RUN, RIDE AND KAYAK 105 MILES ACROSS THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
This breathtaking 105 mile route takes in some of the most mysterious and wild locations in Scotland, run bike and kayak* past the historic Cawdor Castle, the legendary Loch Ness and the mountainous Glen Nevis and Glen Coe. This unforgiving Highland terrain and weather breeds tough folk and when you sign up to Coast to Coast you’ll find out why. Experience all the beauty and brilliance that Scotland has to offer in this epic journey over one day or two.
9 - 10 SEPT / 2023
EVENT DATES:
DISTANCE:
21 MILES (34 KM) ON FOOT + 83 MILES (134 KM) ON BIKE + 1 MILE (1.6 KM) ON KAYAK
DURATION:
1 OR 2 DAYS
LOCATION:
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?
You should be a decent cyclist with good trail running experience.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
GUIDES AND SUPPORT
Fully waymarked route with Pit Stop support en route
TRANSFER POLICY
Flexible transfer policy up to 1 month before the event.
EQUIPMENT
Kayak and all associated equipment included.
EXTRAS
High quality eco medal and Rat Rag
SAFETY
Professional 4x4 support vehicles, mountain safety staff, water safety, medical and welfare. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
RAISE £1000 AND GET UP TO £450 REFUNDED
SET UP YOUR JUST GIVING PAGE HERE OR FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITY PARTNERSHIP HERE
MORE INFORMATION:
THINK YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE IN ONE DAY?
Not for the faint hearted. The one-day challenge is a mammoth undertaking. Especially if the prevailing wind tries to blow you back to the start line. Bike selection and your nutrition plan are very important to give you the best chance of completion. Our cut offs are fixed and mandatory kit is key. You will be taking on a very challenging mountain run after a draining cycle ride, not to mention the kayaking. Successful finishing times on the One Day challenge range from 8 hours 19 minutes in calm conditions to 13 hours 32 minutes in heavy weather.
TAKING ON THE TWO-DAY CHALLENGE?
Breaking up the challenge makes this more achievable and allows you to enjoy a cracking weekend out with some mates. Don’t forget to arrange your overnight accommodation around Fort Augustus in advance of the event. You can find out more here.
The date-range is set and the route is tried and tested. However, our challenges unfold in some of the most spectacular places on Earth. Sometimes we do have to change plans on account of weather or other unforeseen factors. If we do have to do so, you will be informed and usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end! That having been said, our route is likely to remain largely intact, regardless of any on-the-ground changes.
Click ‘Buy Event Voucher’ and go through the sign-up process, you’ll then be issued with an event voucher which will automatically reserve you a place in the event you have chosen.
Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure. If you wish to participate as a family group or with a responsible adult and you are 16+, we will consider applications on an individual basis. Please contact us if this is the case.
Getting to the start line is important and we are there to help you as best we can. However, if you feel on reflection that it is just not your time yet, we do have a transfer system that you can use to transfer out, receive Rat Race credit and come back again next year or do something else. Credit is typically valid for 12 months and there is a fee to be paid for transferring out in this way. We want to be really clear that this option is there for you if you need it, but it does have a deadline. View our full terms and conditions here.
The latest kit list will be sent to you before the event within the Essential Event Information Document.
Of course. If you run for Children with Cancer UK and raise the target amount for this event per person, we will refund your entry fee up to the amount of £2500. You are of course more than welcome to fundraise for any cause close to your heart. Click here to find out more.
Yes, you can. We welcome support on almost all of our events and if you do decide you want to come and work with us, we will make sure we look after you. Click here to find out more about volunteering for Rat Race.
We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.
Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.
To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.
To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry.
By entering this event you agreed that you have entered in your own name (not nickname) and will bring photographic ID to event registration to prove your identity. If you cannot prove your identity at that time then you won’t be able to complete registration and therefore won’t be able to take part.
No unfortunately we cannot accommodate dogs on the route or in the campsite.
If you choose to take a spare pair of shoes you will need to carry them with you in your rucksack. The only exceptions are at Cawdor Castle where you can leave your cycling shoes attached to your bike (when dropping off your bike before the start of the event) and Fort William transition when you will be able to leave your cycling shoes ATTACHED to your bike or in the bag we provide to you at registration (for us to transport). WE DO NOT TAKE ANY ITEMS TO FORT WILLIAM FOR YOU.
Cut-Offs are an important part of our Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment and are based on the time of sunset. Participants venturing onto the hill or on to the water after our cut-off times would be likely to mean finishing in the dark, and as we do not specify mandatory equipment or provide safety provision for that scenario we will enforce the Cut-Offs as described. Cut-off times are applied to your departure from these locations and not your arrival. Some may finish in darkness. More information on the exact cut-off times will be announced closer to the event.
