Edinburgh Marathon route map
26.2 miles from the Old Town, past the Castle and Holyrood, down to the sea at Portobello and along the East Lothian coast, finishing in Musselburgh. The course mile by mile, and your own race drawn with your chip time.
Edinburgh Marathon course at a glance
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.195 km)
- Start
- Potterrow, by McEwan Hall, in the Old Town
- Finish
- Pinkie Playing Fields, Musselburgh
- Elevation
- A drop of almost 90 m to near sea level in the first miles, then flat along the coast
- Time limit
- 6 hours 30 minutes
- Next race
- Sunday 30 May 2027
The map is plotted from the published route. Check the organiser's site for this year's exact course.
The Edinburgh Marathon route, mile by mile
- Miles 0 and 1From Potterrow past Greyfriars Kirkyard, across the Royal Mile between St Giles and the Castle, down the Mound by Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument, and back up to the Royal Mile.
- Miles 1 to 3Down past the Scottish Parliament and the Palace, round the edge of Holyrood Park under Arthur's Seat. Most of the day's drop comes here.
- Miles 4 to 10Out to the sea at Portobello promenade around mile 6, then east along the coast to Musselburgh by mile 10, past the old golf course and the racecourse.
- Miles 11 to 18On through Prestonpans and Port Seton at mile 14, past Longniddry and a loop round the grounds of Gosford House, the far end of the course.
- Mile 19 to the finishBack the way you came along the coast, through Port Seton around mile 22, to the finish in Musselburgh.
Where it hurts
The first three miles
All downhill through the Old Town. Easy to bank time here and pay for it later.
The coast road
Flat and exposed. Any wind off the Firth of Forth has nothing to stop it.
Gosford and back
The turn for home comes late, and you can see the runners coming back long before you are one.
Elevation
The organiser describes a descent of almost 90 m to near sea level, most of it in the first three miles out of the Old Town. After that it is flat along the coast, which is why so many people come here for a fast time.
Your Edinburgh Marathon, with your chip time
Your own race drawn street by street from your watch, the landmarks named, and your chip time on a finisher's medal hung from the top of the print.
The print shown is the Rome Marathon. Yours is drawn from your own Edinburgh Marathon file.
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Good questions
How long is the Edinburgh Marathon?
26.2 miles, or 42.195 km.
Where does the Edinburgh Marathon start and finish?
It starts on Potterrow by McEwan Hall in the Old Town and finishes at Pinkie Playing Fields in Musselburgh.
Is the Edinburgh Marathon downhill?
At the start, yes: almost 90 m of drop to near sea level in the first few miles, according to the organiser. The rest is flat along the coast.
What's the time limit?
6 hours 30 minutes, counted from when the back of the field crosses the start.
When is the next Edinburgh Marathon?
Sunday 30 May 2027.
Can I order a print before race day?
Yes. Order now, choose Send later, and send your file after you finish.
Course details from the organiser, checked September 2026. Custom Map Print is not connected to the race or its organisers. Runners on the course during the 2024 Edinburgh Marathon: Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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