the ride, we know our #ratracers are a friendly bunch! ​