For those wishing to take on the ‘Race Across Scotland®’, you must have a solid background of endurance/ultrarunning before taking on the event. In addition, you must be able to self-navigate using a map and compass.

You can apply to take part using the online application form giving full details of your experience to date.

Participants must be at least 20 years old on race-day (Rule T3 (141) S5 UKA Trail Running), in good health and must have had their application successfully approved to confirm their capability is sufficient to take on the Race Across Scotland®! 

GB Ultras will also capture details regarding any medical conditions, allergies and dietary requirements prior to race day. In addition, we will also request details of any supporters you may be bringing to the event.

Start Venue & Race HQ

Portpatrick Community Hub, Portpatrick Harbour, Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway, DG9 8AN.

Friday 7th August 2026.

5.30pm – 9.00pm – Race Registration, Race Number Collection & Dropbags handed in.

Saturday 8th August 2026 – Race Day

4.15am – 5.30am – Race Registration, Race Number Collection, Dropbags handed in & Race Tracker Collection

6.00am – Race Start.

Finish Line

Southern Upland Way, Cockburnspath Village Hall, Callander Place, Cockburnspath, TD13 5XY.

If you arrive after 5:30am on Saturday morning, you will only be able to register, leave your dropbag(s) and collect your bib number & tracker AFTER the race has started. No additional time will be given for checkpoint cutoffs.

The 215 Mile Race Across Scotland Ultra-marathon has 12 Checkpoints en route with the principal aim of maintaining the highest level of support possible across the Southern Upland Way.  Please note distances to checkpoints are approximate and diversions may apply affecting the distance. 

Participants will be updated pre-race or during the race with any course changes, checkpoint changes, low level routes being actioned due to severe conditions or any cut off times changing granting additional time.

Each Checkpoint provides refreshments including cola, tailwind, water and juice as well as a variety of  snacks such as sandwiches, salted potatoes, fruit, snacks, crisps and biscuits and, at Village Halls, hot food will be provided too. We reserve the right to change the locations of Checkpoints. Please note that there are no facilities or refreshments at the bothy locations.

Runners must be self-sufficient between checkpoints, but are allowed a Support Crew from Glentrool (Checkpoint 3) onwards. Runners must also carry all items detailed in the Mandatory Kit section and must carry their days food with them along with emergency rations due to the inaccessibility of the route should a runner become lost or injured.

Cut-off times per checkpoint are implemented by GB Ultras, and will be strictly enforced, to ensure the safe and proper running of the event and include the length of time taken to complete sections of the route.  There is a strict 100 hour cut off time for the event.

The locations of the Checkpoints are:

Checkpoint 1 – 13.2 Miles
Castle Kennedy Fuel Station, DG9 8RY. NX10830 59755.
Cut-off 11:51 Saturday
NO SUPPORT CREWS PERMITTED

Checkpoint 2 – 22.4 Miles
New Luce, DG8 0NB. NX19075 64985.
Cut off 15:54 Saturday.
NO SUPPORT CREWS PERMITTED

Emergency Shelter – 27 Miles
Beehive Bothy, Kilgallioch Windfarm
NO SUPPORT CREWS PERMITTED

Checkpoint 3 – 45.8 Miles
Glentrool Hive, Glentrool Village, Newton Stewart, DG8 6SY
Cut off 02:48 Sunday.
PLEASE SEE ‘SUPPORT CREWS’ SECTION FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Emergency Shelter – 54 Miles
White Laggan Mountain Bothy – Loch Dee 

Checkpoint 4 – 68.2 Miles
St Johns Town of Dalry Village Hall, Ayr Road, DG7 3SW
NX61895 81190
Cut off 12:59 Sunday. 

Emergency Shelter – 85 Miles
Chalk Memorial Bothy – Poleskeoch
NO SUPPORT CREWS PERMITTED

Checkpoint 5 – 94.4 Miles
Sanquhar Town Hall, Church Road, Sanquhar, DG4 6DF
Cut Off 00:54 Monday 

Checkpoint 6 – 102.3 Miles
Wanlockhead Community Centre, Church Street, ML12 6UT
NS87400 12950
Cut-off 04:29 Monday
SUPPORT CREWS – PLEASE ENSURE YOU PARK IN THE LOCATION SPECIFIED IN THE ‘SUPPORT CREWS’ SECTION AND NOT AT/NEAR THE CHECKPOINT

