Water of Leith Half Marathon
Edinburgh, City Of Edinburgh
26 Sep 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 previous years 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 Water of Leith Half Marathon is a point-to-point race starting on a farm track off Harlow Road just outside Balerno, on the southwest edge of Edinburgh, and finishing at Coalhill in Leith. The route follows the full length of the Water of Leith Walkway, tracing the river as it winds through woodland, parkland, historic villages and riverside paths on its journey right across the city. The course is mostly off-road and predominantly flat, though past runners have noted some mud and short climbs along the way. Roads are not closed for the event, so runners cross a small number of junctions marshalled at the trickiest points. Now in its 27th year, it's run as a handicapped race, with runners starting in waves from 9:30am based on their expected finish time, and deliberately capped at around 200 entrants to protect the pathways. All fundraising supports the Water of Leith Conservation Trust.