Great Train Trail Run 2026 Route

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

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 (draft as of 26 Jan 2025)

We start next to the ruins of the former Three Houses Factory in the Parish of St. Philip and head north though the Fortescue neighborhood, and then along the cliff to Consett Point (abt 3km). Those first 3km are flat, slightly downhill and except for some 500m of paved road in Fortescue, the surface is mostly dirt or cart road.

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. The first aid station awaits us in Bath Beach (abt. 6km).

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 route continues along the coast. At about 10km, we reach Glenbournie 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. 12km). We have now completed the technical trail sections of the course. The remaining route is partly paved or dirt track.

The second aid station will be at Tent Bay. We are now in the Parish of St. Joseph. Shortly after we reach the scenic fishing and surfing village of Bathsheba, famous for the Soup Bowl, regularly listed as one of the top surf spots in the world.

Continuing through Bathsheba, we pass the Parlours and Soup Bowl surf beaches and then 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. 13.5km). From here it is about 5.5km of flat, paved road to the finish line in Belleplaine.

With the Atlantic Ocean on the right and the hills of the Scotland District on the left, we now enter the Parish of St. Andrew. Somewhere here will most likely be a third aid station (abt. 15km).

At about 16km we pass Barclays Park, a popular picnic area and start and finish of the annual Hill Challenge.

Shortly after Barclays Park comes Chalky Mount on our left and, after another kilometer or so, the road turns west (left) and we enter Belleplaine. Just before the finish line we cross the Bruce Vale River and once again see ruins of the foundations of an long gone railway bridge.

The finish line is just before you reach the Sand Dunes Bar & Restaurant, which has been popular with Barbadians and visitors for many years.