Devil o the Highlands Footrace.
The Devil o the Highlands Footrace covers 42 miles of the West Highland Way from Tyndrum to Fort William, one way with nothing to repeat. The first half runs easier than the distance suggests, because the two steep climbs wait beyond kilometre 34. That is what the preparation has to answer: climbing and descending on tired legs.
Devil o the Highlands Footrace 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From Tyndrum to the Glencoe Mountain Resort checkpoint at kilometre 27 the course rolls and mostly stays runnable. Around Bridge of Orchy, at kilometre 11, comes the first real climb, a little over 150 metres in two kilometres. After that the way gains height only gently for many kilometres, until it sits at around 400 metres.
Beyond kilometre 34 the race turns. In just under two kilometres the route climbs at an average of about 14 percent to the highest point of the day, a little over 540 metres, then drops for seven kilometres almost to sea level at Kinlochleven, the checkpoint at kilometre 43. Barely a kilometre and a half later the next steep climb arrives, more than 220 metres in 1.7 kilometres. On to Lundavra at kilometre 56 the path moves between 200 and 330 metres, with one more short, steep kick just past the checkpoint before the final kilometres fall away to Fort William.
Nearly the whole day is spent on trail, with only five percent of the way on road. You will not have to navigate, and no map is needed. The four checkpoints break the point-to-point route into stages, and the finish lies about 235 metres below the start in Tyndrum, which asks more of the quads than it gives back in speed.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 1.5 km | 4.2 % | 11 % | +64 m | — |
| km 10.6 | 2.1 km | 7.4 % | 13 % | +156 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 15.4 | 2.7 km | 4.4 % | 7.7 % | +117 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 23.6 | 1.7 km | 5.7 % | 7.6 % | +94 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31.2 | 1 km | 7.3 % | 12.4 % | +71 m | — |
| km 34.7 | 1.8 km | 14.5 % | 23.9 % | +255 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 44.9 | 1.7 km | 13.3 % | 23.9 % | +227 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 56.5 | 1.1 km | 7.5 % | 16.4 % | +82 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Devil o the Highlands Footrace.
Start under control
The 27 kilometres to Glencoe are where time comes cheapest and costs most later. Stay noticeably below the pace that feels good, and walk the Bridge of Orchy climb wherever it steepens. Reaching Glencoe feeling underworked is the plan working.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 34 and 47. For nearly everyone both steep climbs are walking sections: a steady march, hands on thighs, no attempt to run them. The real trap is the descent into Kinlochleven. Charging down those 500-plus metres wrecks your quads directly before the second steep ascent, which follows with almost no respite.
Spend what is left
From kilometre 47 the course turns runnable again, and this is where the early restraint pays: on the way to Lundavra you can find a rhythm while others are reduced to walking. The final stretch from about kilometre 62 loses another 170 metres or so, and it is only a gift if your legs can still take downhill running.
Training plan for Devil o the Highlands Footrace: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners are out for roughly nine to thirteen hours. This is mainly a long aerobic effort mixing running and brisk walking, broken in the second half by two hard climbs. Raw speed buys little here; endurance on trail and strength on hills buy a lot.
Train race pace
The key moments come late. Past 30 kilometres you still have to power up something steep, then climb straight after a long descent, and then get back to running afterwards. That is less a question of base fitness than of how well your quads resist fatigue.
Rehearse the course
So shape your long runs with the hardest climbing in the final third, on trail wherever you can. A good session pairs a long descent directly with a steep climb of about 200 metres, rehearsing the passage around Kinlochleven. Because the course loses more height than it gains, downhill running belongs in the plan as a training stimulus of its own, backed by strength work for the quads, and brisk uphill walking deserves the same deliberate practice as running.
Arrive fresh
A late April date puts the build-up in winter and early spring, so schedule the long trail days early enough. Up to 16 kilometres separate the checkpoints, and on steep ground those can take a long time. Practise eating and drinking while hiking uphill, and test the kit you plan to wear on race day as you do.
Courses
Download the Devil o the Highlands Footrace course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Devil o the Highlands Footrace dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Devil o the Highlands Footrace.
How long is Devil o the Highlands Footrace?
Devil o the Highlands Footrace is 69 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Devil o the Highlands Footrace have?
Devil o the Highlands Footrace has around 1,635 m of elevation gain over 69 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Devil o the Highlands Footrace?
Devil o the Highlands Footrace is classified as Hilly, averaging 24.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 16% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Devil o the Highlands Footrace have?
The hardest climb of Devil o the Highlands Footrace starts at kilometre 34.7, runs for 1.8 km at an average of 14.5% and gains 255 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Devil o the Highlands Footrace a loop course?
No, Devil o the Highlands Footrace is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Devil o the Highlands Footrace course?
Yes. The Devil o the Highlands Footrace course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Devil o the Highlands Footrace?
Preparation for Devil o the Highlands Footrace should account for 69 km, 1,635 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Devil o the Highlands Footrace?
The pacing strategy for Devil o the Highlands Footrace should reflect 69 km, 1,635 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Devil o the Highlands Footrace take place?
Devil o the Highlands Footrace takes place on April 24, 2027.
Where does Devil o the Highlands Footrace take place?
Devil o the Highlands Footrace takes place in Tyndrum, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Devil o the Highlands Footrace?
Registration runs through the organiser: devilothehighlandsfootrace.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
