Ring of Steall Skyrace™

Logo featuring stylized mountain peaks in blue and green with the text 'RING OF STEALL SKYRACE' underneath.

The Nature of the Challenge

The organisers have an obligation to ensure that the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ is as safe as possible, but without diminishing the nature of the challenge. The nature of the challenge is serious and there is a risk of serious injury or death whilst participating in this event. 

The Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ follows in the tradition of skyrunning, which consists of uncompromising mountain running, such as scrambling along mountain ridges with steep ascents, traverses and descents on technical and challenging terrain. The Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ route is only suitable for experienced and competent mountain runners.

If you do not explicitly understand these terms, or have no direct personal experience of scrambling and mountain ridges, then the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ is not suitable for you. 

The race route traverses high and remote mountainous terrain. Once committed to some sections of the race route, especially the ridges, it is difficult to retreat from the race route. 

The entire route is subject to rapidly changing, highly variable and extremely severe weather. For this reason, competitors must be capable of a ‘robust completion’ of the route in all but the most serious weather conditions. 

The route is very rough underfoot with long sections of rock and scree-covered terrain. There is an enormous amount of ascent and descent. 

  • GPS Route Data

    This route is only roughly drawn to show the route! Competitors must follow the race signs on race day and NOT rely on their GPS for the route. The organisers retain the right to alter the race route at any time.

    You can either download the 2023 GPX file or use the Outdooractive app on your phone:

    Route Statistics
    Approximately 52km / 4,000m

    Route Description
    The Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra™ is a challenging mountain ultra, set in the most tremendous mountain scenery. The race has the considerable objective of summiting the highest mountain in the UK within its route of 52km and 4,000m ascent. Ben Nevis is certainly not the only Scottish ‘Munro’ in the route: Four other Munros are summited, famous glens are visited, tremendous waterfalls, rivers, gorges and lochs are passed, while two distinctly different mountain ranges are traversed: The Mamores (twice) and the loftier Grey Corries. Certainly, one of the strongest memories - at 20km - will be the passage along the airy CMD Arête, that connects Càrn Mòr Dearg summit to Ben Nevis itself. In-between the mountains, the route follows a mixture of ancient established paths, glen paths and forest tracks; many of which are the type of superb single track that trail-runners dream of! The final section of the route merges into the Ring of Steall Skyrace route for the completion of the final three Munros. World-class in all respects, this stern route will be a tremendous achievement, with a return to Kinlochleven in sub 12-hours.

    In terms of runnablity, here is how the route breaks down:

    • 70% / 36.5km. Single-Track: Always runnable. Usually gravel or soft peaty ground. Gravel = sometimes good and well drained surfaces, excepting puddles. Peat = often wet and slippery surfaces, and perhaps with wet and muddy ditch crossings. Runners in single file and sometimes fanning out to find best ditch crossings.

    • 13% / 6.5km. Double-Track: Always runnable. Usually Glen and Estate tracks and Forest tracks. Often well-drained surfaces, excepting puddles. Runners will have room to run side-by-side. 

    • 10% / 5.5km. Trackless: Typically ground that may be ridge boulders, bedrock, gravel, heather, and rough grass. This ground is usually runnable if; a) it’s not too steep in ascent, b) it’s not too wet, c) it’s not too rough, d) you are fit and practised enough and e) you have good traction. Most of these terrain types are possible to descend whilst running. 

    • 7% / 3.5km. Road-Tarmac: Always runnable. Tarmac sealed open (not closed to traffic) public roads. 

    Coire Giubhsachan
    Coire Giubhsachan is ecologically very special and sensitive. As such it is protected by a number of significant conservation designations. Our route through here has only been agreed after careful consultations, and follows virtually trackless ground for 3km (in the segment 16-19km), which is the approach to the saddle before Càrn Mòr Dearg. It is essential that runners follow our precise route markings in this area, and if conducting a recce before the event, follow the digital route we have provided above.

    Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête
    The route ascends Carn Mor Dearg and then traverses The Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête (known as the CMD Arête) towards the summit of Ben Nevis. This features some easy but intimidating scrambling where competitors may need to use their hands occasionally and will certainly feel the exposure of this mountain ridge.

    Ben Nevis summit area
    Ben Nevis has a large summit plateau, and as you summit you are likely to be amongst many tourist visitors, most of whom will be using the main summit path that you descend. Keeping to the main path and our route is important, for both safety and path adherence reasons.

    An Gearanach ridge
    The route traverses the An Gearanach ridge. This is between An Gearanach and Stob Coire a’ Chairn, which also features some occasional scrambling where competitors may need to use their hands occasionally and might feel exposed on the steep rocky terrain.

    Fixed Ropes 
    There will be no fixed ropes to safeguard any sections of the route and competitors must be confident to move safely over easy scrambling terrain in all but the most severe weather conditions. 

    Cut-Offs

    Cut-offs are designed to give people best chance to enjoy as much of the course as possible, whilst stopping people from entering the highest/most dangerous/most exposed ground if they will not be able to complete the course before the Course Closure time. Participants will need to be well ahead of the Cut-off times at CP 6 and 7 in order to complete the course.

