Ultra-runners on their marks for 2023 Cape Wrath Ultra

All sights will be set on Cape Wrath as ultra-runners take their first steps of an eight-day endurance challenge on Sunday.

The Cape Wrath Ultra will see participants set off from Fort William at 11am on Sunday, the first of eight consecutive leg-sapping days that will take them to the north-west tip of mainland Britain.

Runners from 21 countries are set to take part in the 400km journey, which travels through some of the Highlands' most dramatic landscapes, including Knoydart, Kintail, Torridon, Assynt and Sutherland.

A total of 185 runners have signed up for this year's Cape Wrath Ultra, in which competitors must navigate their own way north using traditional map and compass skills and/or GPS navigation.

The Cape Wrath Ultra is organised by expedition race specialist Ourea Events, which says it has a commitment to responsible, sustainable practices. Organisers say they will clear the competitors' camp sites each night to ensure that nothing is left behind.

Race director Shane Ohly said: “It’s always a huge privilege to accompany ultra-runners from around the world on this journey through some of Scotland’s most stunning and spectacular scenery.

"We’ll all move north together, leaving nothing behind, and the camaraderie that develops during a multi-day event like the Cape Wrath Ultra is very special. At the same time, there will be some fierce competition at the front of the field, so we’re looking forward to another exciting race.”

Organisers say the women's race is looking particularly competitive this year. More than 30 per cent of entrants are women, which they say is significantly higher than the average for a multi-stage ultra.

Names to look out for include Elaine Bisson, who finished second in the 2021 Montane Dragon’s Back Race and 2022 SILVA Northern Traverse; Sarah Perry, who recently set a new female record on the Lakes, Meres and Waters challenge and in 2021 set a new fastest known time on the Coast to Coast route; Debbie Martin-Consani, who was first female in the 2022 Montane Spine Race and has represented Scotland and Great Britain in 100km and 24 hour races; Jo Meek, who has a long track record of success in ultras, including the Marathon des Sables, the Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica, Golden Ring Ultra Trail and more; and Andrea Löw, who has completed several multi-stage races, including Sahara Race Namibia and Gobi March, THE TRACK in Australia (a nine-stage 520km event), the Ultra Africa Race in Mozambique, and Ultra Asia Race in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, for the first time there will be a shortened version of the race, where entrants can complete the journey but running half the distance each day. The Cape Wrath Explorer has been pitched as a "choose-your-own adventure" in which participants can decide to tackle part of the route each day, typically either the first half or the second half.

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