Race to the Base

5.0 · 3 reviews
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From Run Rugged Events

  • Date Sun 10th May 2026
  • Time 11:00
  • Location Lairg, Lochinver, Highland Council
  • Price £45.00
  • Races 1 race
  • Distances Half Marathon

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A stunning sunset casts a warm glow over a mountain landscape with grassy foreground. The sky is partly cloudy, reflecting orange and pink hues, and a winding river or lake nestles at the mountain's base.

Race to the Base

Sun 10th May 2026

5.0 · 3 reviews
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Event summary

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at the Race to the Base, hosted by Run Rugged Events! Taking place on Sunday, May 10th, 2026, this exhilarating trail half-marathon invites runners to experience the breathtaking beauty of Lairg, Lochinver in the Highland Council area of Scotland. Covering a challenging distance of 13.1 miles, participants will race to the stunning Loch na Gainimh at the base of the iconic Suilven mountain.

Prepare for a journey through lush Culag Woods Forest, where muddy trails and spectacular wildlife enhance the thrill of the race. With the scenic backdrop of Scotland's rugged landscape and the iconic NC500 road trip route nearby, Race to the Base promises an exhilarating run filled with remote beauty and unpredictable weather. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique trail half-marathon that showcases the very best of Scotland’s Highlands!

Race to the Base

Sun 10th May 2026

A stunning sunset casts a warm glow over a mountain landscape with grassy foreground. The sky is partly cloudy, reflecting orange and pink hues, and a winding river or lake nestles at the mountain's base. A serene landscape featuring a coastal village with small houses near a calm body of water. Rolling hills and dramatic mountains rise in the background. The scene is bathed in warm, golden sunlight under a partly cloudy sky. A rocky trail leads through a scenic landscape of grassy hills and large boulders under a partly cloudy sky. A mountain peak is visible in the background, partially shrouded in low-hanging clouds. A stunning view of Suilven mountain in Scotland at sunrise. The peak rises majestically above a landscape of rolling hills and valleys, partially shrouded in mist. The sky is a soft blend of pink and orange hues. Runners with race numbers jog along a narrow trail through grassy, hilly terrain on a sunny day, with bushes and yellow flowers in the background. The two in front are smiling and wearing athletic gear. Aerial view of a coastal town with a winding road where people are running, likely in a race. There are green trees, grassy areas, houses, and buildings near the waterfront, with boats docked at a pier. A group of runners in numbered bibs start a race on a grassy field under a sunny sky, with colorful flags, spectators, and buildings in the background. Two trail runners, both wearing race bibs and sunglasses, are running uphill on a rocky forest path. The runner in front is smiling and giving two thumbs up, while the runner behind is smiling and following closely.

Organiser's Description

A wild trail half-marathon to the base of Scotland's most iconic mountain, the mighty Suilven!

Over 13.1 miles of stunning Highland Scenery, you'll race to the shore of pristine Loch na Gainimh at the base of Suilvens impressive northern face, before heading back to the finish line in Lochinver, detouring through lush Culag Woods Forest, and finishing alongside the pretty fishing harbour.

Prepare for muddy trails, stunning wildlife, remote beauty and savage weather!

Just off the famous NC500 road trip route, Race to the Base is a trail half-marathon like no other in the UK.

Races

  • Race to the Base 2026

    A Wild Half Marathon Trail Run to the Base of Scotlands Most Iconic Mountain, the Mighty Suilven.

    £45.00

    Booking for more than 1?

Book

  • Race to the Base 2026

    A Wild Half Marathon Trail Run to the Base of Scotlands Most Iconic Mountain, the Mighty Suilven.

    £45.00

    Booking for more than 1?

Route and elevation

Rugged, wild, and remote, this is a half-marathon like no other.
While the path is well trodden and easy to follow, in places it is steep, slippy, muddy and wet, so be prepared!

Beginning in the pretty fishing village of Lochinver at Culag Park, runners will set off along a quiet single track road, past Loch Druim towards the stunning Glencanisp Lodge. Here, they'll join the walkers footpath as they head into the wilderness. Rough in places, but well marked and easy to follow, the gravel and stone path winds its way through some truly stunning, rugged and wild Highland scenery.

Keep your eyes open for wild deer, pine martins and eagles as you head towards the unforgettable mountain of Suilven.

The final mile takes you to the shores of Loch na Gainimh at the base of the mountain, where you'll be treated to unspoilt views of Suilvens formidable northern slopes.

Returning along the same route, runners will take a lap of the stunning Culag Woods before a picture perfect finish on Lochinvers stunning harbour breakwater, where if you're lucky, you may spot porpoise, dolphin, otters or seals.

1700ft elevation gain

25% Road, 75% Track

What's Included

Participants will receive an exclusive Run Rugged branded snood, along with a Race to the Base finishers medal.
Water stations will be provided along the route, which will be fully waymarked and staffed, with trained first aiders on standby.
Toilet facilities will be provided at the start/finish line, along with limited capacity changing rooms.
Food and drink will be available to purchase after the race.

  • Bespoke 'Run Rugged' snood
  • Bespoke 'Race to the Base' finishers medal
  • A stunning, truly wild trail course - no navigation required!
  • Wild deer, pine martin, eagle, otter, porpoise and seal sightings common!
  • Prices for 1st place male and female finishers
  • Stunning race photographs
  • 'Leave No Trace' Race with cup/bottle free water stations - bring your own bottle, hydration vest or collapsible cup for water stations.

