The Isles Ultra Marathon
300K multi day ultramarathon traversing the Outer Hebrides from Vatersay to the Butt of Lewis through remote trails, beaches, moorland and roads.
| Date | Thursday 17th September, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Distance | Ultra |
| Terrain | Mixed Terrain |
| Location | Vatersay |
| Town/City | Outer Hebrides |
| Area | Highlands |
| Start postcode | HS9 5YW |
| Start time | 10:30am |
Enter this race via runABC
The Isles Ultra is a 300K multi day running and trekking adventure traversing the Outer Hebrides from south to north. The journey begins with a rendezvous in Tyndrum before travelling to Barra, with the six running stages starting at Vatersay and ultimately finishing at the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse.
Participants follow the Hebridean Way and connecting terrain across beaches, machair, coastal trails, peat tracks, remote moorland and quiet island roads. The route travels through Barra, the Uists, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis, with ferry crossings forming part of the journey. Navigation is an important element of the challenge, with participants following supplied GPX routes rather than relying on a fully waymarked event course.
The 300K distance is completed across six consecutive running and trekking stages, with individual days ranging from approximately 33K to 59K. Rat Race provides accommodation, meals, pit stops, baggage transfers, transport and GPS tracking throughout the adventure, allowing participants to focus on completing the demanding journey across the islands.