If you fail to make the cut-off you will be transported forward to the finish only.
The Kayak cut-off at Lochlevan is flexible in both directions depending on the visibility and wind conditions on the day. If conditions become too rough for kayaking, the run route will redirect you to finish at Kinlochleven where we will bus you to the finish hub.
Trek/Run – 7 miles
Road Cycle – 48 miles
Off Road Cycle – 21 miles
Road Cycle – 13.5 miles
Trek/Run – 14 miles
Flat Water Kayak – 1 mile
*Please note that distance are variable depending upon weather conditions and route access.
Coast to Coast is a tough event. You’ll be taking on a hilly journey that is heavily impacted by weather conditions. You’ll be running, kayaking and more importantly riding into the prevailing wind, so the chances are you’ll find the riding sections tougher than your usual ride out. That being said, when the sun shines you will see the most fantastic views imaginable!
The average finishing time for 1-day participants is 12 hours and it’s 14 (over two days) for the 2-day participants. You need to be fit and you need to be able to keep your energy levels up with a solid nutrition plan to be able to make this journey. If you put in some training time and arrive kitted out and prepared then this challenge is achievable, but it should not be underestimated.
Whether you are entering the 2-Day or 1-Day category, you will use the same bike throughout the event. The perfect bike for this event is a cyclocross bike or a gravel bike. You can complete it on a mountain bike and for 2-Day participants this is a viable option, but 1-day participants will struggle to get through the road riding miles within the cut offs. Road bikes are not recommended although they would be possible to use if you add appropriate tyres, good pressures and a dose of skill. The bike choice is a talking point of this event; that’s for sure. We do not allow you to switch types of bike along the route as we want both categories to be as pure as possible; this also helps not to encourage support from others en route, outside of the designed transition areas. It is possible for 2-day participants to swap tyres at leisure at the Fort Augustus overnight location as you could pack these into your luggage allowance. It is also possible for 1-day participants to swap tyres at Fort Augustus but you would need to carry these tyres in your own pack, and of course the time to swap them would be in your ‘running’ time. Therefore this latter option will have hardly any takers!
You will drop your bike for the final time at the Fort William transition area during the event. From here, we will transport bikes to the finish line at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel, using trucks or trailers. The bikes will then be available for you to pick up at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel after you have finished. Exact times for arrival of the bikes at Glencoe cannot be given. You can also give your bike to a supporter at the Fort William transition area. If you choose to book a bus back to the start in Nairn, we will move your bike directly there from the Fort William transition area.
No. We will provide the kayaks which are sit on tops and stable. We also provide water safety from local professionals. Please note that kayaking is done in pairs, though those at the front of the field can go solo if they arrive alone.
Yes, you do need to provide your own bike. You can bring your own, hire one locally to you and bring it along, or arrange hire from our hire provider.
This will be in Nairn and participants will only be able to register on the FRIDAY before the event. You will NOT be able to register ‘on-the-day’ of the event.
This kit list is from our 2022 event - you will be notified of any changes to this list ahead of the event you have signed up for.
SUBJECT TO SMALL CHANGES DEPENDING ON WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Some of the kit listed is to help you have a safe experience and have the best chance of finishing. Some of this kit is to ensure that if you are unable to continue without our assistance then we can be confident of you having the level of equipment required to keep you comfortable whilst you wait for that assistance.
At registration One Day participants will be required to show us a minimum level of emergency kit outlined in the Registration paragraph in the document. You may be asked to show any other items from the mandatory kit list. We will also be checking this kit before you leave the Fort William transition to ensure you are properly equipped for the run. If One Day participants do not have the appropriate kit with you when you register, they will not be allowed to race. Two-Day kit check will take place before the start of Day 2 (Sunday).
TWO-DAY CATEGORY:
DAY 1: MANDATORY KIT LIST:
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Cycle helmet
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Bicycle
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Basic First Aid kit (buy here) containing at least:
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A triangular or conformable roller bandage
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Assorted adhesive dressings
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Separate sterile absorbent material (e.g. gauze or gauze bandage)
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Spare Food
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Water
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Printed EEI document and emergency numbers – supplied at Registration
RECOMMENDED KIT:
Running shoes with good sole grip, cycle shorts, shoes and gloves (for kayaking also), puncture repair kit, bike pump, bike lock, tools and accessories, bike bell, bike water bottle, small rucksack or bumbag with hydration bladder, sunglasses, sunscreen. Full Body Cover may be required: We have not asked that you carry or wear this for Day 1. However, if there is inclement weather on the day, this is strongly recommended. You may choose to attach this to your bike or carry from the outset.
