West Highland Way Race

The West Highland Way Race is a long-established ultramarathon tracing the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William. First run in 1985, the event is renowned for its heritage, demanding terrain and iconic Highland scenery, and the 2026 running is promoted as the 40th edition. The course covers roughly 95 miles (about 156.7 km) with around 4,360 m of ascent, attracting experienced trail runners from across the UK and internationally. Entry is deliberately limited each year to preserve the event character and manage safety on the remote sections of the route.

The race is organised via the official West Highland Way Race website and operates a ballot/selection entry process with specific eligibility criteria and a strict field cap of 300 entrants. Competitors are required to plan support logistics for the non-stop crossing, and the event enforces a 35-hour overall time limit with intermediate cut-offs. Race information, maps and official notices (including ballot and entry windows) are published on the organiser's site and in official news posts in the run-up to the event.