Rat Race | The Isles Ultra

Fitness level

This is an extraordinary challenge for ordinary people and has been designed to be achievable.

You do not need super-technical skills or to be a seasoned endurance athlete. However this is a very big challenge set over a full week on foot but it is definitely designed to be ‘doable' and not a sufferfest. You need a good base fitness and train for a big mountain ascent over several hours. It’s a very big undertaking. You have it in you. The team will ensure you are supported in the very best way possible. There is enough time to trek the whole thing and unless you really are off the pace, you will be able to complete it.

Pace

You can go at your own pace. There will be some cut-off times to meet, but these are generous and the team will help you achieve your goals vs having to pull out. If you need support or to stop for whatever reason, the team is there for you. The absolute key is that you enjoy the amazing journey from one tip of the island chain to the other; at your own pace and within your own limits.

Navigation

The Hebridean Way is signed with marker posts and arrows, and with normal observation and assistance from guiding staff, the route is fairly simple to follow. Darkness in early morning and evenings, and the final day 6 poses some challenges, so the guiding staff and the GPX file combined will assist.

Accommodation

All accommodation is of a good standard – tried and tested on recce trips.

• Hostel (including one at Barra overlooking the bay)
• Very nice bunkhouse
• Hotel

Hotel accommodation is always offered on a double or twin room basis. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with another participant of the same sex in a twin room. At the bunkhouse and hostel, the rooms are mixed dorm-style affairs. 

Meals

All meals are included throughout the full itinerary including breakfast, mobile snacks and lunch support and dinners.

Kit list

You will receive a comprehensive kit list of mandatory and recommended items.

Dogs

Sorry, dogs are not permitted on this adventure.

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

The Real Food Cafe
Tyndrum
Crianlarich
Stirling
FK20 8RY
UK

You will be transferred from Tyndrum to the isles and back again. All transfers throughout the challenge are included. As an alternative, you may wish to fly to the isles from Glasgow International airport.

Itinerary

• Day 1 | Travel

  Arrive Tyndrum at 10:30 for transfer to Castlebay, Barra. 

• Day 2 | Vatersay Bay Beach - Stoneybridge

  After an early breakfast the support vehicles take the group to the southernmost island of Vatersay.

  Starting at the terminus marker of the Hebridean Way, at Vatersay Bay Beach, the run commences on the island road and soon crosses the causeway back onto Barra. After winding around many of Barra’s hills the route descends towards the famous airfield beach of Traigh Mhor, then east on road to Ardmhor ferry terminal.

  The ferry crossing over the Sound of Barra enables some admin time, before landing at the island of Eriskay and continuing over another causeway and on low-level trails and roads around the coastline of South Uist. The route often accesses ‘the machair’ – a comfortable mix of sand and grass, and at low tide options on the hard beach sand. Heading due north, the day ends near Stoneybridge or perhaps Howmore, before transport south to the accommodation at Daliburgh. If ferry sailings were changed due to sea state or very low tides, then a different end point might result.

  

• Day 3 | Daliburgh - Benbecula

  This day starts with a continuation of the coastal region, before soon heading inland to weave through the maze of lochs and waterways, on peat paths. A causeway leads from South Uist onto Benbecula, past a Co-op supermarket, and where once again the route heads to the west coast and a mix of path and road, before heading east to peat paths and the summiting of Benbecula’s highest hill Rhuabhal, giving spectacular 360-degree views of the whole island and beyond.

  Benbecula is then soon left, and several causeways lead onto North Uist, via the Isle of Grimsay. The route soon heads back onto peat paths across moorland and around sea lochs to reach Langais (Hotel, Standing Stones and Hill). Transport would take runners from this area back to Benbecula.

  

• Day 4 | Langais - Scarista

  From Langais the route soon parallels the main road using the old tarmac road, and the edge of Lochmaddy is reached.

  Turning west, a predominantly off-road section heads around the shoulders of hills and across peat tracks again, until crossing the causeway from North Uist to the island of Berneray and the ferry terminal.

  The ferry crossing over the Sound of Harris, notable for its extraordinary route through islands and skerries (rock reefs), enables admin time before landing at Leverburgh. Making use of final daylight is important as the ongoing route ascends on road then through a shallow mountain pass, before views and descent towards Scarista beach, and perhaps a two-mile road section northward to Scarista, before transport returns the group to Leverburgh and South Harris.

