Devil o’ the Highlands Footrace

Saturday 26th April 2025

6am START​​​

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A 42 mile point-to-point ultramarathon along the West Highland Way trail through the highlands of Scotland from Tyndrum to Fort William.

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Event Information

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• ​Distance:  42 miles / 69 km

• Total Ascent 6500ft / 1981 m

• Time Limit: 12 hours

• Point to point way-marked route (no navigation required)

• 95% trail 5% road

• 4 checkpoints

• 2 checkpoint food drop bags available

• Start-to-finish baggage transport

• Free transportation to start/finish if you withdraw during the event

• Pre- and post-race buses available (extra cost & spaces limited) 

• Free showers at finish

• Female and male fit t-shirt option

• Free home-made soup, hot food and drinks at finish

• Sponsors stalls at event finish 

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Route Information

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More Route information available here on plotaroute

 

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Race Weekend Logistics / Parking

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Parking in Tyndrum (race start) is the event's biggest issue, especially during the peak tourist period in August. We have to keep local businesses on side so if you have accommodation booked in Tyndrum for the Friday/Saturday evening please leave your vehicle there.  We have arranged a small amount of long-stay parking but you will require to have booked a parking permit via Si Entries to use this.  There is plenty of short term for vehicles dropping off runners but these cars must leave Tyndrum after the race start.

As the race is a point-to-point route we suggest one of the following plans:

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STAY IN TYNDRUM BOTH FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS

Runners with booked accommodation should park at the accommodation and can book a return bus back to Tyndrum after the event on the Saturday at 6pm (extra cost)

STAY IN FORT WILLIAM ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS

Book the early Saturday early morning bus from Fort William to the race start in Tyndrum (extra cost). Then run back to Fort William.  The early Saturday morning buses will leave from Glen Nevis Campsite and stop at Fort William Bus Station before heading to Tyndrum and arrive in plenty of time for registration and race start.

ARRANGE TO BE DROPPED OFF AT START AND COLLECTED AT THE FINISH

This could be family/friend/club mate/support crew who drive you to the start in Tyndrum, maybe see you at Glencoe and Kinlochleven, then collect you from the finish in Fort William. Phase note they must leave Tyndrum immediately after the race start. Another option is that the person who drops you off joins the race team and helps out while you run to Fort William.
 

​Race Weekend Schedule

Friday 25th April

7:00pm - 9:00pm: Race registration in Tyndrum (FK20 8RY)

 

Saturday 26th April

3.45am: Private coaches leave Glen Nevis Campsite (PH33 6SX) for race start (must be booked in advance)

4:00am: Private coaches leave Fort William Bus Station (PH33 6AN) for race start (must be booked in advance) - both these buses get runners to Tyndrum in plenty of time for Saturday morning registration 

4:15am - 5:30am: Race registration at the Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum (FK20 8RY) 

4:15am - 5:45am: Bring drop bags to race start and put into checkpoint vehicles

4:15am - 5:45am: Bring kit bags (for finish at Fort William) to race start and put into finish line van

5:45am: Race Director's race briefing for runners, at the Green Welly Stop

6:00am: Race start. Run 42 miles to Fort William! 

12:00pm - 6:30pm: Hot home-made food, tea, coffee and other drinks in the marquee at the race finish

4:00pm-ish: Prizegiving at the race finish

6:00pm: Private coaches leave Fort William Race Finish (Lochaber Leisure Centre) for Tyndrum (must be booked in advance

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Event Environmental Impact

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We are trying to reduce the environmental impact of the event there is an opt-out system for runners to choose not to receive a t-shirt. 

T-SHIRT:  If you choose to not get a t-shirt then you have the options of either donating the £6 to charity or receiving a £6 reduction in the entry fee.

All proceeds will be donated to Strathfillan Community Development Trust.  Registered Charity SC026601.

No single use plastic cups will be used at the event.  Please carry a cup or water bottle throughout race.

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Important Event Rules

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• All runners must carry an emergency foil blanket, a waterproof jacket (with hood) and waterproof trousers with taped seams and charged/switched on mobile phone.

• Runners are allowed external support at certain locations.  Spectators are welcome at specific locations (Glencoe and Kinlochleven).

• It is strictly FORBIDDEN for any participant to run in place of another runner. No one is allowed to run using another runner's race number.

• Limited earphone use allowed.

• Running poles may be used only after Bridge of Orchy checkpoint (7 mile point).

• No dogs accompanying runners.

• If you decide to withdraw during the race, you MUST let us know about it before going home.

• The use of ibuprofen, diclofenac, or any other NSAID as a race-day painkiller is forbidden.

• Do what the marshals tell you. At all times. And especially at road crossings.

• Race numbers must be worn on your FRONT, and must be visible to marshals at all times.

• No support crew assistance anywhere before Glencoe checkpoint.

• No support runners before Kinlochleven checkpoint at 11:30am.

• Absolutely NO LITTERING- carry your rubbish with you and use the big litter bins at checkpoints.

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Please note that the race director’s decisions on all matters regarding race rules, unsporting conduct, any other questionable behaviour and all aspects of runner safety are absolutely final.

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Equality and Inclusivity

We are continuing our efforts to make our events more inclusive. We want everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and safe at our events. The steps we are taking to achieve this include:
 

Event Race Team

Over 60% of our race day team are women. This includes our main race control team, our finish-line medical team, our checkpoint bosses, our first aiders, and our sweepers.

