Welcome to the 18th Highland Fling Race
The 2026 race takes place on Saturday 29th August and is a point-to-point trail ultramarathon along the southern 53 miles (85km) of Scotland’s iconic West Highland Way trail through the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park from Milngavie to Tyndrum.
EVENT DETAILS
- Distance: 53 miles (85 km)
- Ascent 2300m / Descent 2100m
- Terrain: 90% trail / 10% road
- Point-to-point waymarked route (no navigation required)
- Live chip timing
- Free luggage transport from race start to race finish
- Drop bag system in operation - three food drop bags available
- Free showers at race finish
- Free home-made food & drinks at race finish
- Heated marquees to relax in at race finish
- Free post-race massage
- Free official event photos
- Event Afterparty in marquee at race finish (BYOB & donation bar)
- Event Buses available pre-race - to the race start from Tyndrum and Glasgow West End, and post-race - from Tyndrum back to the start in Milngavie (extra cost)
ENTRY CRITERIA
To qualify for the 2026 event, you must have completed an ultramarathon, a road marathon or trail marathon AFTER 1ST JANUARY 2024. If your longest race is a road marathon, your finish time must be under 5 hours. If you have completed a trail marathon, any finish time is acceptable. If you have completed an ultramarathon (on road or trail) any finish time is acceptable. If you have completed a road marathon in over 5 hours BUT it was at the end of an Ironman, that's acceptable.
If you haven't already completed such an event, you have until 1st June 2026 to do so.
If you have completed some sort of a long distance off-road event that doesn't quite meet our entry criteria, please email team@highlandflingrace.org before submitting your entry.
Long fell/hill races and very long distance trail walking events may be accepted at our discretion. Please note that Half Ironman events are not sufficient and GPS data from training runs will not be accepted.IMPORTANT EVENT RULES
- Runners are not allowed external support at any time. No support runners/pacers. Spectators are welcome at specific locations.
- All runners must carry an emergency foil blanket, a waterproof jacket with hood and taped seams, waterproof trousers with taped seams, a headtorch/lamp, and a charged/switched on mobile phone.
- It is strictly FORBIDDEN for any participant to run in place of another runner. No one is allowed to run using another runner’s race number.
- Limited earphone use allowed.
- No dogs accompanying runners.
- Use of running poles is allowed from CP1 Beechtree onwards (7.5 miles).
- If you decide to withdraw during the race, you MUST let us know about it before going home.
- The use of ibuprofen, diclofenac, or any other NSAID as a race-day painkiller is forbidden.
- Race numbers must be worn on your FRONT, and must be visible to marshals at all times.
- Absolutely NO LITTERING - please carry your rubbish with you and dispose of it at the recycling tables at checkpoints
AGE RESTRICTIONS
Minimum age for entrants is 20 years old (on race day). There is no upper age limit.
REFUND POLICY
A 14 day cooling off period will apply. Withdrawal within 14 days will result in a full refund, minus a £5 administration fee- After 14 days a 50% refund is available up until 1st July 2026.
- After 1st July 2026 no refunds will be given.
- Deferrals are ONLY available in the case of pregnancy/adoption.
- No transfers of places to other runners are available.
- Any charity donations made at the point of entry are NOT refundable at any time.
- Injury or illness affecting you or a member of your immediate family.
- Adverse weather conditions where the police or government have issued travel warnings.
- The mechanical breakdown, accident, fire, or theft en route of a private vehicle taking you to the event.
Please check XCover’s terms and conditions to see exactly what is covered.
EQUALITY & INCLUSIVITY
We are continuing our efforts to make our events more inclusive. We want everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and safe at our events. The steps we are taking to achieve this include:- Active gender entry
- Split start line giving elite women a space at the race start
- Early start option for slower runners
- Free women-focused training runs
- Event team is over 60% women
- Pregnancy/adoption deferral available
- Support for breastfeeding/chestfeeding runners
- Period products provided in all event portaloos
- Sweeper team is over 50% women
- Female or male fit t-shirt options
- Medical/First Aid team is around 50% women
- Anonymity available on start list/results
- Disabled parking available at race finish
- Low income support/payment plans available
- LGBTIQ+ inclusive*
*You can enter our race in the women’s, men’s or nonbinary category. If you are trans, you are welcome to run in the gender category with which you identify. If you would like more information about this, please email us or give John or Noanie a call on 07941 670 623.
EVENT CHARITY PARTNER
We are pleased to again support the local Improving Lives charity (SC048610). Improving Lives work to alleviate stress and isolation for people living with disabilities The charity provides information on welfare and disability rights in addition to running their own support groups and providing space for other community support groups. At their hub in Clydebank they strive to offer a one-stop-shop for people living with disabilities.