Skye Trail Ultra (GB Ultras) 2026

Skye Trail Ultra (GB Ultras) 2026 Event Overview

Skye Trail Ultra (GB Ultras) 2026 is confirmed for Saturday, May 23, 2026 on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, with a 79-mile self-navigation route from Duntulm (near Duntulm Castle Hotel) to the finish at Broadford Village Hall. With only 100 places, a 27-hour cut-off, and an entry fee of £245, it’s a serious island ultra built for experienced mountain runners who want wild coastal ridges, iconic landmarks, and a true “earn it” finish.

Skye Trail Ultra 2026: A Scottish Island Ultra with Legendary Scenery

The Isle of Skye is one of those places that feels cinematic even on an ordinary day. When you run it end-to-end, it becomes unforgettable. GB Ultras’ Skye Trail Ultra is positioned as a navigation-heavy adventure across the unmarked Skye Trail, designed to test more than fitness: you need judgement, mountain sense, and the ability to keep moving when the weather shifts.

The event’s identity is rooted in Skye’s raw landscape. The route is described as “wild” and “breathtaking,” linking coastal sections and mountain terrain for an island journey that is equal parts endurance race and backcountry expedition. For an islands audience, this is the dream combination: remote nature, dramatic viewpoints, and a local finish-line community feel in Broadford.

Confirmed 2026 Date, Distance, and Key Stats

GB Ultras confirms the race takes place on Saturday 23rd May 2026. The same official page lists the event’s headline stats:

• Distance: 79 miles
• Elevation: 3780 m
• Places: 100
• Cut-off time: 27 hours
• Entry fee: £245

It also states this is the 9th edition, with an international field expected. Those numbers instantly tell you what kind of race this is. It’s not a “first ultra.” It’s a demanding island challenge where pacing, navigation, and energy management matter as much as leg speed.

Start and Finish: Duntulm to Broadford (North-to-South Skye)

The official event page confirms the start line is in Duntulm, with the start located on the field opposite Duntulm Castle Hotel, and the race begins at 6:00 AM. It also confirms the finish line is at Broadford Village Hall, with full address details provided by GB Ultras.

Registration is also confirmed as Friday night only, held at Broadford Village Hall on Friday 22 May 2026, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with race number collection and dropbag hand-in. For travelers, this is crucial planning information because you cannot roll in late and sort it in the morning. Skye logistics take time, and this race expects you to be organized.

What You’ll See on the Route: Skye’s Iconic Landmarks and Checkpoints

GB Ultras describes the Skye Trail Ultra as following the unmarked Skye Trail and explicitly lists several checkpoints that line up with Skye’s most iconic natural landmarks. Confirmed checkpoint locations include:

• Quiraing Car Park (Checkpoint 1, 7 miles)
• Old Man of Storr Car Park (Checkpoint 2, 21 miles)
• Portree Community Centre (Checkpoint 3, 30 miles)
• Braes Community Hall (Checkpoint 4, 36 miles)
• Sligachan Campsite (Checkpoint 5, 42 miles)
• Elgol Village Hall (Checkpoint 6, 56 miles)
• Bla Bheinn (Blà Bheinn) Car Park (Checkpoint 7, 64 miles)

Even if you’re not familiar with all the Gaelic names yet, this list gives you a clear feel for the course. You’re moving through the Trotternish area early (Quiraing and Storr), through Portree, into classic Skye mountain scenery around Sligachan, and onward toward the dramatic Elgol and Bla Bheinn area before finishing in Broadford.

Race Format: Self-Navigation, Strict Cut-Offs, and Real Mountain Responsibility

Skye Trail Ultra is explicitly described as a self-navigation event, and GB Ultras notes that applicants must be able to self-navigate and competently use a map and compass. The page also states that participants must have a solid background in mountain experience or ultrarunning experience and must be at least 20 years old on race day.

Cut-offs are a major part of the race culture. GB Ultras confirms there are cut-off times at checkpoints and an overall 27-hour cut-off, and it states that participants must attend each checkpoint or be disqualified. That structure keeps the event safe, fair, and manageable across remote terrain.

