Banchory, Scotland. 28–30 August 2026.
Gravel sport. Outdoor culture. One festival.
Three days of running, riding, music and big Scottish landscapes.
The gravel gathering
explorr is Scotland’s newest outdoor endurance festival, taking place on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park in Banchory from 28–30 August 2026. Built around gravel cycling and gravel running, the weekend combines racing with live music, talks, films, great food and a strong community atmosphere. Serious about sport. Open to all abilities. Ride it. Run it. Live it.
Run
Gravel running through the landscapes of Royal Deeside. Choose from 5km, 10km, half marathon or marathon routes on forest tracks and rolling gravel paths on the edge of the Cairngorms. Run your race, then join the festival in the Event Village.
Ride
The explorr Gravel Stage Race takes riders across Royal Deeside on a 120km route featuring four timed stages. Expect punchy climbs, fast gravel and tactical sprint segments set against forests, hills and open Scottish landscapes.
Festival
explorr is more than race day. Across the weekend the Festival Village hosts live music, athlete talks, films, an outdoor expo and great food and drink. A place for riders, runners and the local community to gather.
Festival
More than a race weekend. Three days of festival energy in the heart of Banchory. The Festival Village at King George V Park is free to attend for participants and the wider community.
Event Village
The free-to-access heart of explorr, a buzzing hub of riders, runners, families and locals gathering between races and into the evening.
Live Music
From sunset sets to high-energy headliners.
Food & drink
Street food, local flavours and cold pints served with river air and post-race stories.
Guest Speakers
Endurance legends, adventure voices and honest conversations from people who’ve pushed their limits.
Expo
A curated outdoor showcase featuring premium brands, new gear drops and the future of gravel and running culture.
The Setting
Royal Deeside Awaits
Set in Banchory on Royal Deeside, explorr unfolds on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Runners move through the pine-scented trails of Scolty Woodland, while riders roll out across vast open landscapes, quiet roads and endless gravel. Big skies, river air and proper Scottish terrain come as standard.
Our Partners
We work with partners who believe in gravel, community and doing things properly. Thank you to our launch partners.
