Flat grade share
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 46.5% Favoured
Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon vs Cairngorms Ultra Trail
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofDevil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon or Cairngorms Ultra Trail — which comes out ahead?
Cairngorms Ultra Trail has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and value score.
Route comparison snapshot
Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 4.4%
- flat grade share
- 29.8%
- lower ascent
- 1,641 m
- climbing density
- 23.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -235 m
- maximum grade
- 28.9%
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%
| Metric | Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon | Cairngorms Ultra Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 29.8% | 46.5% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 4.4% | 2.8% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 32.9% | 26.0% |
| Steep-up share | 15.5% | 8.0% |
| Downhill share | 37.3% | 27.6% |
| Total ascent (m) | 1,641 m | 948 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 23.8 m/km | 15.8 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 2,000 m | 3,550 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 259 m | 187 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 13.0% | 5.3% |
| Total descent (m) | 1,876 m | 949 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -235 m | -1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 28.9% | 25.0% |
| Start elevation (m) | 251 m | 340 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 16 m | 339 m |
| Value | 71/100 | 78/100 ✓ |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 91/100 ✓ | 87/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £100 | £67 ✓ |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £230 | £197 ✓ |
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
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)
Value
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 78/100 Favoured
Scenic score
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 100/100
Conditions
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 91/100 Favoured
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 87/100
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 | Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon | Cairngorms Ultra Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-04-25 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Tyndrum, Scotland | Braemar, Scotland |
| Actual distance | 69 km | 60 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Loop |
| Surface | 95% trail, 5% road | 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km) |
| Elevation character | Mountainous | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail | Road, Trail, Mixed |
| Scenery | City, Mountain, Lakeside, Waterfront, Countryside, Moorland | Mountain, Countryside, Parkland, Forest, Moorland, Riverside, Lakeside |
| Atmosphere | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination |
| Technicality | Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 1,641 m | 948 m |
| Climbing density | 23.8 m/km | 15.8 m/km |
| Total descent | 1,876 m | 949 m |
| Net elevation | -235 m | -1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 28.9% | 25.0% |
| Flat grade share | 29.8% | 46.5% |
| GAP factor | 4.4% | 2.8% |
| Cutoff | 10:15:00 | 12:30:00 |
| Field cap | 700 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Entry fee | £100 | £67 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £230 | £197 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
Schedule
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-04-25 (legacy event-level date).
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Tyndrum, Scotland
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Braemar, Scotland
Actual distance
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 69 km
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 60 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Held
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Held
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Held
Course type
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Point To Point
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Loop
Surface
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 95% trail, 5% road
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km)
Elevation character
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Hilly
Terrain
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Trail
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Road, Trail, Mixed
Scenery
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- City, Mountain, Lakeside, Waterfront, Countryside, Moorland
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Mountain, Countryside, Parkland, Forest, Moorland, Riverside, Lakeside
Atmosphere
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
Technicality
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Technical
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 1,641 m
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 948 m
Climbing density
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 23.8 m/km
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 15.8 m/km
Total descent
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 1,876 m
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 949 m
Net elevation
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- -235 m
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- -1 m
Max absolute grade
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 28.9%
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 25.0%
Flat grade share
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 29.8%
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 46.5%
GAP factor
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 4.4%
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 2.8%
Cutoff
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 10:15:00
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 12:30:00
Field cap
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- 700
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- Open
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Open
Entry fee
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- £100
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £67
Lowest modelled true cost
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- £230
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £197
Cost model origin
- Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon
- National Average
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 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, Devil o' the Highlands Footrace Ultramarathon or Cairngorms Ultra Trail?
Cairngorms Ultra Trail has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.