One detail that matters for both runners and supporters: the event states no pacers and no support runners are permitted, and runners found running with a non-entered person may be disqualified. This reinforces the “solo responsibility” identity of the race.

Support Crews, Dropbags, and Aid: What’s Available on an Island Ultra

GB Ultras confirms runners are allowed a support crew but notes that support access is limited by the trail’s inaccessibility and rules at specific checkpoints. For example, the page explicitly states no support crews are permitted at Sligachan Campsite (Checkpoint 5).

Aid at checkpoints is also described as providing water and refreshments, plus snacks and sandwiches, with hot food available at village hall checkpoints such as pasta or soup. For a long island day (and night), that’s a meaningful comfort, but you still need to be self-sufficient between points.

Dropbags are confirmed at:

• Dropbag 1: Checkpoint 4 (Braes Community Hall) with size restrictions.
• Dropbag 2: Finish line (Broadford Village Hall) with size restrictions.

If you’re traveling from overseas, GB Ultras notes the finish-line bag can be a small or medium suitcase and advises contacting them for details. That’s a practical perk for international runners who need more gear flexibility.

The Skye Experience: Local Villages, Respect for Place, and Island Travel Planning

One reason Skye Trail Ultra is special is that it weaves through real communities. GB Ultras repeatedly emphasizes being respectful in local areas, especially at night, and points out parking constraints at multiple locations. Skye is a small island with limited infrastructure, and a respectful ultra culture protects both the event and the place that hosts it.

Where to Base Yourself on Skye

Because registration and the finish are in Broadford, many runners choose to stay in Broadford or nearby villages for convenience. That reduces race-weekend stress and makes your post-finish recovery much simpler, especially if you finish overnight or early Sunday.

Getting to the Start

GB Ultras offers optional pre-race coach transport from Broadford Village Hall around 4:00 AM, which must be pre-booked and is limited. If you don’t book it, you’ll need a support crew or a pre-arranged taxi plan, and on Skye those plans should be made early.

What Supporters Can Do

Support crews can meet runners at permitted checkpoints, but they must be mindful of parking, pay-and-display rules, and local community noise. Skye is not the place for last-minute improvisation, so building a support plan around the confirmed checkpoint list will make the day smoother.

Mandatory Kit and Safety Essentials (Confirmed)

GB Ultras publishes a mandatory kit list and notes it must be carried at all times, with random kit checks possible at registration, during the race, and at the finish. Confirmed mandatory items include:

• Hardcopy Skye Trail map
• Waterproof jacket (10,000 mm minimum)
• Compass
• Headtorch
• Survival/thermal bag
• Water capacity of at least 1 litre
• Water purification
• Emergency food
• GPS tracker provided by the organizers

For a Scottish island ultra, this is not overkill. Weather changes fast, daylight can disappear mid-race, and parts of Skye are remote enough that self-reliance is the baseline expectation, not an optional skill.

Verified Information at a Glance

Item: Confirmed details

Event name: Skye Trail Ultra (GB Ultras)

Event category: Trail ultramarathon (self-navigation)

Confirmed date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Confirmed island/location: Isle of Skye, Scotland

Confirmed distance and elevation: 79 miles, 3780 m elevation

Places and cut-off: 100 places, 27 hours overall cut-off

Entry fee: £245

Registration (confirmed): Friday 22 May 2026, 3:00 PM–8:00 PM, Broadford Village Hall (Friday night only).

Start and finish (confirmed): Start: Duntulm (field opposite Duntulm Castle Hotel), 6:00 AM; Finish: Broadford Village Hall.

Notable checkpoints (confirmed examples): Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Portree, Braes, Sligachan (no support), Elgol, Bla Bheinn.

• If you want a 2026 race that feels like a true island crossing rather than a marked-out loop, bring your mountain skills, your respect for Skye’s communities, and your appetite for wild scenery, then take your place on the start field in Duntulm on May 23 and run the Skye Trail Ultra all the way to Broadford with the Cuillin shadows and sea wind as your companions.