CHOOSE TO FUNDRAISE FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND EARN UP TO A £375 REFUND ON YOUR ENTRY FEE. FIND OUT MORE.
DISCOVER ULTRA RUNNING IN SCOTLAND. YOUR NEXT ISLAND ADVENTURE AWAITS ON BEAUTIFUL ARRAN.
They say Arran is Scotland in miniature. From dense forests and coastal scenery in the south to crumbling castles and dramatic mountains in the north, the isle of Arran delights at every turn. The Ultra Tour of Arran is a 2-day off-road ultra running event that belongs on every runner's bucket list.
DISTANCE:
60 MILES (97 KM) ON FOOT
LOCATION:
ISLE OF ARRAN, SCOTLAND
DURATION:
2 DAYS
DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?
This adventure is for anyone with some experience of trail running and good base level of running fitness.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
GUIDES AND SUPPORT
Fully waymarked route with Pit Stop support en route
EXTRAS
High quality medal and rat rag for all participants.
TRANSFER POLICY
Flexible transfer policy up to 1 month before the event.
SAFETY
Professional 4x4 support vehicles, safety staff, mountain safety, medical and welfare. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
April 2024
"What an epic weekend. If you want a challenging race with lots of technical terrain, dramatic mountains, stunning coasts, this one is for you. Arran is such a special place you need to add it to the bucket list. Can’t fault the Rat Race team, the atmosphere was fantastic and the staff were so supportive. Everything ran smoothly and was well communicated. I’d give extra points for the snacks at check points!."
RAISE £750 AND GET UP TO £375 REFUNDED
SET UP YOUR JUST GIVING PAGE HERE OR FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITY PARTNERSHIP HERE
MORE INFORMATION:
We know you’ll love Arran, and it’s not just the trail running. The island itself has a lot to offer, with its own whisky distillery, artisan cheese, great food, history and a lovely ambience. And the trail running? Well, this wee piece of paradise has it all: Don’t let its size fool you, though – packing an ultra run into each day over a 2-day weekend, you’ll rack up 60 miles with some serious vertical gain. The mountains are high, the glens deep, the forests enchanting, and the coastal scenery stunning. Failte gu Eilean Arainn.
The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the uncertainty becomes certain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of a number of reasons, we cannot do so, and we need to wheel put Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But it is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons, and we must always reserve the right to do so. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you as soon as possible (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end!
Click ‘Buy Event Voucher’ and go through the sign-up process. You’ll then be issued an event voucher, which will automatically reserve your place in the event you have chosen.
Rat Race requires you to be over 18 on registration day for this ultra running 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.
At Rat Race we are determined to get you on the start line even when life throws up its own obstacles! 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, whether that be the same event a year later or a completely new adventure! Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. For Ultra Tour of Arran this is 1 calendar month before the date of the scheduled on the day Event Registration.Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit voucher are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy 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.
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.
Sorry, we cannot accommodate dogs on the route.
We recommend a comfortable shoe with a reasonable grip. All ultra running events involve mixed terrain, so whichever shoe you choose will always be a compromise. However, this is not an ultra running event for road shoes. We recommend trail running shoes, whether you are attempting day 1 only or the 2-day event.
Yes, BUT there are other surfaces. This is a mixed-terrain ultra running event. Day 1 is characterised by quiet paths, forest trails, some boardwalk sections, some tarmac while passing villages, and a lot of forest dirt road sections. Day 2 is virtually all off-road, and there are some serious mountain sections where the going is decidedly rough underfoot.
We will move you back to the Event Village. Note that some locations are not near roads so you may need to reach the next Pit Stop location in order to connect with our transport.
There will be 3 pit stops on the ultra running event route each day at distance intervals to be confirmed. Pit stops 1 and 3 will have water with some sweets. Pit stop 2 will have some more substantial food items and hot drinks – flapjack, cakes, tea, coffee and other snacks.
You can drive to Ardrossan Ferry Terminal, near Glasgow and take a modern and regular ferry across to Brodick on the Isle of Arran, which is where the Event Village will be set up. The crossing takes around 55 minutes and there are up to 10 crossings per day. There is no airport on Arran. You can park your car at Ardrossan and cross as foot passenger to connect with our free Event Village shuttle (recommended) or you can drive across and park on the island.
The ultra running event takes place over 2 days, with 2 distinct day stages. Day 1 starts at 8:30, and you have until 20:30 to cross the finish line. Day 2 starts at 7:30, and you have until 19:30 to cross the finishline. Cut-off times are in place throughout the ultra running course. If you are behind schedule to finish on time, there may be short-course options, although in all cases, we will endeavour to return you to the Event Village using event transport if you fail to meet the cut-off time.
Yes, if you wish to run just Day 1, you can, there is no option to run just Day 2. You will still need to enter UTA as a two-day ultra runner and then not start the second day. Please note that the price is the same, and there will be no medal for those who just run the first day.