If using our baggage transportation service then please ensure bags are waterproofed as they may be exposed to the rain and may sit on wet ground.
DAY 2: MANDATORY KIT LIST:
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Cycle Helmet
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Bicycle
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Full waterproof jacket (must have taped seams)
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Leg cover: waterproof or windproof
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Warm headgear – BUY HERE
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Warm gloves – BUY HERE
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Survival bag – BUY ONE HERE
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Basic First Aid kit (buy here) containing at least:
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A triangular or conformable roller bandage
-
Assorted adhesive dressings
-
Separate sterile absorbent material (e.g. gauze or gauze bandage)
-
-
Whistle – BUY ONE HERE
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Additional upper body thermal layer
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Food
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Water
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Torch
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Printed EEI document and emergency numbers – supplied at Registration
RECOMMENDED KIT:
Running shoes with good sole grip, cycle shorts, shoes and gloves (for kayaking also), puncture repair kit, bike pump, bike lock, tools and accessories, torch, bike bell, bike water bottle, small rucksack or bumbag with hydration bladder, sunglasses, sunscreen.
ONE-DAY CATEGORY:
MANDATORY KIT LIST:
-
Cycle Helmet
-
Bicycle
-
Torch
-
Full waterproof jacket (must have taped seams)
-
Leg cover – waterproof or windproof – BUY HERE
-
Warm headgear
-
Warm gloves
-
Survival bag – BUY ONE HERE
-
Basic First Aid kit containing at least:
-
A triangular or conformable roller bandage
-
Assorted adhesive dressings
-
Separate sterile absorbent material (e.g. gauze or gauze bandage)
-
-
Whistle – BUY ONE HERE
-
Additional upper body thermal layer
-
Water
-
Printed EEI document and emergency numbers – supplied at Registration
RECOMMENDED KIT:
-
Running shoes with good sole grip, cycle shorts, shoes and gloves (for kayaking also), puncture repair kit, bike pump, bike lock, tools and accessories, bike bell, bike water bottle, small rucksack or bumbag with hydration bladder, sunglasses, sunscreen.
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Important: These Mandatory Kit Lists are an important part of our Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment. Under NO circumstances should you take part with a reduced list. If you are deemed to not have the required kit then you will be disqualified.
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Please Note: In the interests of safety we reserve the right to upgrade the kit lists at any point. You will be informed if this has occurred.
IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THE EVENT THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THE PRE-EVENT DOCUMENTATION
NOTES ON KIT:
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You do not need to carry your kit on the first run (it can be attached to your bike at the Cawdor Transition).
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You do not need to complete the final run with your mandatory bike kit (it can be left attached to your bike at the Fort William Transition).
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Kit left at Fort William must fit inside the bag provided to you at Registration. This bag must be labelled with your race number and attached to your bike.
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You will not be able to start the final run section, from Fort William, unless you are prepared with the appropriate mandatory kit including a torch.
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All bikes must be clear from Fort William on the day you leave it there. Please use one of our three racking systems to send your bike on to the correct location or hand it directly to a supporter. The Fort William bike transition will be unmanned from an hour after the cut off.
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Two-Day participants must complete a mandatory kit check before starting day 2 of the event.
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One-Day participants must complete a mandatory kit check at Registration.
Example of taped seams
FINISHLINE ACCOMMODATION
Rooms are available to book at the Isle of Glencoe Hotel, at the event finishline. Use promocode Ratrace090923 to access our special rate.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ROOM AT THE ISLE OF GLENCOE HOTEL
BIKE HIRE
You need to provide your own bike for this event – you can either bring your own, hire one locally to you and bring it along, or arrange hire from our hire provider.
Whether you are entering the Challenger or the Expert category, you will use the same bike throughout the event. This could be a mountain bike, hybrid or cyclo-cross – the choice is yours! Road bikes are not recommended although they would be possible to use if you add appropriate tyres, good pressures and a dose of skill. The bike choice is a talking point of this event; that’s for sure.
CLICK HERE TO HIRE A 2023 BIKE WITH CYCLE HIRE SCOTLAND
BUS TRANSFERS
We have a variety of bus transfers on offer depending on your plans. These are subject to availability and we would recommend you book these in advance:
Friday 1200 Transfer from Finish to Start via Cawdor Castle
Saturday 2000 Transfer from Finish to Start
Sunday 1000 Transfer from Finish to Start
Sunday 2000 Transfer from Finish to Start
Monday 1000 Transfer from Finish to Start