Devil o’Highlands Footrace

The Devil o' Highlands Footrace is a 95% trail race going from Tyndrum to Fort William following the West Highland way. Registration opens the night before and is also available very early on the day of the race. This process is simple enough though does require photo id. You get your number, some safety pins and a timer chip thingie that come on a lanyard for registering at each check point. There are 4 checkpoints plus the finish.

This race starts at 6am, with the race briefing taking place about 15 minutes before. You are straight onto trail, landrover track style and some narrower parts for the first where you arrive at a single file tunnel under the railway. There can be queues here, but after that it's plan sailing and decent paths all the way to Bridge of Orchy at the mark and the first checkpoint. This has water and coke, though most runners seemed to keep going.

After this first checkpoint the crowds seem to thin out and you hit the first climb of the day, not the steepest or longest, just the first. You will look back on this section thinking it was the easiest part of the day with decent enough trail for most of it and taking you through Rannoch moor. There are a few climbs along the way but eventually you are in Glen Coe and heading towards the second checkpoint which is the first bag drop. This is at .

It is amazing how well organised the bag drop checkpoints are. Brilliant marshals here and everywhere on the race. Someone calls your number and before you are even at the table they have your bag to hand. Water and coke available, but no cups at the checkpoints so bring your own. Glen Coe is as beautiful as can be so enjoy this next section as much as you can. There is a short section of tarred road and the main road crossing before you finally hit trail again. This is bit more technical and runs alongside the main road before at you arrive at the foot of the Devil's staircase and the first big, steep climb. Great views as you climb over though most runners are walking at this stage. Once at the top there is a long downhill all the way to bag drop 2 at in the village of Kinlochleven. Again the brilliant marshals make this so easy and there are public toilets available. One thing to note is that runners who can't eat what they have in their bag drops leave it on a designated table for runners coming behind. Might be useful if you are running low.

After Kinlochleven there is a very short section on the main road running along the pavement. Perhaps this short section is the worst marked part of the West Highland Way as you quickly start to doubt you are heading in the right direction. A sign post does appear just before and takes you back onto an uphill trail for the last big climb of the day. Most of this is a walk as the gradient and path itself makes for tough running. At about you are on the start of a long undulating section which can be very tough on tired legs due to the loose stones on the path. It seems to stretch out for miles in front of you, and that's what is actually is. Some of the downhill section on this are steep with large steps making running very technical. At you hit the last checkpoint before the finish, but there is still some tough ground to cover. An undocumented water station was at which included watermelons and the start of a forest road to take you all the way to Cow hill. This arrives just before and Cow hill does an impression of Everest when your legs have covered such a long distance. Not long however until the downhill starts and you get to the finish.

The finish is amazing. Just before the finish line there is a checkpoint, then round the corner with about over grass to the finish with lots of cheers. Another couple of check ins to do including handing over the timing thingie.

What a race, what an event, what wonderful marshals and what wonderful fellow runners along the way. Get this on your to do list.