Checkpoint 7 – 122.3 Miles
Beattock Village Hall, Craigielands Village, DG10 9QZ
NT07935 02295
Cut off 13:35 Monday
NO SUPPORT CREWS PERMITTED

Emergency Shelter – 132 Miles
Over Phawhope Bothy
NO SUPPORT CREWS PERMITTED

Checkpoint 8 – 139.4 Miles
Boston Memorial Hall, Scabcleuch, Ettrick, Selkirk, TD7 5JB
Cut off 21:21 Monday 

Checkpoint 9 – 157.5 Miles
Traquair Village Hall, 1 The Bield, Traquair, Innerleithen, EH44 6PJ
Cut off 05:35 Tuesday 

Checkpoint 10 – 170.5 Miles
Focus Community Centre, Livingstone Place, Galashiels, TD1 1DQ
Cut off 11:29 Tuesday

Checkpoint 11 – 185.6 Miles
Lauder Scout Hall, W High St, Lauder TD2 6TE
Cut Off 18:21 Tuesday 

Checkpoint 12 – 198.2 Miles
The Watch Fishery Lodge, Longformacus, Near Duns, TD11 3PG
Cut-off 00:04 Wednesday 

Finish – 220 Miles (approximate overall distance due to checkpoints slightly off the SUW route)
Cockburnspath Village Hall, Callander Place, TD13 5XY.
NT77363 71195
Cut off 10:00 Wednesday (Total time 100 Hours) 

Runners are permitted to have their own Support Crew during the race, please see the separate section for information on what Support Crews can and cannot do.

Runners must make their own prior arrangements for accommodation and transport before and after the event.

The Mandatory Kit stipulated in this section must be carried at all times during the Race Across Scotland.  It is the duty of the participant to be self-sufficient throughout the event. The Checkpoints merely support your progress.

Please ensure that you acquire all items in the list below well in advance of race day.
The items in the Mandatory Kit list will not be available to purchase at Race Registration.

Full kit checks will be conducted during Race Registration and participants who cannot present all items in the list below will not be permitted to start the race.

Mandatory Kit

Hardcopy Southern Upland Way Map – available at Harvey Maps  – 20% discount code for the Harvey Map upon sign up to the Race is available, please use discount code GBULTRARAC .
Waterproof coat with sealed seams (Gore-Tex or similar) – minimum 10,000mm
Waterproof trousers
Base plate Compass
Long Sleeved Base layer (kept in a drybag separate from Starting kit)
Whistle
Water bottle or bladder -min 1 litre capacity
Fully charged mobile phone
Survival/thermal Bag or Bivvy bag
Headtorch (minimum 75 lumens) and spare batteries
Backup lightsource (minimum 25 lumens) – this cannot be your mobile phone or watch.
Water purification tablets or Filter
Emergency Food Rations (500 Calories) – these must only be consumed in the event of an emergency and not if you get hungry inbetween checkpoints
GPS Tracker (Provided by GB Race Tracker prior to the Race).
Warm hat
Gloves

Recommended Kit

GPS Handheld device
Sun protection/head cover
Insect repellent 
Tick remover
Electrolytes/S-caps 
First aid kit
Power bank(s) and charging cable

Please be aware GB Ultras Races are cupless events. You must bring your own cup to take drinks from. You can buy a GB Ultras reusable cup CLICK HERE to visit the shop.

Runners can utilise a dropbag facility to transport a change of kit/supplies to three checkpoints during the race and also at the finish line venue.

Two bags will be permitted per participant as follows:

Dropbag 1 will be accessible at Checkpoint 4 (St Johns Town of Dalry) & Checkpoint 11 (Lauder Scout Hall).

Once Checkpoint 4 has closed, the bag will be transported to Checkpoint 11. Once Checkpoint 11 has closed, the bag will then be transported to the finish venue. This dropbag is expected to arrive at the Finish Venue by 22:00 on Tuesday 12th August but this is subject to any requirement to keep Checkpoint 11 open for any late arriving runners. We will be able to provide updates on the arrival time of dropbags once we have received confirmation that Checkpoint 11 has closed.

Dropbag 2 will be accessible at  Checkpoint 7 (Beattock Village Hall) and the Finish Venue.