Active Gender Entry

When entries open, we will initially be allocating race places by gender. There will be 300 places for women and 300 places for men, as well as the option to enter as nonbinary. If a particular gender sells out, a waiting list will then be opened for that gender. This process is a trial and we will be continually monitoring entries. We may open up any remaining places to all genders at a later date. The aim of this is to balance and equalise the final male/female gender split and also encourage nonbinary participation.

 

Speedy Runners/Start Line

We will operate a split starting line with a taped off area specifically for female entrants. This gives elite women the opportunity to gauge their competition as well as allowing for better media coverage of the women’s field. Plus it’s just fairer all round. 

 

Pregnancy/Adoption Deferral Policy

In the case of pregnancy/adoption, we offer a two year deferral option or a full refund.  We also offer a deferral if your partner is pregnant and their due date falls within one week of race day. Deferrals for any other reasons are not possible, sorry.

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Breastfeeding/chestfeeding

If you will need to feed your baby during the event, we will do all we can to facilitate this. Please email us in advance of race day to arrange access to race checkpoints that are normally out-of-bounds to spectators, so you can meet and feed your baby.

 

Training Runs

Once again we are teaming up with Wildheart Runners to organise female-focused training runs in advance of the Highland Fling and Devil o’ the Highlands Footrace. These free training runs are perfect for first timers and runners who expect to be towards the back of the field on race day. Nonbinary and male runners are also welcome. Full details will be posted up in the events’ Facebook groups.

 

Period Products

Period products (a selection of tampons and pads) will be available at the race start, at all checkpoints and at the finish line for any runner who needs them. These will be inside the event portaloos (no need to ask anyone for anything), with supplies being regularly checked/topped up throughout the event.

Sweeper/Tail Runner Information
Over 50% of our sweeper team are women. Our sweepers cover the route in pairs, and at least one of each pair of sweepers will be a woman. All sweepers are first-aid trained.

 

Medical Team/First Aid Information

Around 50% of our medical and first aid team are women. There is a dedicated medical tent at the race finish, and first aid marshals at each checkpoint. If you would prefer to receive medical/first aid assistance from a woman, this will always be an option - please just ask. 

 

Safeguarding/Public Information

If you would prefer your name not to be shown on the publicly available start list, on the live tracking, or in the race results please email us prior to entering to arrange. If you would prefer your finish-line race photos not to be shared online, please email us before race day to arrange. (Please remember that you are taking part in a mass participation public event and we cannot guarantee that you will not appear in the background of other photos taken by our event photographers or in photos taken by spectators and shared online.)

 

Low Income/Entry Fee Support

We aim to make our events accessible to people on low incomes. If our entry fee is a barrier to your participation, please email us in advance of race entries opening to discuss help/options available, including the possibility of payment in instalments or a reduced entry fee. 
 

Transgender Runners
We are LGBTIQ+ friendly. You can enter our event as female, male, or nonbinary. If you are trans, you are welcome to run in the gender category with which you identify. If you would like more information on this, please email us. 

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We are fully committed to upholding all principles of the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter and have a zero tolerance policy to all forms of discriminatory language and behaviour. We have signed up to the Scottish LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark.

 

Event toilets, showers, and changing areas

All event portable toilets are gender neutral. Our changing facilities at the race finish cater for female, male, and nonbinary runners. 

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There are event portable toilets at the immediate race finish area. Additionally, Lochaber Leisure Centre has female and male toilets as well as non-gendered single cubicle accessible toilets. 

 

Showering facilities at the event finish are within the main female and male changing rooms inside the Leisure Centre.  For anyone who requires  shower facilities with more privacy we would suggest Fort William Railway Station. Their facilities include two showers for women, two for men and one non-gendered shower for disabled people (cost is £5).

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If you have any questions about any of our toilet/shower/changing facilities, please just email us and we will be happy to give you more information. 

 

Disabled Parking

There is restricted mobility parking at the race start (Green Welly) and we have set aside a small number of parking spaces for mobility restricted spectators at the race finish in Fort William. Please email us in advance of race day to arrange this. Please note that parking next to Lochaber leisure centre is very limited and if demand exceeds supply, we may not be able to grant all requests.   

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Checkpoints and distances

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Checkpoints, distances, and details of what all is provided are as follows:

 

CP1 - Bridge of Orchy - 7 miles - water available 

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CP2 - Glencoe Mountain Resort - 17 miles - water & Coke - Drop bag

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CP3 - Kinlochleven - 27 miles - water & Coke - Drop bag

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CP4 - Lundavra - 35 miles - water & Coke - sympathy & hugs :-)

 

Cut-offs

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There are 2 cutoffs during the event.

Kinlochleven checkpoint: 7hrs 30mins race time, which is 1:30pm.

 

If you reach Kinlochleven after 1:30pm you will be timed out, and will not be allowed to continue.

Lundavra checkpoint:  10hrs 15mins race time, which is 4.15pm.

Please note that if you are timed out, you must stop. You cannot continue running, even unofficially. If you do so, you will be barred from future events.

 

Drop bags

 

Runners can have food drop bags at Glencoe and Kinlochleven. Please label them clearly with your name, race number, and checkpoint location. Drop bags should be small, and must not contain shoes or full changes of clothing. Please do not bring drop bags to Friday registration, as we will not be accepting them then. Please just bring them to the race start on Saturday morning.