The Ultra Tour of Arran is an achievable step up from a marathon into ultra running territory. However they do not call Arran ‘Scotland in miniature’ for nothing. Flat it is not. Elements of this ultra running event constitute serious mountain running (and there might even be snow on the ground in some locations), but is definitely achievable for the majority that have prepared well and put in the training miles. It is well-supported and fully way-marked. However, the mountain nature of elements of Day 2 will mean that you will need to have a heightened observance to the way-marking. At all other times, this way-marked route should be easy to follow.
Day 1 with the fastest person completing it in 6hrs 15 and the last person coming in just over 16 hours.
This kit list is from our 2023 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.
Carrying this kit is a requirement of the ultra running event and forms part of our planning in ensuring reasonable measures are put in place to keep you safe should anything go wrong during this adventurous endeavour. We ask you not to take shortcuts or ‘second guess’ our advice. For instance, the carrying of waterproofs is required even if rain is not forecast as a means to prevent cooling down too fast if you get injured in a location that is very exposed to wind – remember you may be very tired and sweaty, and who says the forecast is always right?
MANDATORY KIT
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Small Rucksack, Bum Bag or Ultra-Running Pocket Vest or other appropriate method of carrying your kit. BUY HERE
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Runner number: in your adventure pack
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Satellite Tracker: given to you at tracker collection. This should be put in the lid/outer pocket of your rucksack. Remember this must be returned at the end of the event.
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Trail Running Shoes: i.e. running shoes with some grip
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Hydration Bladder or Bottle(s) with a minimum of 2 litre capacity. BUY HERE
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Food – Min 400kcal (about 4 gels): Always plan to have excess. This is a MINIMUM and our meaning here is that you have this fuel on you as a minimum AT ALL TIMES. I.e. You always have 4 gels (or equivalent) as Emergency Supplies. Please take enough food to be out in the hills, possibly in poor conditions, for up to 8 hours. Ensure you have enough salt and calories in your food.
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Waterproof Jacket with TAPED or WELDED SEAMS as a minimum standard. BUY HERE
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Waterproof Trousers with TAPED or WELDED SEAMS as a minimum standard. BUY HERE (see photograph)
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Hat suitable to the conditions (a Rat Rag is OK). BUY HERE
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Gloves (lightweight running gloves are OK). BUY HERE
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Bivvi Bag (NOT a blanket): Essential for unplanned stops. BUY ONE HERE
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Basic First Aid Kit containing at least:
– A conformable roller bandage.
– Assorted adhesive dressings.
– Separate sterile absorbent material
(e.g. gauze or gauze bandage) suitable for compressing bleeding wounds -
Whistle: Effective for getting attention in an emergency. BUY ONE HERE
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Fully charged Mobile Phone with protection from water
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Full leg cover: Running tights are a good lightweight option – it’s the unplanned stops that you might need them for. This is additional to the waterproof Trousers
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Additional upper body thermal layer: an insulated jacket, baselayer or fleece are all good options – again for the unplanned stops. This is additional to the waterproof Jacket.
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GPS Tracker (supplied)
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Hand Sanitiser
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Reusable cup suitable for hot drinks. BUY ONE HERE
RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL KIT:
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A quality roll top type rucksack/bag liner is good for keeping your kit dry. BUY ONE HERE
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Technical Tee and/or a quality base layer.
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In foul weather, taking additional gloves, socks and a hat can be a help.
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Sun screen and sun glasses.
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Blister treatment kit.
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Some form of identification.
IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES FOR THE EVENT THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THE PRE-EVENT DOCUMENTATION
The emergency kit is important for several reasons:
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It helps you to help yourself should you have a problem.
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We are in this together and you may need to assist others if they have a problem.
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In the case of an incident our Race Control and Medical teams will make decisions based on the knowledge that you all have this equipment.
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Carrying the kit is a requirement for everyone and hence provides an equal and fair challenge.
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It is part of our risk assessment process that is shared with insurers. Your insurance may be invalid if you do not follow our advice.
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If your lack of kit preparation contributes to making an incident more serious, then you may be avoidably drawing resources from our medical team and the emergency services at the expense of others.
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Without the kit you will be unable to complete registration. If during the race you are not carrying the mandatory kit then you will be disqualified and deemed to have not completed the challenge.
WATERPROOFS AND BIVVY BAG NOTES
Our kit list includes waterproof trousers and jackets with TAPED SEAMS as a minimum standard. See photograph of what a taped seam look like in last year’s Essential Event Information here, so you know what our team will be checking. There is also a need for an emergency bivvy bag. Blankets are NOT acceptable as these do not meet the needs of having to survive when injured and immobile on a mountain side in bad weather while waiting for assistance.
There is no race pack without showing these items so best not arrive without them. This is non-negotiable. If you do not have these items already, then we have stock of reasonably priced waterproofs and bivvy bags here.
