The Goats-to-Coast Trail Run 2026 route follows the Hill Challenge route from Barclays Park to Haggatts Old Factory Yard, then up and along Haggatts Ridge to White Hill and continuing on to the top of Mt. Hillaby (highest point of Barbados). Then it descends through some dense forest and around the Apes Hill Reservoir, through Dunscombe, the Dunscombe Quarry, crossing Highway 2A, Portvale Factory Driveway, Blowers, Trents into Holetown, crossing Highway 1 opposite the entrance to Folkestone Park and the onto the finish line.

The route is subject to minor changes prior to race day.

Strava (Draft 2 18 Mar 2026): https://www.strava.com/routes/3469506653651302454

Changes from 2025 Route:

At the end of the Dunscombe Gully (about 13.3km) you now emerge from the gully AFTER you have gone under the Highway bridge. The trail is clearly marked and takes you through the northern (smaller, on your right) arches of the bridge. A short steep path leads to the western verge of Highway 2A. After just over 100m make a left into a driveway and an immediate right and continue going north behind some newly erected vending stall onto  grassy track that leads you to Aid Station #3.

Reasons for Change:

• Avoids the level crossing of Highway 2A on a busy Sunday morning.

• Reduces distance that is run on the verge of Highway 2A.

• Places Aid Station #3 away from the dust generated by vehicles turning into Portvale Factory Drive.

Detailed Course Description (needs to be improved)

We start on the Cattlewash side of Barclay's Park on the East Coast, using the same location that the annual Hill Challenge has been using for the last 11 years. The  course follows the Hill Challenge route for the first 5km.

The first climb is up to Cambridge (0.5km), the second to Less Beholden (1.25km) and then leads up to Chalky Mount (1.6km).

Turn right at 1.7km into the ravine, look out for and then follow the pink markers (flags and tape) at the bottom and come up a short hill towards Coggins Hill Road (2.2km). Immediately turn right onto a cart road leaving the a small farm (2.5km) on your right, then follow a gentle downhill until the sharp left turn (3.0km) that takes one down a short steep hill before you cross the riverbed (3.2km). Cross the Bruce Vale River, turn right, then turn left by the Casuarina tree (3.4km), then right onto the main road and then left again onwards into Haggatts Old Factory Yard (4.0km).

Inside the yard (about 4km from the start), make a left, next right up two ladders, sharp right (4.25km) to "Round the Mountain" and then left (4.5km) up the remainder of Haggatts Ladders. Stay on Haggatts Ridge until turning right onto White Hill Road (6.4km) and continuing your climb to Mt. All. Make a left (7.9km) onto the newly built bypass, and then another left (8.1) into the forest leading up a very steep trail towards Mt. Hillaby.

At Mt. Hillaby (about 8.3km from the start, 340m above sea level), have a rest and take some pictures before you start with the descent to the West Coast. Make sure you take the extra steps up to the plaque making the highest point of Barbados.

The trail down from  Mt. Hillaby to the Apes Hill/Highclere Reservoir is a very technical downhill forest section with lots of rocks and roots. Make your way around the reservoir (9.75km) in an anti clock-wise direction and out through the gate (if you found it closed, keep it closed). Turn left onto the road (10.1km) and follow it to Dunscombe where you make a right (10.6km) through a new subdivision. Once you are on the old quarry access road, make the first left (11.4km) and follow it all the way into Dunscombe Quarry (12.8km).

Cross the boulder wall and new dam into the gully and emerge about 500m later just after having gone UNDER the Highway 2A bridge (13.3km) by making a right turn to get out of the gully AFTER the bridge. One the verge of Highway 2A head north and turn left into the first private driveway (13.45km) and immediately right behind a vending hut. Emerge onto Portvale Factory Drive between the tall Casuarina trees (13.6km) and turn left towards the factory. Before the factory entrance make a right (13.8km), past Marenco into Blowers. Turn left onto the western section of Plumtree Road (14.0km) and follow the track in a westerly and the slightly north-westerly direction. There is another gully to cross (15.1km) before you get to the Trents/Greenwich/Lancaster Road. Head down that road into Holetown, turn right into Trents Tenantry Road (16.7km), first left, then right again and follow the arrows/ribbons/flags through a track (16.9km) before crossing Highway 1 in front of Folkestone Park. The finish line (17.1km) is inside the park.