PB potential
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
Cairngorms Ultra Trail vs West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofCairngorms Ultra Trail or West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon — which comes out ahead?
Cairngorms Ultra Trail has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and value score.
Route comparison snapshot
Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 2.8% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 46.5% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 948 m
- climbing density
- 15.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -1 m
- maximum grade
- 25.0%
West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 3.5%
- flat grade share
- 45.8%
- lower ascent
- 2,703 m
- climbing density
- 17.7 m/km
- net elevation
- -46 m
- maximum grade
- 32.9%
| Metric | Cairngorms Ultra Trail | West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| PB potential | Unavailable | 89/100 |
| Flat grade share | 46.5% ✓ | 45.8% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 2.8% ✓ | 3.5% |
| Uphill share | 26.0% | 27.1% |
| Steep-up share | 8.0% | 8.6% |
| Downhill share | 27.6% | 27.1% |
| Total ascent (m) | 948 m | 2,703 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 15.8 m/km | 17.7 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 3,550 m | 5,790 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 187 m | 337 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| Total descent (m) | 949 m | 2,748 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -1 m | -46 m |
| Max absolute grade | 25.0% | 32.9% |
| Start elevation (m) | 340 m | 52 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 339 m | 7 m |
| Median finish context (s) | Unavailable | 26:36:29 |
| Value | 78/100 ✓ | 60/100 |
| Beginner-friendliness | Unavailable | 71/100 |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 87/100 ✓ | 77/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £67 ✓ | £157 |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £197 ✓ | £287 |
Flat grade share
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 46.5% Favoured
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 2.8% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 15.8 m/km
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 17.7 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 3,550 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
Finish elevation (m)
Median finish context (s)
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
Value
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 78/100 Favoured
Beginner-friendliness
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
Scenic score
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 100/100
Conditions
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 87/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £67 Favoured
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £197 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Cairngorms Ultra Trail | West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Braemar, Scotland | Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland |
| Actual distance | 60 km | 152.9 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Point To Point |
| Surface | 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km) | Trail |
| Elevation character | Hilly | Mountainous |
| Terrain | Road, Trail, Mixed | Trail, Mixed |
| Scenery | Mountain, Countryside, Parkland, Forest, Moorland, Riverside, Lakeside | Mountain, Countryside, Forest, Lakeside, Riverside, Moorland, City, Historic |
| Atmosphere | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination | Wilderness, Nighttime, Destination |
| Technicality | Moderate | Technical |
| Total ascent | 948 m | 2,703 m |
| Climbing density | 15.8 m/km | 17.7 m/km |
| Total descent | 949 m | 2,748 m |
| Net elevation | -1 m | -46 m |
| Max absolute grade | 25.0% | 32.9% |
| Flat grade share | 46.5% | 45.8% |
| GAP factor | 2.8% | 3.5% |
| Cutoff | 12:30:00 | 35:00:00 |
| Field cap | Unavailable | 300 |
| Latest finishers | Unavailable | 195 |
| Entry model | Open | Qualifier |
| Entry fee | £67 | £157 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £197 | £287 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
Schedule
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Braemar, Scotland
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland
Actual distance
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 60 km
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 152.9 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Held
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Held
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Held
Course type
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Loop
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km)
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Trail
Elevation character
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Hilly
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
Terrain
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Road, Trail, Mixed
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Trail, Mixed
Scenery
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Mountain, Countryside, Parkland, Forest, Moorland, Riverside, Lakeside
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mountain, Countryside, Forest, Lakeside, Riverside, Moorland, City, Historic
Atmosphere
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Wilderness, Nighttime, Destination
Technicality
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Moderate
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Technical
Total ascent
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 948 m
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 2,703 m
Climbing density
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 15.8 m/km
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 17.7 m/km
Total descent
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 949 m
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 2,748 m
Net elevation
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- -1 m
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- -46 m
Max absolute grade
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 25.0%
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 32.9%
Flat grade share
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 46.5%
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 45.8%
GAP factor
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 2.8%
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 3.5%
Cutoff
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 12:30:00
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 35:00:00
Field cap
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 300
Latest finishers
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 195
Entry model
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Open
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Qualifier
Entry fee
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £67
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £157
Lowest modelled true cost
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £197
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £287
Cost model origin
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- National Average
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- National Average
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.
Common questions
Which is flatter, Cairngorms Ultra Trail or West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon?
Cairngorms Ultra Trail has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.