  

• Day 5 | Leverburgh - Stornoway

  Importantly, this day starts with one of the more challenging off-road sections, around the shoulders of numerous hills, on rough and steep ground, but with extensive seaward beach views, especially of Luskentyre beach and estuary. Once this rough section is complete, the route eases through the ‘Coffin Road’ and heads to the east coast of South Harris and the ‘lunar’ rock landscape of the ‘Golden Road’. Here the route accesses a mix of old drove roads and tarmac roads on a long arc into Tarbert – a useful place for a Support Point.

  Heading east out of Tarbert, the route soon swings due north through a remote glen then gathers some road and trail miles above Loch Resort – reported to be the longest sea loch in Scotland – before descending through the mountains and effectively marking the transition from Harris into Lewis.

  With the main road nearby, and after a short detour over the hill of Griamacleit, the day concludes at a car park within a rare Hebridean environment – a forest. Transport takes the group north to Stornoway – accommodation for both of the final nights of the trip.

  

• Day 6 | Stornoway loop back to Stornoway Castle

  The shortest day of the trip: Restarting at the forest, the route follows the old road parallel to the main road until skirting inland on peat trails, and returning to travel the road through the village of Balallan – the longest in Scotland. There are other short peat trail loops in this area, until the village of Laxay, where a significant and remote route is taken over the peat moors to Achamore, and after crossing the main road, 8-miles of minor road, connecting to the Pentland Road, which takes us to the edge of Stornoway.

  The final mile sees woodland again, and the park surrounding Stornoway Castle, though this Castle is skirted to reach the Hebridean Way terminus marker at the Woodland Centre car park, near the harbour edge.

  Although marking the end of the Hebridean Way, this trip has a stronger mission.

  There is an option and benefit to head west out of Stornoway and attempt more of the route until the end of the day, and the support transport would then return the group to the accommodation.

• Day 7 | Stornoway - Butt of Lewis

  This final day is the present aspirational extension to the Hebridean Way and firstly follows the B road to beyond Tolsta, and the acclaimed Traigh Mhor and Traigh Garry beaches.

  The route now takes a dramatic change of surface. Initially the track is wide and departs over an isolated ‘bridge to nowhere’ before heading up onto moors, away from the sea cliffs. The route here is indistinct, and rough with heather, peat and bog grass. Notorious and known as the ‘Heritage Trail’, it has never been maintained, despite the markings on maps – just a few marker posts give occasional reassurance. After several miles, ruins are encountered, and the emergence of tracks that link to peat cuttings, and their associated huts.

  Once the main track is reached, the going is much simpler and the houses of the suburbs of Ness are passed, before descending to the harbour and then following the north coast, past the bridge to the sea stack settlement of Dun Eistean, and eventually the last section of road to the lighthouse and cliffs at the Butt of Lewis.

  

• Day 8 | Travel

  Transfer back to Tyndrum.

Included

• Accommodation

  7 nights accommodation - hotel, bunkhouse, hostel.

• All meals

  All meals included as standard cooked up by expert catering crew.

• Guides and support

  Professional 4x4 support vehicles, safety staff, medical, mechanical and welfare

• Safety

  Professional local and UK safety staff, medics, drivers, route safety staff and experts on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.

• Transfers

  Transfers to and from Tyndrum and ferry tickets.

• Transfer policy

  Flexible transfer policy on booking.

• Medal and t-shirt

  High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants.

Trip leader

James is your leader for this adventure. He's a multi-lingual running machine!

Environmental pledge

This adventure has made a firm commitment to really elevate its approach to a sustainable and environmentally aware way of working. Each activity has been assessed to improve its environmental impact, including:

• race t-shirts to be collected at the event and not shipped across the world
• wooden medals instead of metal
• phasing out single-use plastics
• local event catering
• tighter recycling activities

This event is on track to achieve carbon-neutral in its day-to-day business activities and is making progress with carbon off-setting for worldwide travel, including ground-breaking ways to make a difference in some of the host locations.

Age

16 and 17 year olds will be considered on an individual basis, if taking part with a responsible adult.

Instalment plan

eg. Pay £220 in 10 instalments.

Choose how many months you want to spread the cost over, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the installment plan a recurring payment will be set up and your card will be debited on the same date each month.

Refund protect

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance.

Costs