    There will be cut-offs at Checkpoints 3, 6 and 7. These cut-offs are based on a desire to have all competitors safely off the higher sections of the course before dark and finished by the Course Closure Time, which is 20:30. These cut-offs are based on a 08:00 start time. The cut-offs are:

    • Checkpoint 3 (Steall Ruin Footbridge at 14.5km) = 11:30

    • Checkpoint 6 (Glen Nevis Visitor Centre at 29km) = 15:00

    • Checkpoint 7 (Lower Falls Car Park at 35km) = 15:55

    Competitors must have departed from these Checkpoints by the cut-off time. These cut-off times are based on a maximum overall 12h30 completion time for the entire route.

    Course Closure Time: 20:30

    Competitors can only competitively complete the course if they finish within the course opening times; finishing after 20:30 will result in competitors being timed out and therefore no medal or competitive result time will be issued.

    Support Points 
    There will be one low-level support point at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (29km) where food and water will be available to the competitors, two low-level Cut-Off management points, and numerous high-level checkpoints, all where no food or water will be available but emergency aid from the event team will be possible. Due to the remote nature of the route, competitors will need to carry their own safety equipment, food and fluids as described in the mandatory clothing and equipment section. The low-level support point in Glen Nevis Visitor Centre is approximately half-way along the race route and a long way from the Start/Finish in Kinlochleven.

    Family, friends and members of the public are welcome at the low-level support point and hot/cold drinks, food and portable toilets will be available for competitors and supporters alike. You are also welcome to spectate anywhere on the route, including the mountains - this is a great support experience for runners, spectators and walkers - why not take the hassle out of organising this and book onto our guided walk?

    Retirements
    The race route traverses high and remote mountainous terrain. Once committed to many sections of the race route it is difficult to retreat. Any competitor retiring from the race (or indeed any spectator on the mountains) is likely to face a long walk along the race route (either continuing onwards or retracing their steps) into a glen (valley). Competitors should expect long sections of the route to have no marshals and they will only find signs marking the route.

  • Bad Weather GPS Route Data
    This route is only roughly drawn to show the route! Competitors must follow the race signs on race day and NOT rely on their GPSfor the route. The organisers retain the right to alter the race route at any time.

    You can download the 2023 GPX file or use the Outdooractive app on your phone:

    Bad Weather Route Statistics
    Approximately 47km / 1,700m

    Bad Weather Route Description
    It is reasonably unlikely that this Bad Weather Route will be required.

    The Bad Weather Route is still a very significant, lengthy and challenging mountain run and should not be underestimated especially if conditions are very poor. 

    In keeping with the ethos of the Salomon Skyline Scotland® races, this Bad Weather Route is challenging with reasonable height gain, great variability in the terrain including river crossings and traverses of exposed upland trails. It avoids all of the exposed summit scrambling terrain and it will only be used if the weather is forecast to be very poor during the race. We must reiterate that competitors must be confident to move safely over exposed terrain in all but the most severe weather conditions. After CP3, the route stays low in Glen Nevis on main trails, and in forests, still to reach the existing Glen Nevis Visitor Centre Support Point (Called CP5 for the Bad Weather Course). After which the route uses the established and popular, though still remote, West Highland Way to reach the Finish at Kinlochleven.

    There will be no fixed ropes to safeguard any sections of the route. 

    Bad Weather Course Closure Time: 18:00
    Competitors can only competitively complete the course if they finish within the course opening times; finishing after 18:00 will result in competitors being timed out and therefore no medal or competitive result time will be issued.

    Bad Weather Cut-offs
    There will be a Cut-Off at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre Support Point (CP 5 for the Bad Weather Course) at 14:15. Competitors must have departed from this Point by the Cut-Off time. There is then an additional Cut-Off at CP6, of 15:45. Any runner, at any point on the route, will be retired from the race if they have no chance of finishing before the Course Closure Time, at 18:00. We will be able to develop this retirement intervention once we start to see time splits between Checkpoints during the race, using our GPS tracking data. It is unlikely that interventions will be required as the 9-hour course open duration very achievable for this Bad Weather Route at lower altitudes.

    Competitors must have departed from these Checkpoints by the cut-off time. These cut-off times are based on a maximum overall 9-hour completion time for the entire bad weather route.
    Experienced but slower competitors are very welcome at the race but please note that the cut-offs will be strictly enforced. 

    Bad Weather Support Points 
    There will be one low-level support point at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (26km) where food and water will be available to the competitors, two low-level Cut-Off management points, and numerous high-level checkpoints, all where no food or water will be available but emergency aid from the event team will be possible. Due to the remote nature of the route, competitors will need to carry their own safety equipment, food and fluids as described in the mandatory clothing and equipment section. The low-level support point in Glen Nevis Visitor Centre is approximately half-way along the race route and a long way from the Start/Finish in Kinlochleven.

    Family, friends and members of the public are welcome at the low-level support point and hot/cold drinks, food and portable toilets will be available for competitors and supporters alike. You are also welcome to spectate anywhere on the route, including the mountains - this is a great support experience for runners, spectators and walkers - why not take the hassle out of organising this and book onto our guided walk?

    Bad Weather Retirements
    The race route traverses high and remote mountainous terrain. Once committed to many sections of the race route it is difficult to retreat. Any competitor retiring from the race (or indeed any spectator on the mountains) is likely to face a long walk along the race route (either continuing onwards or retracing their steps) into a glen (valley). Competitors should expect long sections of the route to have no marshals and they will only find signs marking the route.