Moray Coastal Trail Races.
The 50-mile course of the Moray Coastal Trail Races is the full journey: Universal Hall in Findhorn to the viaduct at Cullen, along the Moray coast on sandy beaches and coastal trail. Height is not what makes the day hard, since the route barely leaves sea level. The length is, on ground that keeps changing underfoot.
Moray Coastal Trail Races 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
You start at Universal Hall in Findhorn and head east on a point-to-point line with no way back to where you began. The first 30 km or so belong to this distance alone: Roseisle Forest and the dinosaur footprints lie here, and around km 20 a short, steep ramp lifts you to the highest ground of the day, a little over 40 metres above the sea.
At Lossiemouth, where the 50K sets off from East Beach Bridge, you are just over a third of the way through, and from here you follow almost the same line as the shorter race. Until past km 35 the ground stays only a few metres above sea level, before a more restless stretch around km 50. Wide sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, fishing villages and coastal trail take turns, and that change of ground shapes the run more than any elevation chart.
The longest climb waits until just past km 70: a little over a kilometre, around 50 metres in all, with short spikes to 15 percent. After that come Bow Fiddle Rock and the descent to the finish at the Cullen Viaduct.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 5 | 0.6 km | 3 % | 8.7 % | +19 m | — |
| km 18.5 | 0.4 km | 6.2 % | 14.2 % | +26 m | — |
| km 42.5 | 0.5 km | 3.2 % | 8.6 % | +16 m | — |
| km 44.1 | 0.5 km | 5 % | 8.5 % | +24 m | — |
| km 47.6 | 0.4 km | 4.4 % | 6.1 % | +16 m | — |
| km 52.9 | 0.4 km | 3.2 % | 6.7 % | +11 m | — |
| km 69.1 | 0.3 km | 4 % | 11.4 % | +12 m | — |
| km 71.2 | 1.2 km | 4 % | 15.4 % | +49 m | — |
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 Moray Coastal Trail Races.
Start under control
Over 80 km with no real mountain, you lack the natural brake a big climb provides. Nothing forces you to walk on the way to Lossiemouth, so the restraint has to come from you: this first third should feel almost too easy. Walk the ramp before km 20 rather than fight it, even though it lasts only a few hundred metres.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided in the middle. The long, low stretch beyond Lossiemouth invites a smooth, brisk rhythm, yet around 40 km still lie ahead at that point. Hold your pace there without raising it and you will still have legs in the undulations around km 50.
Spend what is left
The main trap is the sand. On the beach a held pace costs far more than your watch reveals, so run those parts by feel and accept the slower kilometres. Keep something back for the end as well: the last ramp is small, but after that many hours it turns into a walking section, and only then can you let your legs go downhill towards Cullen.
Training plan for Moray Coastal Trail Races: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect ten to fifteen hours depending on your form. The effort stays aerobic nearly throughout, with hardly any hard spikes. Instead it builds from duration, and from feet and ankles answering every change of surface for hours on end.
Train race pace
Your preparation therefore rests on volume and on long runs on consecutive days. They teach you to run cleanly on tired legs, which is what the final third towards Cullen asks for. With a race in May, the longest runs fall in March and April, and at least one of them should last five to six hours.
Rehearse the course
Train on ground that resembles the race: beach, uneven path and coastal track rather than tarmac alone. Even short sections of sand in each long run strengthen calves and feet and show you how far your pace drops there. Add short, steep hills at the end of a long session, at a strong walk, because that is exactly what the ramps after km 70 will feel like.
Arrive fresh
Treat fuelling as part of the training too. The aid stations are fully stocked and drop bags are available, but only long runs tell you what your stomach still accepts after eight or ten hours. Pack your drop bag with what you tested there.
Courses
Download the Moray Coastal Trail Races course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Moray Coastal Trail Races 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 Moray Coastal Trail Races.
How long is Moray Coastal Trail Races?
Moray Coastal Trail Races is 80.47 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 Moray Coastal Trail Races have?
Moray Coastal Trail Races has around 1,029 m of elevation gain over 80.47 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Moray Coastal Trail Races?
Moray Coastal Trail Races is classified as Rolling, averaging 13.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 28% of the route is flat, 35% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 2% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Moray Coastal Trail Races have?
The hardest climb of Moray Coastal Trail Races starts at kilometre 71.2, runs for 1.2 km at an average of 4% and gains 49 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Moray Coastal Trail Races a loop course?
No, Moray Coastal Trail Races is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Moray Coastal Trail Races course?
Yes. The Moray Coastal Trail Races 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 Moray Coastal Trail Races?
Preparation for Moray Coastal Trail Races should account for 80.47 km, 1,029 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 Moray Coastal Trail Races?
The pacing strategy for Moray Coastal Trail Races should reflect 80.47 km, 1,029 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 Moray Coastal Trail Races take place?
Moray Coastal Trail Races takes place on May 8, 2027.
Where does Moray Coastal Trail Races take place?
Moray Coastal Trail Races takes place in Findhorn, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Moray Coastal Trail Races offer?
Moray Coastal Trail Races offers 2 distances — 50-mile Ultra: 80.47 km; 50K Ultra: 50 km.
How do I register for Moray Coastal Trail Races?
Registration runs through the organiser: moraywayultras.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