Once Checkpoint 7 has closed, the bag will be transported to the finish venue. This dropbag is expected to arrive at the Finish Venue by 20;00 on Monday 11th August.

Dropbag sizes and weight:

The maximum dimensions of dropbags we will accept is 55cm x 40m x 20cm.  Dropbags must be no heavier than 7kg. Bags larger than the maximum capacity size  and weight will be refused transport.

If travelling light, you can purchase one of our drybags from our online store here.

Dropbags can be left at race registration ONLY either on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

OVERSEAS RUNNERS – may bring a separate small suitcase (cabin bag size, max 10kg) which will be transported directly to the finish venue.

Support crews are more than welcome to pick up dropbags providing prior authorisation is given by the runner (at Race Registration) and early collection by the runner is fine too.  Please note dropbags located at checkpoints during the race will only make their way to the finish venue when the checkpoint in question closes.

In the event that you withdraw from the race before reaching the finish, you must collect your dropbags from the finish venue.  Dropbags will not be transported to other locations along the route.  Any dropbags not collected from the finish line will be disposed of after the event.  We are not able to post out dropbags that are not collected.

No Pacers or Support Runners are permitted.  Participants observed running with another person who is not entered in the race will be disqualified.

We’ll be posting the links to the official media team photographs here after the race has finished.  Please keep checking back to find yours.

Processing and editing the photographs does take some time so please allow 48-72 after conclusion of the race for the links to be added.

We’ll also be adding photographs taken by the event team on our Race Across Scotland Facebook page and in the GB Ultras Community Facebook Group as well!

2024 Event Photographs

Dan Bentley Photography. Finish Line photos and black & white headshots. Printed versions of the digital images can be purchased here: Photo Order Form

David Murch (Mick Hall Photography). Start Line, Finish Line and course photographs.

Lizzie Plant – Blackstar Scotland. Finish Line and course photographs

Joel Jameson. Start Line. Course photographs – Album 1, Album 2, Album 3, Album 4, Album 5, Album 6, Album 7, Album 8, Album 9, Album 10, Album 11, Album 12, Album 13.

GB Ultras Event Team. Finish Line and course photographs

Monika Dratwa. Start Line, Finish Line and course photographs

2025 Event Photographs

Dan Bentley Photography – Finisher and Canvas Portraits

Also Dan Bentley Finish line shots

David Murch (Mick Hall Photos): Registration, Start line and course photos

GB Ultras Event Team:

Joel Jameson: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5.

Ridgeline Media: Start line, Course Photos and Finish Line

Evan Davies. Start Line, and course photographs

Neil Shearer Photography: Start Line and Day 1, course photographs and Finish Line

The results for the 2025 Race Across Scotland will be available real-time during the event and we’ll update this page with the link prior to the event.  In the meantime, please click on the ‘2023 Results’ or ‘2024 Results’ link above to see previous years results. 

As each runner crosses the finish line, their race chip records their individual finishing position and finishing time.

Your position and time shown in the results link is your official result. Please note that the tracking system is different to the timing system and has no bearing on your chip time or result.

To ensure that every runner is looked after and accounted for sleep is only permitted at Village Halls, Designated Venues & Checkpoints, or at Support Vehicles where Support Crews are permitted to park. It is not permitted to book accommodation away from the trail as this is a Race.

This is also to ensure everyone is treated equally in the Race Across Scotland.

If you see a runner experiencing difficulties during Race Across Scotland please inform Checkpoint Marshals. Each runner should save Race HQ mobile numbers on their mobile phone. This will be provided in your race instructions which will be emailed to all participants approximately 2 weeks prior to race day.

No roads are closed en route so please exercise due diligence and care at all times. This will mean that participants have to slow, possibly stop to cross roads.

Participants mobile phones must be switched on at all times and must be used only in emergency to conserve battery power should the need arise.

Participants who lose time helping another fallen participant, struggling against the cut off time due to this reason, can claim this time back, subject to Race Director discretion, Checkpoint/Village Hall hire availability and event team/medical team availability, and under the proviso of completing within their new, extended cut off period.

Prior to the event, all participants must make their own transport arrangements for getting home and NO participant should be in charge of a car directly after the event.

