First-Timer’s Guide to the Cape Wrath Ultra

Why do people love Cape Wrath Ultra®?

Previous participants describe Cape Wrath Ultra® as the experience of a lifetime thanks to the brilliant camaraderie between runners, the amazing support from the event team and the incredible journey through the stunning Scottish Highlands.

We take care of all the logistics so that you can switch off and concentrate on running through beautiful scenery and meeting awesome like-minded people.  

400km through Scotland? Is that all in one go?

No, Cape Wrath Ultra® is a multi-stage race; the distance of 400km is split into 8 days of running.

If 400km still seems rather overwhelming, there is also the option to complete the Cape Wrath Explorer. This allows runners to experience the race route in more manageable chunks. It is still an epic challenge, and your achievement will be recognised with a special memento at the finish.

How far do you run each day?

The longest day is day 6 (72km / 45 miles) and the shortest is day 8 (26km / 16 miles). The average daily mileage is 50km / 30 miles.  

For the Cape Wrath Explorer, you have a choice which half of the race route to run each day.

What about the campsites and my bags?

Every evening there is a new ‘pop-up’ overnight campsite where you will get hearty afternoon snacks, dinner, and breakfast, catch up with fellow participants, have access to the race medics, and crucially get a good night’s sleep in tented accommodation.

We transport all your overnight baggage between campsites. 

How long do I have to complete the course each day?

You have from 07:00 to 22:00 to complete the course each day.

If you arrive into camp after 22:00 then you will be classed as non-competitive in the results, and you will have the option to switch to the Cape Wrath Explorer course.

The exception to this is on day 8 when you have until 17:00 to complete the course.

Do I need to be able to navigate?

The route is not waymarked on the ground, and so you will be required to navigate using a GPS device and/or map. This event has been designed so that it is possible to complete it by ‘following the GPS track’.

However, even if you are navigating using a GPS device, it is mandatory to carry at all times the Harvey Maps 1:40 000 scale event map that we will supply at registration (and know how to use it). Many participants find that using a combination of both the event map and a GPS device works well for them.

Overall, we would suggest map reading skills practice should be included in your training for the event.

What experience is required to enter the event?

The Cape Wrath Ultra® is not a vetted event and we are happy to offer entries to anyone who agrees to our participant declaration and agrees to the terms and conditions.

In summary, you must consider yourself to be an experienced off-road runner, and capable of being self-sufficient and making safe decisions in the Scottish Highlands.

Can I walk some of it? 

Yes! - but not all of it.

On shorter mileage days it is possible to go slow and generally walk in order to conserve your energy, for example on day one which is 23 miles.

On longer days you will need to push a little harder to cover all the miles before the course cut-offs. This generally means walking the uphills, jogging the flat sections and running the downhills.

For the Explorer Course it is much more doable to be able to walk the whole course if doing the shorter days – you will still need to keep moving, but many people are able to hike the majority of this course.

What kind of running should I expect?

The majority of the course is on good tracks and paths, with sections of indistinct paths or pathless terrain. Sometimes even the paths can be challenging and require your full attention.

There are also occasional sections of quiet tarmac road.

Expect numerous river crossings - you are likely to get wet feet every day, even in the best weather.

What happens if something goes wrong?

We have a professional and well-equipped medical and mountain safety team who are there to assist if something goes wrong, for example, you fall and hurt yourself while out on the course.

Every participant also carries a GPS tracker so that race control can see your location and follow your progress throughout the event. The GPS tracker allows you to summon help in an emergency and receive messages from race control.

Who will the other participants be? 

A wide variety of people run Cape Wrath Ultra®.

You will find all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience, plus lots of different nationalities.

There will be some very experienced ultra runners but also many who consider themselves to be average runners and are looking only to complete the challenge and enjoy the experience.

All in all, expect to find a very friendly and supportive atmosphere in camp. Lots of participants end up running large sections of the route together, and in the process making great friends for life!   

How do people prepare for this?  

It is a tough challenge but with the right preparation, anyone can complete the event if they are willing to put in the time to train and prepare well.

This training could mean gradually building up your mileage and running back to back days in the mountains to get used to rough terrain. It’s also a good idea to test out your kit and hill food ahead of the event.

There is a dedicated Facebook group where you can swap ideas and advice on how to prepare.

We will also be in regular contact in the months leading up to the event with plenty of support in the form of guidance articles. 

Not quite ready for the full race route? Then consider the Explorer course option, potentially a useful stepping stone towards completing the full race route in the future, but also a brilliant experience in its own right.

Can I have a support crew?

No, it is against the event rules for any participant to receive outside support, such as friends/family providing assistance or food, and contravening these rules will result in severe penalties.

It is perfectly acceptable for friends and family to intercept participants on the course to cheer them on.

Supporters are welcome to wave participants off from the pier in Fort William as they take the ferry crossing over to the start at Treslaig.

We ask supporters not to come to the actual start line in Treslaig.

Supporters are welcome at the award presentation on day 8 in Keoldale, but must organise their own camping/accommodation for the night.

We ask supporters not to enter the event campsite on day 8 (as on other days) and not to come to Cape Wrath itself.