While most outdoor enthusiasts walk the West Highland Way allowing four to seven days to savour the journey, on the weekend close to midsummer (21 June in 2025), there is an annual race where runners are given 35 hours to complete the 95 mile trail.

The event, on Scotland’s iconic long distance hiking route, is one of the world’s longest established ultra-marathons, first taking place in 1985 between Milngavie (just north of Glasgow) and Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. Since then it has developed a worldwide reputation as one of the ‘classic’ ultra-marathon races, attracting runners to Scotland from all over the world.

Entry is limited to 300 runners each year, with the relatively small size of the field helping to preserve the friendly nature of the event. Places are not allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Entries will be open for the whole month of November for anyone who has completed a trail ultra of 65K or more since 2022*. If more than the race entry limit is reached a ballot will be held in the first week of December to determine final entries.

For 2025 the organisers are offering a bonus of £1500 for anyone - male or female, setting a new course record. Current course records are held by Rob Sinclair for the men who ran 13:41:08 seconds in the 2017 race while Lucy Colquhoun set the current women’s record of 17:16:20 in 2007.

If you'd like to know more, visit the West Highland Way Race website.

Image: West Highland Way Race