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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Ultramarathon
  • 60 km
  • Braemar
  • Event weekend starts
  • Entry from £67
  • Past event

Cairngorms Ultra Trail Ultramarathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2026 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 2.8% versus flat · net elevation -1 m · true cost £197

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website ↗
Data current as of

Decision summary

Cairngorms Ultra Trail Ultramarathon at a glance

Route ascent
948 m

Lower than 86% of comparable mapped races

Cut-off average pace
12:30/km

12:30:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Entry fee
£67

Lower than 86% of comparable known fees

Typical conditions
87/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
47 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Cairngorms Ultra Trail route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Cairngorms Ultra Trail, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the Cairngorms Ultra Trail?

The Cairngorms Ultra Trail route has 948 m of ascent, 949 m of descent and an estimated 2.8% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the Cairngorms Ultra Trail route go?

The Cairngorms Ultra Trail route starts at Mar Lodge, Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ and finishes at Mar Lodge, Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ. Underfoot, expect 33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off-road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km). It passes Lairig Ghru, Lairig an Laoigh, Glen Derry, Glen Luibeg and Glen Quoich. A Short Course Ultra option (approx 48km / 30 miles) is offered, splitting off at the Linn of Dee checkpoint.

What should runners know on race day for the Cairngorms Ultra Trail?

2.

Race character

Scenery

  • Mountain
  • Countryside
  • Parkland
  • Forest
  • Moorland
  • Riverside
  • Lakeside

Atmosphere

  • Wilderness
  • Scenic Tour
  • Destination

Terrain

  • Road
  • Trail
  • Mixed
Elevation character
Hilly
Technicality
Moderate
Net elevation
-1 m

Entry, logistics and records

Records and field

Field size
Entries are limited as the route passes through a conservation area.

Entry requirements

Entry status
Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
Minimum age
18+
Cut-off
12:30 (twelve hours thirty minutes) overall cut-off for the full 60km event, based on approximately 5km/hr (3.1mph)
Qualification status
None
UTMB index
Yes

Race day logistics

Aid stations
2

Access and course status

Start
Mar Lodge, Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ
Finish
Mar Lodge, Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ

Course facts

Course type
Loop
Surface
33% singletrack trail (20km), 62% off Road ATV tracks / forest roads (38.5km), 5% minor roads (3.5km)
Landmarks
Lairig Ghru, Lairig an Laoigh, Glen Derry, Glen Luibeg, Glen Quoich, Derry Lodge, Linn of Dee, Caledonian pinewoods
Notable features
  • A Short Course Ultra option (approx 48km / 30 miles) is offered, splitting off at the Linn of Dee checkpoint
  • Routed on old drove roads through the wild heart of the Cairngorms between some of Britain's highest peaks (Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Cairn Toul)
  • highest point around 700m
  • The route is fully waymarked, so no navigation experience is necessary

How hilly is the Cairngorms Ultra Trail Ultramarathon?

8%20%46%18%8%
  • Steep descent 8%
  • Descent 20%
  • Flat 46%
  • Climb 18%
  • Steep climb 8%
Total ascent
948 m
Net elevation
−1 m
GAP factor
2.8%
Longest climb
3,550 m at 5.3%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What does it really cost to run?

Estimated cost to the start line from National Average
Entry fee£67
Travel (modelled)£40
Accommodation (modelled)£90
Estimated total£197
Entry fee is a sourced fact. Travel and accommodation are modelled estimates for a typical runner from this region, not quoted prices.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 9°CTypical temperature
  • 20 kphTypical wind
  • 2 mmTypical rainfall
  • 87Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, within the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the Cairngorms Ultra Trail flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 2.8% slower than a flat course, with about 948 m of total ascent.

How much does the Cairngorms Ultra Trail cost?

The adult entry fee is £67, and the estimated true cost to the start line is about £197 including modelled travel and accommodation.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (3)

Read the full methodology →