While most outdoor enthusiasts walk the West Highland Way allowing 4-7 days to savour the journey, there are some who have the need for a little more 'speed'! And lucky for them there is an event that offers just that. Every year on a weekend close to mid summer, The West Highland Way Race takes place with runners given 35 hours to complete the 95 mile trail.

In 2023 the event will take place on 17 June and entries open today (1 November). Entry is limited to 265 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, for this event entries will be open for the whole month of November and if more than the race entry limit is reached a ballot will be held in the first week of December to determine final entries.

Following Scotland’s iconic long distance hiking route, The West Highland Way Race 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. 

If you are up for even more of a challenge, in 2023 organisers are offering a bonus of £1500 for anyone (male or female) who can set a new course record. Current course records are held by Rob Sinclair for the men who ran 13:41:08 in the 2017 race and Lucy Colquhoun set the current women’s record of 17:16:20 in 2007.

For more details visit the event website here. 

Image: West Highland Way Race