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The Course

The course is 5000m (5K) long. This has been accurately measured by us with a professional measuring wheel. The course is on the Cramond / Silverknowes Promenade, and is run entirely on tarmac footpath, although some sections of the course do accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or temporary signs in place.

Please remember that Edinburgh parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to to enjoy the event.

Please use public transport wherever possible when attending Edinburgh parkrun. The start is a short walk/warmup jog from public transport routes.

If you do drive, please watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking is limited so try to arrive early or preferably park some distance away and jog to the promenade to warm up. Please congregate near the turning point at the start of the promenade at Cramond Village. This is easily identifiable, just look out for the white painted ship’s mast, adjacent to the causeway to Cramond Island. The start line is 0.5km east from this position and you will be marshalled to the start position at 9:20am.

Course Safety

The Edinburgh parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the run as safe as possible, so runners, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

  • Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
  • Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
  • Please consider volunteering to help occasionally - this event survives only because of your generosity - please vist the volunteer page for more information.
  • Take care near roads and car parks - some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the run, please drive carefully even if you’re late!
  • When running, take care on uneven surfaces - whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other runners, pedestrians, children, deer, dogs, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Runners with dogs are welcome, but please keep dogs on a short lead or harness and under control throughout the event.
  • Runners pushing buggies are also welcome, but please take extreme care of other runners around you. If possible start from the back of the field and try to keep to one side of the main body of runners.
  • Please make sure you’re fit enough to run 5k (3.1 miles) – if you’re in any doubt, please consult your doctor.
  • Remember to warm up before the run.
  • If you see a runner with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
  • If you’re watching, keep clear of runners on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
  • This is a free training event, so all run and attend at their own risk.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Edinburgh parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age Grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help athletes compare results.

Age Grading takes your time and uses the world record time for your sex and age group to produce a score (a percentage). This score allows you to compare your personal performance against other people's performances even though they might be a different age and a different sex to you - the higher the score the better the performance. The scores can also be compared across different run distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see the Running For Fitness website.

We Start at 9.30

Edinburgh parkrun (like Glasgow parkrun) starts at 9.30am; this is different to the other parkrun events further south; why is this?

  • The sun rises a lot later up here in the depths of December (almost an hour later than London), so we thought it would be better and safer to start it a little bit later to maximise the light.
  • The Cramond Bistro only opens at 10am on Saturdays, and we're going there for the all important post-parkrun coffee, so the timing works out a lot better. There are also toilet facilities nearby which finishing runners may want to take advantage of after the run.
  • Of course, we'll be keeping the start time under close review as the event establishes itself.

Course Map


View Edinburgh parkrun in a larger map

Course Description

The route consists of one lap of the Cramond / Silverknowes Promenade. It is scenic, flat and run on generally wide footpaths. As it borders the Firth of Forth, you can be exposed to the elements, so please bear this in mind when dressing for the event. The course is designed to be enjoyable, rather than for pure 'PB' speed. It is all tarmac, although there are areas where water, mud and leaves can accumulate after rain, so please exercise caution. Regular running shoes are suitable.

From the start line (0.5km east from Cramond Village), you will follow the promenade for a period of roughly 2.5 km, you will have the Firth of Forth to your left. Look out for landmarks such as Birnie Rocks and Ronald Rae’s eight tonne Fish Sculpture which can be seen standing proud on the beach. After a period of time, a marshal will point you in the direction of the new section of promenade which you will follow for a short time. You will then be marshalled or signed to turn right onto the first footpath across the park and then turn right to rejoin the old promenade and from there, you will start the straight run back towards the finish line. The tips of both the Forth Road and Rail Bridges will be visible , as will the tall white ship’s mast at Cramond Village.

At this stage, we hope to have kilometre markers that will help you mark your progress, please use these to help you pace yourself.

Facilities

  • Public Toilets are available at Cramond Village (open around 10am).
  • The event director will have access to a basic first aid kit.
  • Please familiarise yourself with the Course Safety notes, and listen at the pre-run briefing for any special notes.
  • Marshals are there to assist to you, they will be easily identifiable as they will be wearing hi-viz waistcoats.
  • Please bring water for yourself after you finish. Run directors will only have access to emergency supplies.
  • No storage facilities are available at present, so please come dressed to run the event.

Getting There

Location of Start

The start and finish are almost adjacent to each other on the promenade nearest Cramond Village/Harbour. Marshals will assist you should you have any difficulty.

Public Transport

Lothian Buses Service 41 will take you to the corner of Whitehouse Road and Cramond Glebe Road. Look for the sign to Cramond Village and Kirk. You are a five or ten minute walk up Cramond Glebe Road to the start line. Please refer to the Lothian Buses website for timetable information.

First bus Service 43/X43 will take you to the A90, Queensferry Road, at Whitehouse road, about a 2.5km walk/jog to the start. Head up Whitehouse road to Cramond Glebe road, or turn left at Brae Park Road to head down the Almond River walkway. This will be muddy in wet weather and has two long flights of stairs (one up and one down). Or you could take the Lothian Bus 41. See First Buses website for more information.

By Bike

Cramond Village is 1 mile north of National Cycle Network route 1. The route will take you across Whitehouse Road at Brae Park Road. Head north on Whitehouse road, following the By Car directions below. The Almond River walkway, just to the west, can be cycled, but has two long flights of stairs, a very narrow section, and a rough surface.

The Edinburgh Promenade extends east from Cramond to West Shore Road in Granton. Be careful of the rough surface and broken glass on the eastern end of the promenade. The surface quickly smoothes and clears before you reach the run course. See Open Cycle Map for more cycle routes.

By Car

Cramond Village is 5 miles from the City Centre and sits in the west of the city, just north of the A90.

From the City Centre, follow the A90 (signed to the Forth Road Bridge) then turn right into Quality Street (B9085, signed to Davidson’s Mains). Continue straight onto Cramond Road South. Follow Cramond Road South to the left, where it becomes Cramond Road North, and then turn right to stay on Cramond Road North. Continue on Cramond Road North until it becomes Cramond Glebe Road and continue to the car park at Cramond Village.

From the west, follow the A90 and turn left into Whitehouse Road. Follow Whitehouse road, and then turn left into Cramond Glebe Road and continue to the public car park.

Limited free parking is available in the Council car park on Cramond Glebe Road; this is behind the Cramond Inn. Please do not use their car park as this is for patrons only. Further parking is also available on Marine Drive (above the Tearoom), this is an approximately 10 minute walk to the start line. All parking is free. Please exercise common sense whilst parking.