EVENT LOGISTICS 2026

Registration and the Start Line Address: Welbeck Hall, Welbeck Rd, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QW

Event Village and the Finish Line Address: Riverside Park, Great N Rd, Newark NG24 1BN

Event After Party Address: Newark Town Hall, Market Pl, Newark NG24 1DU

Sunday Funday Location: Riverside Park, Great N Rd, Newark NG24 1BN

Race To The Castle is an exciting downriver one way event. You start in Nottingham and finish in Newark. For 2026, we’re bringing you something new and something really special... This year, we’ve taken over the beautiful Newark Town Hall for our after-party and prize giving, so once you cross that finish line, it’s time to relax, celebrate, and soak up the #R2TC vibes.

You’ll paddle into our chilled after-village at Riverside Park, take a breather, grab some food, maybe a massage, enjoy the music and then just a short stroll away… the afterparty celebrations continue inside Newark Town Hall. A chance to reflect, reconnect, and party in style. To make all of this happen, we’ve flipped the logistics:

  • Registration stays at Welbeck Hall in Nottingham on as always on Saturday Morning.

  • But this year, if you need transport, our bus and team will meet you in Newark early in the morning so you can park at the finish. Please select the AM bus transport on signup.

  • We’ll transport you and your kit to registration and the start line.

  • Event vans are ready at the start, for you to load your board bag and after event kit. This will be waiting for you at Newark when you finish.

  • Paddle your way back down the river to Newark, straight into the good stuff happening at our event village.

  • Spending the night in Newark? Let us know and we’ll share our best local stays so you can make the most of the weekend.

    Need transporting back to Nottingham after the awards?

    Train - Newark Castle Train Station is a 5min walk from the end of the event. The trains run regularly. You don’t need to book in advance, payment is at the platform. Back in Nottingham, it’s around a 30min walk along the canal back to The Suspension Bridge.

    Bus - We have have a bus ready to take you back to Nottingham after the awards & after party. Please select PM bus transport on signup.

car parking

Drop off Zone

There is an option to drop paddlers and equipment off at Welbeck Hall. If you are using the drop off please enter the carpark at Welbeck Hall via Balmoral Avenue drop off and exit via Welbeck Road. There is no car parking available here - just drop off. In this area you are welcome to hand pump boards up, get ready and organise yourself.

There will be dedicated zones for you to get your equipment ready, a drop off zone for your board bag and end of race kit bag to be placed, places for you to relax, an area where our race ready crew will get you warmed up ready for your wave start. There will be tea, coffee and toilets available on registration morning.

Car Parking

The closest car parking to registration on Victoria Embankment (River Trent) with access via Queens Drive. The closest car parking to the finish line is at Riverside Car Park. Please click and view on the map below.