CityScenicHistoric
Bath & Bristol Railway
Where
Bath → Bristol, United Kingdom
Date
11 October 2026
Distances
50KMarathon25KHalf Marathon10K
Registration cost
€50–100
What runners say
I didn't expect running along an old railway line to feel so immersive. The landscape shifts slowly, you feel the history beneath your feet, and the tunnel catches you off guard every time.
Why it's special
From Bath station to Bristol, along the tracks of a train line that no longer runs.
What's around
The Bath & Bristol Railway Races follows the old train line that connected the two cities from 1869 to 1971 — now converted into a greenway, 100% tarmac, almost entirely flat. It's not a trail, and it's not a traditional city marathon: it's something in between. The route passes an active heritage railway, restored stations, and — for the longer distances — goes through Staple Hill Tunnel, 450 metres carved into the rock. The October date is the autumn edition, with the English countryside in full seasonal colour.