If you’re anything like us here at Seasgair HQ, the start of the year is the time to make plans and set goals for the year ahead. That half marathon you’ve dreamed of doing? 2023’s the year to make it happen!
Now imagine combining a holiday in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with a running, cycling or swimming event in stunning surroundings and the freshest air.
Gorgeous, comfortable accommodation to return to after your exertions - many of our properties have hot tubs so you can really relax those muscles! Why not go catered so that you can fully focus on your event? If you’d like to book a massage, there are plenty of local holistic therapy practitioners ready to help you recover - check out our previous blog Relax and Pamper in the Highlands for some ideas.
In the Highlands, there are events and challenges for all levels and experience. With road-, hill- and trail-running, swimming, road cycling and mountain biking, orienteering, triathlons and ultras, there’s something for everyone. Choose a challenge to train for, or try something new! We’ve collated a list of some of our favourite events that happen throughout the year within striking distance of our self-catering properties. Most occur on an annual basis, so look ahead to 2024 if you need to get in a little more training!
Aviemore’s weekly Parkrun is on every Saturday and welcomes all abilities and ages. A friendly, inclusive group event for early forays into running as well as those looking to stay active on holiday. If you are interested in learning how to trail run, or develop your trail-running skills, Trail Running Scotland runs lots of events in the Highlands throughout the year, including the Try Trail Running - Aviemore weekend in April 2023. For those interested in trying a triathlon but intimidated by the distances involved, the popular Grantown Try Tri is back in May 2023. It’s a shorter, fun triathlon for everyone - swim 300 metres, cycle 16 km and run 4.8 km - a great local event!
January
Run
Loch Morlich 10k and 5k, Aviemore
Cycle
Strathpuffer 24 - 24 hour Mountain Bike Endurance Event, Contin Forest near Strathpeffer
February
Run
North District Cross County League Race, Grant Park, Forres
Orienteering
Inverness City Race, Inverness
Swim
Scottish Winter Swimming Championships, Taymouth Marina at Loch Tay, near Aberfeldy
March
Run
Callander 10k and 1k Fun Run, Callander
Inverness Half Marathon and 5k, Inverness
Alloa Half Marathon, Alloa
Craig Dunain 10k Hill Race, Inverness
April
Run
Glenlivet 10k, Glenlivet Crown Estate, near Tomintoul
Run Balmoral - a weekend of events, including 10k and 5k runs, 1.5k and 2.5k for kids, mountain-biking and running duathlon, 15 and 3 mile trail runs at Balmoral Estate, Royal Deeside
Birnam Hill Classic, Birnam, by Dunkeld
Deuchary Hill Canter, Birnam, by Dunkeld
Cycle
Etape Loch Ness - closed-road cycle sportive around Loch Ness, from Inverness
May
Run
Loch Ness Festival - Trail Running Weekend - 100 mile and 50 mile trail runs, 5 km walk/run and kids events at Dores Beach, Loch Ness
Cateran Trail Race - 55 mile ultramarathon through the glens of Highland Perthshire from near Spittal of Glenshee, Blairgowrie
Moray Coastal Trail 50 - 50 mile ultra trail race along the Moray Coastal Trail, from Forres to Cullen
Ben Sheann Hill Race, Strathyre
Cycle
Etape Caledonia - closed-road cycle sportive, starts and finishes at Pitlochry
Triathlon
Grantown Try Tri, Grantown-on-Spey
June
Run
Blair Castle Trail Weekender 2023 - 7 km, 13 km, 30 km and 58 km trail races, kids trail races, at Blair Atholl
Lairig Ghru Hill Race, from Braemar to Aviemore
Cairngorm Ultra Trail, Braemar
Mhor 84 Half Marathon and 10, Balquhidder
Moray Way 100 Mile Ultra - starts and finishes at Forres
Moray Way Relay Race - 100 mile team relay running race, starts and finishes at Forres
Cycle
Loch Ness Festival - Mountain Biking Weekend - 100 or 50 mile mountain/gravel bike rides, relay and kids events at Dores Beach, Loch Ness
July
Run
Tom na Bat Hill Race, Tomintoul
August
Run
Drovers Ultra - 33 or 55 mile ultramarathon, starts and finishes at Crieff
Loch Ness 24 - 24 hour solo or team trail running race on the banks of Loch Ness, near Inverness
Aberfeldy Multi Sport Festival - Drummond Hill 10k Trail Run, Kenmore, near Aberfeldy
Cycle
Highland Perthshire Challenge - 50 or 100 mile road cycle challenge, starts and finishes in Scone, north of Perth
Swim
Aberfeldy Multi Sport Festival - Go Swim Loch Tay, Taymouth Marina at Loch Tay, near Aberfeldy
Triathlon
Nairn Novice and Sprint Triathlon, Nairn
Aberfeldy Multi Sport Festival - Aberfeldy Middle Distance Triathlon, Kenmore, near Aberfeldy
Starman Night Triathlon - a triathlon in the middle of the night at Loch Morlich & Glenmore, by Aviemore
September
Run
Glenmore 24 - 12/24 hour trail race, Glenmore Forest, near Aviemore
Suidhe Hill Race, Kingussie
Creag Bheag Hill Race, Kingussie
Swim
Go Swim Loch Morlich, Loch Morlich, by Aviemore
Triathlon
Aviemore Triathlon, Aviemore
October
Run
Loch Ness Marathon, 10k, 5k and Wee Nessie for kids, Loch Ness/Inverness
Aviemore Half Marathon and 10k, Aviemore
Meall a’ Bhuachaille Hill Race, Glenmore
November
Run
Brodie Castle 10k, Brodie Castle, near Forres
Dava Way 50k Ultra, Grantown-on-Spey to Forres
December
Relax!