Parking

Free parking is available in Lochinver, but spaces will be limited. We advise arriving early to avoid disappointment.

Public transport is very limited, so please consider lift sharing from accommodation where possible.

Location

Registration: Assynt Leisure Centre, Lochinver, IV27 4JP

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The highland village of Lochinver is just off the famous NC500 touring route, in the far northwest of Scotland.

There is plenty of accommodation locally, but we'd advise booking early as rooms and campsites full up fast!

Toilets are available at race registration HQ (at Assynt Leisure Centre).

Parking, shops, food, petrol and accommodation are all available in the village of Lochinver, just 5 minutes walk from the race start/finish line.

FAQs

  • When does it start?

    Registration is between 9.00-10.30 on Sunday 10th, with the race starting at 11.00

  • Where do I park?

    There is limited parking available at Assynt Leisure Centre (Registration HQ), with plenty more free parking available in Lochinver village, only a short walk from the race start.

  • How old do I have to be to race?

    For insurance purposes, participants must be over 18 years old on the day of the race, and under 75.

  • Will I need to navigate?

    No. The race follows a well defined path, and will be marshalled and fully marked.

  • Can I bring my dog?

    Sorry no. We love dogs, but this run passes through unfenced croftland, with sheep, deer and other wildlife roaming free. For their safety, and the safety of your fellow runners, we will not allow dogs.

  • Where can I stay?

    Lochinver is on the world-famous NC500 touring route, so there are loads of choices for accommodation. Book early though, as rooms fill up very fast!

  • Is water/gel availale on the route?

    We will be providing water at ~3 mile intervals, but not energy gel. Feel free to bring your own, but please respect the environment by taking any gel packets away with you. PLEASE NOTE - this is a 'Leave No Trace' Race with cup/bottle free water stations - bring your own bottle, hydration vest or collapsible cup for water stations.

  • What kit will I need?

    You'll need to bring a water bottle, hydration vest or collapsible cup. The water stations are plastic and cup free to reduce our environmental impact and prevent littering. Runners will also need to carry a charged mobile phone for safety reasons- this is a remote race, so this is an ESSENTIAL item, and runners will not be allowed to participate without a working mobile phone with them. Trail shoes are a must as the course is muddy and slippy in places. Poles are allowed, but we'd ask you've experience using them, and to be mindful of other runners in places where the route is narrow. Hydration packs are encouraged, but not necessary. Lochinver is in the remote Highlands of Scotland. Although we hope for good weather, May is notoriously fickle here, so competitors should be ready for any weather - including snow.

  • Is there a time limit?

    Yes. For the safety of our marshals, there is a time limit of 4 hours. After this time, our race marshals will be brought down off the race route. No sweeper vehicle will be available on the rough sections of track (miles 3-10), so please bare this in mind before entering.

on the day

Registration will take place at Assynt Leisure Centre (IV27 4JP) between 09.00 - 10.30. (Toilets available)

Once registered, runners will meet at the Start Area in Culag Park for a pre-race briefing, warm-up and safety talk at 10.45. The race will start at 11.00.

Runners finish on the Harbour Breakwater.

The main village of Lochinver is only a 5-10 minute walk from the Finish Line, and offers shops, cafes and restaurants, plus ample parking.

Restrictions

Headphones are permitted, but we ask participants to refrain from using them the the first and last mile of the race, where runners will cross a section of unclosed road.

We're really sorry but the track is completely unsuitable for wheelchairs

Event Video

Reviews

Verified Purchase

A 'verified' purchase review means that we've verified that the person writing the review purchased their entry to this race on findarace.com.

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5.0

3 reviews

SL
Sedgley

·3 months ago

What a day, what an event! Tough but utterly stunning both in organisation and location. A pipe band from Ullapool led us to the start in glorious sunshine and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. The support from us slower runners from the faster ones once they turned round was something I have never experienced before . So encouraging and so wonderful. Despite the exceptional heat and some big hills at the end the cheers as every runner hit the final few hundred yards made sure we all had huge grins on our faces as we crossed the line. Ive run many races in my life but this has to stand out as amongst the most challenging but also the most fun and the friendliest and the best organised so a huge thanks to all those involved x Highly recommended
What a lovely review. We're so glad you enjoyed running it as much as we enjoyed organizing it. Roll on 2026!
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Run Rugged Events
JJ
Jodie

·3 months ago

Very well organised & great vibes on the day! Thankyou to all the volunteers
Thank you so much for your review. Agree, our volunteers absolutely made the day with their smiles and enthusiasm!
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Run Rugged Events
CM
Catriona

·3 months ago

Can't believe this was the first time this race was organised! It was so good - from the encouraging, informative and welcoming pre-race emails, to the pipeband marching us out to the start line! There was a lovely mix of people and there was just such a good energy on the day. Lochinver was a brilliant host with great facilities and the route was stunning. Definitely want to do again!
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We really enjoyed organising the event, and are so glad you enjoyed running it! Roll on 2026!
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Run Rugged Events

Location

Lochinver, Lairg IV27 4JP, UK

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