Cairngorms Ultra Trail 2026

Mar Lodge anchors the Cairngorms Ultra Trail, a new "off road ultramarathon" heading directly into the Cairngorms National Park, not its periphery. It offers the character of a mountain day, featuring defined paths, tracks, and old drove roads, with only short road sections at the start and finish. The course traverses Glen Derry and the Lairig an Laoigh to Fords Avon, then descends Glen Avon beneath Ben Avon to the waterfalls at Linn of Avon. Following Loch Builg and Culardoch, it enters the pine forests of Invercauld before a track alongside the River Dee leads runners back to Mar Lodge. Aid stations are few due to environmental considerations, necessitating self-sufficiency.