PB potential
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 89/100 Favoured
West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon vs South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
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 South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon — which comes out ahead?
West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon has the stronger available profile on PB potential, flat grade share and course flatness.
Route comparison snapshot
West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 3.5% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 45.8% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 2,703 m
- climbing density
- 17.7 m/km
- net elevation
- -46 m
- maximum grade
- 32.9%
South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 4.1%
- flat grade share
- 34.7%
- lower ascent
- 3,410 m
- climbing density
- 21.2 m/km
- net elevation
- -94 m
- maximum grade
- 31.8%
| Metric | West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon | South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| PB potential | 89/100 ✓ | 83/100 |
| Flat grade share | 45.8% ✓ | 34.7% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 3.5% ✓ | 4.1% |
| Uphill share | 27.1% | 32.7% |
| Steep-up share | 8.6% | 13.3% |
| Downhill share | 27.1% | 32.6% |
| Total ascent (m) | 2,703 m | 3,410 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 17.7 m/km | 21.2 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 5,790 m | 2,970 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 337 m | 194 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 5.8% | 6.5% |
| Total descent (m) | 2,748 m | 3,504 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -46 m | -94 m |
| Max absolute grade | 32.9% | 31.8% |
| Start elevation (m) | 52 m | 99 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 7 m | 5 m |
| Median finish context (s) | 26:36:29 | 24:53:35 |
| Value | 60/100 ✓ | 48/100 |
| Beginner-friendliness | 71/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 91/100 |
| Conditions | 77/100 ✓ | 49/100 |
| Entry fee (GBP) | £157 ✓ | £220 |
| Lowest modelled true cost (GBP) | £287 ✓ | £350 |
Flat grade share
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 45.8% Favoured
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 3.5% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 17.7 m/km
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 21.2 m/km
Longest climb length (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)
Value
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 60/100 Favoured
Beginner-friendliness
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 71/100 Favoured
Scenic score
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 77/100 Favoured
Entry fee (GBP)
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £157 Favoured
Lowest modelled true cost (GBP)
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £287 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 | South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Winchester to Eastbourne, South East |
| Actual distance | 152.9 km | 160.9 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Point To Point |
| Surface | Trail | Mostly trail (about 85% trail, 15% road) |
| Elevation character | Mountainous | Rolling |
| Terrain | Trail, Mixed | Trail, Road, Track |
| Scenery | Mountain, Countryside, Forest, Lakeside, Riverside, Moorland, City, Historic | Countryside, Historic, Forest, Coastal, Riverside |
| Atmosphere | Wilderness, Nighttime, Destination | Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive |
| Technicality | Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 2,703 m | 3,410 m |
| Climbing density | 17.7 m/km | 21.2 m/km |
| Total descent | 2,748 m | 3,504 m |
| Net elevation | -46 m | -94 m |
| Max absolute grade | 32.9% | 31.8% |
| Flat grade share | 45.8% | 34.7% |
| GAP factor | 3.5% | 4.1% |
| Cutoff | 35:00:00 | 30:00:00 |
| Field cap | 300 | 600 |
| Latest finishers | 195 | 357 |
| Entry model | Qualifier | Qualifier |
| Entry fee | £157 | £220 |
| Lowest modelled true cost | £287 | £350 |
| 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).
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
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
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Winchester to Eastbourne, South East
Actual distance
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 152.9 km
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 160.9 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Held
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Held
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Held
Course type
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Point To Point
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Trail
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Mostly trail (about 85% trail, 15% road)
Elevation character
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mountainous
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Rolling
Terrain
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Trail, Mixed
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Trail, Road, Track
Scenery
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Mountain, Countryside, Forest, Lakeside, Riverside, Moorland, City, Historic
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Countryside, Historic, Forest, Coastal, Riverside
Atmosphere
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Wilderness, Nighttime, Destination
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination, Competitive
Technicality
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Technical
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 2,703 m
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 3,410 m
Climbing density
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 17.7 m/km
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 21.2 m/km
Total descent
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 2,748 m
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 3,504 m
Net elevation
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- -46 m
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- -94 m
Max absolute grade
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 32.9%
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 31.8%
Flat grade share
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 45.8%
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 34.7%
GAP factor
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 3.5%
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 4.1%
Cutoff
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 35:00:00
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 30:00:00
Field cap
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 300
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 600
Latest finishers
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- 195
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- 357
Entry model
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- Qualifier
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- Qualifier
Entry fee
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £157
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- £220
Lowest modelled true cost
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- £287
- South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon
- £350
Cost model origin
- West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon
- National Average
- South Downs Way 100 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, West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon or South Downs Way 100 Ultramarathon?
West Highland Way Race Ultramarathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.