Example of taped seams
CAMPING PASS
Friday, Saturday and Sunday night camping for £75 per person.
Caravans and campervans are not allowed on the campsite.
CLICK HERE TO BUY A 2024 CAMPING PASS
EVENT T-SHIRT
Pre-order your Ultra Tour of Arran 2024 T-shirt to collect at the event registration.
£15 per t-shirt
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR 2024 EVENT TEE
PAY IN INSTALMENTS
£100.69
PER MONTH
INTEREST FREE!
SOLO ENTRY
£300
/ TOTAL PER PERSON
SIGN UP TODAY
PAIR ENTRY
£290
/ TOTAL PER PERSON
SIGN UP TODAY
Instalment price shown is for a solo entry per person.
A booking fee of 5.99% will be added to all payments.
PAY MONTHLY INTEREST FREE!
ENTER NOW AND SPREAD THE COST INTEREST FREE WITH OUR INSTALMENT PLAN
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*. The payments will be split equally allowing you to budget and plan for this stunning journey. All payments to be made before December the year before the event.
*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.
Please see here for full terms and conditions and our cancellation policy.
PROTECT YOUR NON-REFUNDABLE BOOKING WITH 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 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.
Absolutely loved Ultra Tour of Arran. Don't get me wrong, it was tough but the views, marshalls, local support and other runners made it a really enjoyable run..."
Claire F
"Top top work. Thank you for letting me enjoy Arran in such a painfully stunning way."
Simon Small
What an epic weekend. If you want a challenging race with lots of technical terrain, dramatic mountains, stunning coasts, this one is for you.Arran is such a special place you need to add it to the bucket list. Can’t fault the Rat Race team, the atmosphere was fantastic and the staff were so supportive.Everything ran smoothly and was well communicated. I’d give extra points for the snacks at check points!
Helen, Ultra Tour of Arran 2024 finisher
"Superb event, with a huge variety of terrain."
Everyone will remember the endless boggy marsh on day 1 and the literal climb to Goatfell summit on day 2. The rest was great too though, with some lovely coastal stretches and views. Full marks for those who set out the marker flags and tape keeping us on course and top top marks to the course designer for a properly challenging event.
Ian Rowe
Just back from Ultra Tour of Arran! What a stunning place, perfect for this event, which was by no means easy, a real tough challenge! Bogs, beautiful scenery, hills and mountains to climb, with some technical terrain, but as always Rat Race are there to help you achieve the very best you can and will do what they can to help you achieve it... we had a blast! My other half's first RR event, he picked a toughie, but he had a blast!! Thanks again RR and James :)
Suzanne, Ultra Tour of Arran 2024 finisher
"Thank you rat race for putting on the most epic, toughest, energy sapping course imaginable! It was unreal!!"
Also huge thanks to the staff and volunteers for keeping us going and feeding /helping us. Campsite was cracking and as always it was a good friendly bunch out there, Will be back!
Craig Hynd
"Definitely the toughest event i’ve done, but what a stunning course. Thanks to all the marshals, volunteers, base-camp staff and everyone involved."
Jan Stock
"Awesome weekend. Thanks to all the staff, volunteers and especially the friendly faces of the mountain rescue staff and medics (and dog) sitting on top of goat fell in rain, mist and strong wind."
Michael White
"From Laura and myself… thank you SO MUCH to all the volunteers and marshals, you guys are awesome! And a big thanks to the organisers for (as has been said a lot) a brutal event which tested us to our limits. So chuffed to finish! Arran you are beautiful, but an absolute beast!"
Alice McHollan
RAISE AT LEAST £750 (EXCLUDING GIFT AID) FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND GET YOUR ENTRY FEE ONLY (UP TO £375) REFUNDED!
Our longstanding partnership with Children with Cancer UK gives #ratracers the opportunity to raise much needed funds for this great cause in exchange for a refund of their entry fee. So far our #ratracers have raised over £2million for Children with Cancer UK and we would love for you to join the team to help us chase down that £3million target!
The funds you raise will be invested into vital specialist research to improve survival rates in children and young people and help more of them ring the end of treatment bell.
All you need to do is set up a Just Giving page here and start your fundraising! You will have until 1 month after the event date to hit your target and then send us the link to your page which will allow us to process your refund. Refunds will be made 2 – 3 months after the event completion date.
Refunds are not mandatory you are welcome to opt-out of receiving a refund. Should participants opt-out their refund will instead be used by Children with Cancer UK to help fund their research.
If you choose to support Children with Cancer UK and raise £750, you will also receive:
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A Children with Cancer UK fundraising and training pack
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Regular Children with Cancer UK updates
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A dedicated point of contact at the charity
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A technical Children with Cancer UK t-shirt to wear with pride
For more information on Children with Cancer UK please visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
Alternatively please contact the Sports Team on 020 7430 7788 or email sports@childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
Children with Cancer UK is a registered national charity (no. 298405)
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