Islay Marathon returns on Saturday 12 September 2026, offering runners a 26.2 mile journey through the landscapes and communities of the Queen of the Hebrides.

Starting at Bruichladdich at 10:30am, the route takes runners through Bridgend and Bowmore before following the low road towards Port Ellen. The closing section heads out towards Ardbeg along the Three Distilleries Path before turning back for the finish in Port Ellen.

That journey gives the Marathon a strong sense of place, combining coastline, rural scenery and some of the locations for which Islay is known around the world.

Runners can tackle the full distance individually or share the experience through two person and four person relay options. The Marathon is restricted to over 18s, with separate minimum ages applying to the relay.

There is a six hour cut off, after which runners still on the course can be transported to Port Ellen by the sweeper vehicle.

One significant development for 2026 is the introduction of chip timing, adding accurate race times to an event where the scenery and island experience are likely to be just as memorable as the numbers on the clock.

The Marathon is held in memory of Menzies MacAffer, a keen marathon runner and Royal Marine, with money raised by the event supporting local charities and groups.

With only 100 individual Marathon places available, Islay offers something increasingly rare in distance running. This is a small field Marathon where the island itself is a major part of the experience.

A limited number of places are available via the runABC race hub.

Image by FixersAndy from Pixabay