Posts for December, 2024

Generously sponsored by Fred.Olsen Renewables, Cairngorm to Coast (aka C2C) is a 100km hike and bike challenge that takes place against the backdrop of the magnificent Cairngorm National Park and along the beautiful scenery of the Dava Way. Taking you from the dizzy heights of the Highlands to the coast of Moray; it’s the area’s most gruelling, but stunning challenge event.

C2C is split into three categories: hike, hike & bike and bike only. Following the same route, starting at Cairngorm Ski Centre carpark, it’s a hike or bike down to Glenmore Forest, towards Nethy Forest and on to Nethy Bridge before joining the Speyside Way to Grantown on Spey (GOS). From GOS, they take the Dava Way to Forres and then a local Sustrans route to Lossiemouth

Hike Only (30km)

You will depart Lossiemouth at 7am for the Cairngorm ski centre car park. Starting at 9am from Cairngorm, you will hike 30km to the Royal British Legion Scotland in Grantown on Spey, where you will receive your finishing medal and can enjoy a hot meal. (Age 10+)

Hike & Bike (30km/70km)

Depart Lossiemouth 7am for a 9am start at Cairngorm Mountain car park. You’ll hike 30km to Grantown where your bike and cycling kit will be waiting, ready for your 70km cycle to Lossiemouth and receive your finisher’s medal. (Age 14+)

Bike Only (100km)

Depart Lossiemouth at 9am for staggered start from 11am at Cairngorm Mountain car park. Cycle 30km to Grantown on Spey for hot food and drinks, then further 70km to Lossiemouth for your finisher’s medal. (Age 14+)

Whether you are just starting out in the sport, or an experienced triathlete chasing a PB, this event will give you the chance to push yourself whilst experiencing some of the best views the Cairngorms has to offer.

Join us at Loch Insh Outdoor Centre on Sunday 22nd June 2025!

Registration will be open from 9:30am at Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, giving you plenty of time to set up your transition zone.

Fitnessat58° Founder, Sam Cairns will lead an event brief and warm up on Loch Insh beach at 11:45am, before the race begins at 12pm.

The race will start and finish is at Loch Insh Outdoor Centre. There will be vehicles available for you to leave your belongings during the race.

Car parking will be available at the Kincraig Shinty Pitch, next to the Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, just two minute walk from the car park to registration.

The Speyside Triathlon Distances

1. 500m swim

2. 18km cycle – 70% gravel/forest tracks and 30% road

3. 10km run – 90% gravel/forest tracks and 10% road

Outsider Events are excited to bring to you a bigger and better 5th edition of Blair Castle Trail Weekender on the 30 May – 1 June 2025.

The 2025 event features a wider range of trail races and exciting edition of our evening talks, and range of live music on the Saturday evening…Plus, the first feature of the Atholl Trail Half Marathon!

Staged within the grounds of the iconic Blair Castle on the Atholl Estate, this weekend of trail running has races from Kids, 7km right up to the 60km ‘Full Tilt Ultra’.

All respective races start at the event village based in the grounds of Blair Castle which nestles at the base of the Cairngorm national park.

From here on out, depending on your choice of race, runners either loop round past Hercules Gardens and back to the start, fork off up the winding Glen Tilt or head toward the 1009m high summit of Ben Dearg. Which trail will you take?

The Grantown-on-Spey Triathlon is held in the picturesque capital of Strathspey set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. The annual event attracts competitors with all levels of experience, but is mainly targeted at novices of all ages competing as individuals or in teams.

Swim
300 metres (15 lengths of a 20 metre pool)
Cycle
16 kilometres (10 miles) circuit round the Grantown Braes through some spectacular Highland scenery
Run
4.8 kilometres (3 miles) through the Anagach Woods

Join us for a cycling event and a fun and inclusive weekend in a great natural environment.

The Cateran Dirt Dash bikepacking event takes you in two days through the stunning surroundings of the Cairngorms National Park to enjoy the dramatic scenery in the Cateran Ecomuseum.

It’s the perfect way to experience the rugged beauty of Scotland’s only museum without walls. This event has a shorter route than the Dashes in Yorkshire and Dunoon; it’s the perfect introduction to bikepacking in Scotland.

Glenshee likes to keep us on our toes. Historically, there has either been not enough snow or too much snow. However, there is no denying when Glenshee is good, she is very good.

If conditions allow, we do plan to hold the British Skimo Championships on Saturday 1st March 2025 at Glenshee.

For those in the know, there seems to be little point in advertising a course because it always changes. Who knows where we will go but there will be multiple ascents and descents. There is very likely to be more than one lap with a harsh cut off time – dictated by the fastest racer of the day. The final course will only be known on the day but the maps below will give some idea for ideal conditions. The fastest racer is declared the winner.

We will plan to race on Saturday 1st March but if the conditions are unfavourable we will race on the Sunday. We will not reschedule this race if we have to cancel.

The event is to be based from the beautiful setting of Mar Lodge, three miles to the west of Braemar. With an excellent choice of terrain the area is superb for ultra running with many well maintained trails, tracks and paths leading you into the heart of the mountains.

​The Cairngorms Ultra Trail takes you on a journey through this wild & majestic landscape right in the heart of the Cairngorms. The route provides some stunning, remote, mountainous scenery. This will be a unique experience in a wild massif.

Experience extensive views across to the vast plateau around the Cairngorms’ most dramatic corries & summits, including Ben Macdui, Braeriach & Cairn Toul, the UK’s second,third & fourth highest mountains

Visits both the major Cairngorm Lairig passes – the Lairig an Laoigh and Lairig Ghru

Through the magnificent Caledonian pinewoods of Glens Derry, Luibeg & Quoich.

Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Brechin City FC, Seafield Park, kick-off 2pm (note early kick-off time). Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow car parking at Burnfield Ave. car park (200m). Snack bar, raffle drawn at half-time, team-sheets, merchandise. Weather permitting – please check website and all social media for latest updates.

Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Buckie Thistle FC, Seafield Park, 2pm (note early kick-off time). Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Ave. car park (200m). Snack bar, raffle drawn at half-time, team-sheets, merchandise. N.B. Weather permitting – check website and all social media for latest match updates.

Highland League: Strathspey Thistle FC v Keith FC, Seafield Park, 2pm (note early kick-off time). Snack bar, raffle drawn at half-time, team-sheets, merchandise. Car parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission. Overflow parking at Burnfield Ave. car park (200m). N.B. Weather permitting – please check website and all social media for latest updates.