Runners can have their own Support Team/Crew to support their Race. Please ensure that you have briefed each member of your Crew with the following information:

• No more than two Support Crew members supporting an individual runner are permitted in a checkpoint at any one time.
• A single vehicle per runner is permitted at each checkpoint. Support crews must not arrive at checkpoints more than 30 minutes prior to their runners expected arrival time. If you do so, you will be asked to leave and return at a later time. You can follow your runners progress via the live tracker to ensure that you don’t arrive too early.
• Support crew members must not impede checkpoint teams nor other runners.
• Support crews must not take the food nor drink from checkpoints except for their runner unless given permission to do so.
• Support Crews must respect Event Staff and are not permitted into kitchen areas unless given permission to do so by the Checkpoint Manager.   Failure to do so will result in the Support crew being asked to leave the venue and possible time implications or disqualification of the runner.
• Support Crews are responsible for their own rubbish and must take it with them.  Support Crews are not permitted to leave rubbish with the Checkpoint Teams.
• Support Crew members are not permitted to run, walk or cycle alongside their participant during the race.

During night time periods or if it is obvious runners are sleeping at a checkpoint it is essential that Support Crews respect other runners and keep noise to a minimum or they will be asked to leave the venue.

Support Crews are not permitted to travel to the following locations:

• Checkpoint 1 (essential access only)
• Checkpoint 2
• All locations between Checkpoint 1 & 3 – this means you cannot meet your runner at any point on the course until Checkpoint 3.
• Checkpoint 7
• On the B7067 at Knowe (to ensure access for care of elderly residents is not affected)

Support crews turning up at locations where they are not permitted will result in their runner being disqualified from the event.

At Checkpoint 3 (Glentrool), Support Crews are not permitted in the hall where the checkpoint is located. The Glentrool Hive has a gift shop that also sells cake and hot drinks and Support Crews are welcome in there.  Car parking is very restricted and Support Crews are to head to Glentrool Visitors Centre where there is a very large car park and you will also have the opportunity to see your runner twice. There is also a cafe within the Visitors Centre. what3words location – ///developed.weeds.laying

At Checkpoint 6 (Wanlockhead), Support Crews must not park at the checkpoint location or in the surrounding roads.  To respect the wishes of the local community and to ensure emergency vehicle access is maintained, Support Crew vehicles must park on the Mining Museum Overflow Car Park (access location ///stint.flushes.roofs) and walk from there.  Support Crews observed parking elsewhere in this area may result in their runner being disqualified from the event. 

At Checkpoint 9 (Traquair), during the hours of 22:00 and 08:00 Support Crews must provide support to their runner inside the Checkpoint ONLY. This is to ensure residents are not disturbed and to ensure we can continue to have use of the Checkpoint location in the future. Please ensure any noise at this Checkpoint is kept to an absolute minimum.

Dogs are not permitted at any of the checkpoints or the finish venue (with the exception of Service Dogs)

For those with a Support Crew, we require a Name, Contact Number and email address for your Support Crew prior to the event – this will be requested in the lead up to the race. We will also request the vehicle registration of your support crew vehicle(s). Emails will be sent to your Support Crew contact containing information which must be carried with them at all times during the race.

Due to the type of event, participants must also inform their support crews that there is limited availability of shops on the route. Ensure that you have advised your support crew to have sufficient food and water for themselves during their journey.  Event food and refreshments are not for support crews.

There is a large distance between towns and villages on the route.  Please ask support crews to monitor their fuel levels and top up when they reach fuel stations to reduce the likelihood of breakdown in a hard to reach area.  The Event Team are focused on managing the event and are not able to provide support crew assistance.

There is sometimes low or no signal area in the Southern Uplands, particularly near dense forests or in valleys when passing mountains.

The Support Crew Access Points below are recommendations of possible points that your support crew can get their vehicle closer to their runner during the race. However, you must ensure that your vehicle is suitable for the route and terrain. Some points may be more suitable for a 4×4 vehicle. If you get stuck and require assistance, this may involve a very long walk to an area with mobile network coverage!

Some access points are via single track roads with very limited passing places meaning oncoming traffic will require one of the vehicles to reverse for a long period of time.

Additional access points:

Full details of the terms and conditions of entry can be found here.

Our Privacy Policy can be found here.

In the lead up to the Race, GB Ultras Running Club organise training runs covering sections of the route to help build confidence and prepare runners for the upcoming race.

Full details of the training runs for this event can be found here.

Full details of the terms and conditions of entry can be found here. A summary of the withdrawal and refund policy is provided below.