Great Train Run 2026 Route

The course will generally follow the trace of the former Barbados Government Railway, now known as the 'Barbados Trailway'. It will be clearly marked.

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

For a more detailed description see the text below the map.

Note that the elevation data used by Strava appears to have a 'glitch' that adds about 60m (abt 200ft) in elevation and the total elevation should be less than 200m. The race starts at an elevation of around 50m (abt 165ft), ends at around 10m (abt 30ft), and the highest point (between Consett Bay and Bath Beach is about 70m (abt 230ft). The elevation of the remaining route from Bath Beach (at abt. 6km) varies between 2m (6ft) and 15m (50ft), with the exception of a minor incline just past Glenbournie (at abt. 10km) that peaks at just under 30m (100ft).

Detailed Course Description (As of 5 Feb 2026)

Exact route and aid station locations may change on race day due to circumstances beyond our control.

We start next outside of the pit (east) entrance of Bushy Park Racetrack in the Parish of St. Philip and head north on the Trailway though Vineyard, Three Houses, Bayfield, the Fortescue neighborhood, and then along the cliff to Consett Point (abt 6km). Those first 6km are flat, slightly downhill and except for some 500m of paved road in Fortescue, the surface is mostly dirt/grass or cart road.

The first aid station will be along the cliff, at about 5.6km.

Consett Point is about 30m (100ft) above sea level and from there it is a gentle downhill through the famous Consett Cutting into the small fishing port of Consett Bay. We are now in the Parish of St. John.

The railway tracks used to run along the beach but have long washed into the sea making it now impossible to get from Consett Bay to Bath Beach at or close to sea level. Instead, to get out of Consett Bay and to Bath Beach we need to conquer the only significant hill of the entire route, climbing some 65m (abt 215ft) over a distance of about 500m.

Coming back down into Bath Beach, hikers have installed some ropes on the steeper sections of the tree covered trail back down to sea level.

If you need water at this point, there is a public standpipe next to the NCC facility at the Bath Beach main car park.

Leaving Bath Beach we pick up the Bath Trail, a popular hiking and at times Mountain Biking trail right along the coastline. We can spot remnants of old bridge foundations from the days of the railway, and cross some very small streams before reaching the sleepy fishing village of Martin's Bay (abt. 8.5km). Some sections of the trail here can be very technical, with rocks, roots and low hanging branches.

The second aid station will be in Martin's Bay, shortly after you come onto the paved road, at about 11.2km.

The route continues along the coast. At about 13km, we reach Glenburnie where the trail takes us inland, away from the sea. There is a small increase in elevation reaching close to 30m (abt 100ft) above sea level before leveling off and continuing on to Tent Bay (abt. 14.3km). We have now completed the technical trail sections of the course. The remaining route is partly paved or dirt track. 

We are now in the Parish of St. Joseph. Shortly after we reach the scenic fishing and surfing village of Bathsheba.

The third aid station will just after you pass St. Aidan's Anglican Church, at about 15.1km.

You then pass the famous Soup Bowl, regularly listed as one of the top surf spots in the world.

Continuing through Bathsheba, stay on your right passing below below the Roundhouse Restaurant and cross the recently restored Joes River Bridge. At the t-junction turn right (down the hill) onto the East Coast Highway and continue on through Cattlewash (abt. 16km). From here it is about 2.5km of flat, paved road to the finish line in Barclays Park.

At about 18.6km we reach Barclays Park, a popular picnic area and start and finish of the annual Hill Challenge. 

To reach the Finish Line you turn left off the main road and head up a short incline.