This year's Blair Castle Trail Weekender (2-4 June) is back for its third outing, with organisers promising to: "...crank it up a notch with the addition of more races and more festivities!" Staged within the grounds of the iconic Blair Castle on the Atholl Estate, this weekend of trail running has races ranging from kids distances up to the 60K 'Full Tilt Ultra'.

All races start at the event village based in the grounds of Blair Castle which nestles at the base of the Cairngorm National Park - a truly spectacular setting for this weekend dedicated to trail running. New for 2023, the kids trail races will be of varying lengths - perfect for kids looking to dip their toe into the world of trail running. While adults new to trail running can test their mettle with the 7K race.

If you're after something a little 'meatier', like the 7K, the Banvie Burn 13K is also a great introduction to the world of trail running with runners covering ground through the the Blairuachdair Woods and into the fringes of Glen Tilt - just enough to get a flavour of its raw, remote beauty.

The Dearg Up 'n' Doon takes a step up from the two shorter race options, reaching heights of 1009m at the summit of Ben Dearg, runners will experience extensive views across the Cairngorm Mountains. While the Full Tilt Ultra takes in the two munro summits of Ben Dearg (1009m) and Carn a Chlamain (963m) as well as enjoying the beauty of Glen Tilt and the River Tilt with its waterfalls and alluring pools.

But this 'weekender' has so much more to offer than trail races, organisers told us: "We believe there's so much more to a race than just the run itself. With this in mind, we have a range of activities which comes inclusive with your entry. This extends to friends and family who are with you - even if they're not running.

"Expect to see pre and post race yoga classes, access to a mix of catering experiences, a bar area, mix of catering experiences and evening entertainment. For 2023, we're really developing our festival programme with Friday night films, an array of live music, DJ sets and various workshops. There is also the option of adding on a camping pitch at the event village for just £5 a tent!"

If you'd like to know more, visit the Blair Castle Trail Weekender website.

Image: Outsider Events