Salomon Skyline Scotland entries open for Glen Coe Skyline, Ring of Steall Skyline, Ben Nevis Ultra and more skyrunning and trail races at Kinlochleven – Inverness Courier

A weekend of skyrunning and trail running is expected to attract an elite field of competitive mountain athletes to Kinlochleven in September.

Incorporating the demanding Glen Coe Skyline race, the Salomon Skyline Scotland event takes place on September 19-20, with seven major races taking place over the two days.

As well as the 52km Glen Coe race which has 4750m of ascent and covers sustained exposed scrambling terrain, there is also the Ring of Steall Skyline race which kicks off the big races on Saturday, September 19.

This 29km/1500m skyrun will be the final event in the new Golden Trail National Series in the UK, which aims to bring the strongest and most ambitious off-road runners into a single national ‘super circuit’, and is also part of the Golden Trail World Series.

The Glen Coe Skyline starts early on Sunday, September 20.

Other skyrunning events taking place are the Salomon Mamores VK – a vertical kilometre of ascent over a distance of less than 5km – on the Saturday, and the 52km Ben Nevis Ultra, which includes a crossing of the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête leading to the summit of the highest mountain in the UK, on the Sunday.

Organisers have also put on a series of trail runs, with a 5k, 10k and 18k races offering off-road runners a tough challenge over a shorter distance, while shorter trail runs for children aged six to 12 will also be available from the event base.

Billed as Britain’s toughest 5k, the Grey Mare’s Trail Race will start at 10.30am on Saturday, September 19. The route shares some of the same terrain as the Salomon Mamores VK, which is an indication of the short but very sharp challenge for participants.

Starting at 10.30am on Sunday, September 20, the Loch Eilde Mòr Trail Race is 10k and will take runners into beautiful remote terrain near the River Leven. Held on the same day and sharing some of the route, the Three Mealls Trail Race is a challenging 18k event that will take participants to stunning locations and breathtaking views.

Organisers hope to attract junior trail runners to the 5k and 10k races, offering places at half price for participants aged under 18. Runners from the age of 12 can take part in the 5k and the 10k event accepts entries from those aged 14 and over.

The event village will be located next to the Ice Factor in the centre of Kinlochleven, and will provide the chance to mix with some of the leading athletes and local adventure heroes.

There will be speakers and Q&A sessions, including the team from Girls on Hills, Scotland’s only guided trail running company for women. The event’s retail partner Ellis Brigham will be on hand with the latest kit and advice, and visitors will be able to find out more about leading outdoor brands, with Salomon, Petzl, La Sportiva, Harvey Maps and many more in attendance.

The event village will also host live music and show a live race leaderboard and footage on a big screen.

Event partners for Salomon Skyline Scotland 2020 include Highland Council, Ortlieb, Petzl, the Ice Factor, Harvey Maps, National Trust for Scotland, Lochaber: Outdoor Capital of the UK, John Muir Trust, 1% for the Planet, Jahama, Girls on Hills Trail Running, and the National Outdoor Events Association.

Race director Shane Ohly, of event organiser Ourea Events, said: “Salomon Skyline Scotland is now firmly established as one of the ‘must do’ events on the international mountain running calendar. Not only do we put on enticing, iconic races that attract some of the world’s very best competitors, but we also offer a great variety for runners of all ages and abilities.”

Entries are now open – but selling fast – for all of the events at www.skylinescotland.com