PB potential
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
West Highland Way Race 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 ofWest Highland Way Race 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
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%
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 | West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon | Cairngorms Ultra Trail |
|---|---|---|
| PB potential | 89/100 | Unavailable |
| Flat grade share | 45.8% | 46.5% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 3.5% | 2.8% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 27.1% | 26.0% |
| Steep-up share | 8.6% | 8.0% |
| Downhill share | 27.1% | 27.6% |
| Total ascent (m) | 2,703 m | 948 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 17.7 m/km | 15.8 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 5,790 m | 3,550 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 337 m | 187 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| Total descent (m) | 2,748 m | 949 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -46 m | -1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 32.9% | 25.0% |
| Start elevation (m) | 52 m | 340 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 7 m | 339 m |
| Median finish context (s) | 26:36:29 | Unavailable |
| Value | 60/100 | 78/100 ✓ |
| Beginner-friendliness | 71/100 | Unavailable |
| Scenic score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Conditions | 77/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £157 | £67 ✓ |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £287 | £197 ✓ |
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)
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 17.7 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)
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 | West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon | Cairngorms Ultra Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland | Braemar, Scotland |
| Actual distance | 152.9 km | 60 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Loop |
| Surface | Trail | 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km) |
| Elevation character | Mountainous | Hilly |
| Terrain | Trail, Mixed | Road, Trail, Mixed |
| Scenery | Mountain, Countryside, Forest, Lakeside, Riverside, Moorland, City, Historic | Mountain, Countryside, Parkland, Forest, Moorland, Riverside, Lakeside |
| Atmosphere | Wilderness, Nighttime, Destination | Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination |
| Technicality | Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 2,703 m | 948 m |
| Climbing density | 17.7 m/km | 15.8 m/km |
| Total descent | 2,748 m | 949 m |
| Net elevation | -46 m | -1 m |
| Max absolute grade | 32.9% | 25.0% |
| Flat grade share | 45.8% | 46.5% |
| GAP factor | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Cutoff | 35:00:00 | 12:30:00 |
| Field cap | 300 | Unavailable |
| Latest finishers | 195 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Qualifier | Open |
| Entry fee | £157 | £67 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £287 | £197 |
| Cost model origin | National Average | National Average |
Schedule
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-13 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Braemar, Scotland
Actual distance
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 152.9 km
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 60 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Held
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Held
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Held
Course type
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Point To Point
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Loop
Surface
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Trail
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km)
Elevation character
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Hilly
Terrain
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Trail, Mixed
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Road, Trail, Mixed
Scenery
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mountain, Countryside, Forest, Lakeside, Riverside, Moorland, City, Historic
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Mountain, Countryside, Parkland, Forest, Moorland, Riverside, Lakeside
Atmosphere
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Wilderness, Nighttime, Destination
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Destination
Technicality
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Technical
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Moderate
Total ascent
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 2,703 m
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 948 m
Climbing density
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 17.7 m/km
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 15.8 m/km
Total descent
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 2,748 m
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 949 m
Net elevation
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- -46 m
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- -1 m
Max absolute grade
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 32.9%
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 25.0%
Flat grade share
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 45.8%
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 46.5%
GAP factor
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 3.5%
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 2.8%
Cutoff
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 35:00:00
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- 12:30:00
Field cap
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 300
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
Latest finishers
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 195
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Unavailable
Entry model
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Qualifier
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- Open
Entry fee
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £157
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £67
Lowest modelled true cost
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £287
- Cairngorms Ultra Trail
- £197
Cost model origin
- West Highland Way Race 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, West Highland Way Race 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.