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Shetland Toe to Tip

A 3-day ultra running adventure across the Shetland Islands

Experience a spectacular multi-day ultramarathon across the wild and remote Shetland Islands in Scotland on a bespoke toe-to-tip island crossing route. This unforgettable 3-day ultra running and hiking adventure takes participants along dramatic coastal trails, rugged cliff tops and stunning beaches across the UK’s most northerly inhabited islands. Designed to be achievable at 3mph, this walker-friendly ultramarathon is perfect for both runners and trekkers looking for an accessible endurance challenge surrounded by incredible wildlife including puffins, whales, dolphins, orcas and the famous Shetland ponies. 

Aerial view of buildings on cliff and water below
2026 EVENT INFOEnter

Dates

3rd - 8th September 2026 (sold out)

2nd - 7th September 2027

Duration

6 Days / 5 Nights

Distance

160km

Event Type

Bucket List Adventures

Highlights

Woman running along grassy coastline

Witness plenty of wildlife

Spot orcas, puffins, whales and dolphins right from your stunning coastal running route!

Wild pony stood in field and colourful sky in background

Run alongside the famous Shetland Ponies

This Scottish breed of pony originated on these Northern Scottish islands and there is an abundance of these majestic animals out en route to support you!

Aerial view of buildings on cliff and water below

Visit Sumburgh Head

Sumburgh Head sits high on the clifftops and is the start line for our adventure! The lighthouse, visitor centre and nature reserve there is a world-class visitor attraction for geology and nature enthusiasts.

Women running up hill with cliffs and sea behind them

Visit the UK's most northly post office

Our final day of epic coastal routes includes a quick flyby of the UK’s most northly Post Office before a dramatic finish at the very top of this stunning Scottish archipelago.

Itinerary

Silhouettes of participants looking out to colourful sky

Day One: Thursday

The Rat Race team will meet you at Aberdeen Train Station at 1400, we will then transfer by coach to the ferry port to begin our adventure! Once onboard and settled we will come together for our event briefing and dinner. We will then sail overnight to Shetland.  

Women running along grassy coastline

Day Two: Friday

Once we have arrived in Lerwick we will drive to our southernly startline at Sumburgh with the aim to start our adventure at 0800. Today will see a beautiful mix of trail, coastal routes and some quiet roads as we tick off the biggest distance right off the bat 56km and 700m of elevation. Highlights of this day include Sumburgh Head and the lighthouse. St Ninian’s Isle and more jaw-dropping wild beaches and cliffside views than you can count.  

Man stroking pony

Day Three: Saturday

Today we explore the wild and unspoilt section from Scalloway to Whiteness as we run among the enormous wind turbines on Mid Kame. Stunning coastal running/hiking and sea views (and wildlife spotting!) await you from Voe. We add 52km and 500m of elevation to our running total today.  

Participants stood on rocky cliffs with water below

Day Four: Sunday

The final day! With over 100km in your legs it’s time to smash out the final 53. Our last stretch features an exciting island hop at 30km as we make a break for the very top of this island chain by ferry link. Our final filling of epic coastal routes and a quick flyby the UK’s most northly Post Office before a dramatic finish and obligatory medal shot at the very top of this stunning Scottish archipelago.  

People running along sandy beach next to clear water

Day Five: Monday

After breakfast we’ll head to Lerwick where the afternoon is your own to explore before and grab some lunch before we regroup at 5pm for an overnight ferry back to the mainland where we will return you to Aberdeen train station.   

Silhouettes of participants looking out to colourful sky
Man running in sunshine

Your Adventure Leader

James

Our multi-lingual running machine, James brings extensive sports event experience, having delivered events of all shapes and sizes across the industry. A UK Athletics qualified running coach, he combines expert endurance expertise with a sharp eye for route design, logistics and participant experience. James has a knack for crafting running routes you’ll genuinely love, always seeking out the very best trails, roads and hidden gems in every destination to create unforgettable adventure experiences.

Man running along coast with birds flying above himChildren-with-Cancer-UK-logo-white

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FAQs

Is the route likely to change?

The very nature of adventure means that the unexpected can sometimes become part of the journey and that is all part of the experience. While we will always strive to deliver “Plan A”, there may be occasions where operational, safety, weather or environmental factors require us to adapt plans and implement contingency routes or alternative arrangements.

As with all Rat Race adventures, participant safety and overall event delivery remain our highest priorities. We therefore reserve the right to amend routes, itineraries or logistics where necessary, using the experience and judgement of our expedition team to make the best decisions on your behalf in changing conditions. Wherever possible, we will communicate any changes in advance. More often than not, these unexpected moments become part of the adventure itself adding to the stories, memories and unique character of the experience.

How do I enter?

Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com

How old do I need to be?

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.

Can I transfer my entry?

If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 

Can I fundraise for charity?

You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

Can I volunteer?

You can view our current volunteer positions here

Can I go at my own pace?

We have designed this challenge so that you may travel at your own pace and in general you will have 12 hours to complete each day allowing a completion pace of 3mph. There will also be some cut-offs within each day, but in the true Rat Race tradition these will be generous and we will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out.

What is Refund Protect?

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 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. 

Do I need insurance?

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for this event and must cover both general travel and participation in the outdoor endurance activities included within the itinerary. You will also require Evacuation Insurance, which covers emergency extraction and onward medical transport by helicopter or similar should urgent assistance be required in this remote environment.

We strongly recommend arranging your insurance as soon as you enter the event and booking flexible flight options where possible to allow for any unexpected changes. Please ensure your chosen policy specifically covers the activities you will be undertaking during the expedition. There are a number of specialist adventure travel insurers available, including Mann Broadbent.

Can I fly out of Sumburgh Airport instead of catching the ferry back?

Yes and we will drop you off at the airport prior to our ferry departure, please note that if you decide to fly back this will not result in a reduction of your entry fee as it is an ‘all in one’ price and we cannot separate out aspects due to group booking rates.  

How do I navigate?

GPX routes will be provided one week ahead of the event, or you can hire one of our GPX watches with the routes pre-loaded for the duration of the challenge. Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – support is never far away.

Pricing

PAY MONTHLY INTEREST FREE!
ENTER NOW AND SPREAD THE COST INTEREST FREE WITH OUR INSTALMENT PLAN

We’ve created a flexible, interest-free* instalment plan so you can choose how many months to spread the cost of your adventure. Choose to pay in full or in equal monthly instalments up to 3 months before your event date.

​* Once you sign up, Rat Race will set up a recurring monthly payment via Stripe. If a payment fails, you’ll receive reminders from Stripe and our team. After three failed contact attempts and no payment, your entry will be cancelled with no refund or transfer eligibility.

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£231.21

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/ Month

Pay in Full

2026

£2145

2027

£2245

/ Total Payment