Moray Way 100 Runner’s Guide

Start Locations & Registration

Please allow plenty of time on race morning to arrive, register and prepare.

Start Area Facilities

The start of the 100 mile solo race is at the Forres Cricket Pavilion, Grant Park, Forres IV36 3BN. You can register from 4.00-4.45am.

At the start location you will find:

• Registration, Race Tracker and bib collection (start list published online during race week)

• Bag drop

• Toilets and drinking water

• 1st Aid & Defib

• Marshals and volunteers

A short briefing will take place before the start, covering any final updates since the online briefing.

Important Notes

Please arrive early, follow marshal instructions and respect local residents. Ensure your race number, tracker and mandatory kit are ready before the start.

Aid Stations & Drop Bags

Aid stations will be stocked with water, Active Root drink, a selection of basic snacks and essential first aid supplies. To help reduce waste, drop bags should be used for individual race nutrition. In recent years, a significant amount of unused food has been left over, so only core supplies will be available at each aid station.

Drop bags are available at designated checkpoints. Support crews are only allowed at official aid stations.

Drop Bags

Your race number includes tear-off drop bag labels for each checkpoint. Tear off the relevant label and attach one to each bag before handing it in.

Please note:

• Only official drop bags will be transported.

• Bags must be handed in at the start area before the race begins.

• Uncollected bags will be returned to the finish area at the end of the day. Items left at checkpoints cannot be posted on after the event.

Support Crews

• Support crews are only permitted at official aid stations.
• For the first time, pacing is allowed from the Grantown checkpoint to the Finish line in Forres if you wish.
• It is the runner's responsibility to ensure their support crew understands and follows these rules.

Important Notes

• Aid station locations and facilities may be subject to minor changes.
• Final details will be confirmed at the race briefing and on the website during race week.

Course Overview

Beginning inland at the award-winning Grant Park in Forres, you set off along the High Street before crossing the A96 and heading towards the famous eco-village of Findhorn. With Kinloss Barracks on your right (keep an eye out for planes) and the bay's nature reserve to your left, the sense of adventure quickly builds. From here, the coastal trail truly begins, opening up to some incredible views along the Moray Firth.

Running along the dunes, you pass into Roseisle Forest and continue on to Burghead, where a smooth tarred path leads you past Burghead Distillery and on towards Hopeman. The stretch from Hopeman to Covesea delivers some of the finest clifftop running on the course, with expansive, unforgettable views. At Covesea, if the tide is out, you'll drop onto the beach with the lighthouse guiding you along a stunning stretch that feels more like a tropical island than the north of Scotland, all the way to Lossiemouth.

From there, you move through Lossie Forest before returning to the shoreline for a couple of miles towards Kingston. Due to the bridge closure at Garmouth, this section now diverts along a quiet road briefly as you head towards Fochabers, where you join the Speyside Way and begin your journey inland.

As you continue south, you pass Boat O' Brig and climb Ben Aigan, rewarded with a flowing descent into Craigellachie — the gateway to whisky country. Following the Speyside Way towards Aberlour and on to Grantown-on-Spey, you'll pass a series of iconic distilleries, taking in the sights (and maybe even the smells) of this world-famous region.

At Grantown, the route joins the Dava Way, where the terrain begins to favour you with a largely downhill run. Surrounded by the beauty of the Cairngorms and with views stretching back towards the Moray Firth, this section offers a special kind of motivation. From the Sanquhar checkpoint, you may call on your teammates for the final stretch, before re-entering Forres on picturesque trails that guide you back to Grant Park.

Cross the finish line where it all began — you've just completed one of the world's most beautiful 100 milers.

Mandatory Kit

All runners must carry the following minimum kit at all times during the race.

Race Director Discretion

• The Race Director may require additional kit if adverse weather or conditions are forecast.
• Please ensure you store the RD's mobile number (07732463918).
• Any updates will be communicated via the website, email and race briefing.

Runner Responsibility

Runners are responsible for their own safety and must be self-sufficient between checkpoints wherever possible.

Medical, Safety & Withdrawals

Standard ultra running rules apply. You must follow the marked Moray Way Trail and any temporary race signage, pass through all checkpoints, and obey instructions from marshals and medical staff. Cutting the course, accepting unauthorised vehicle support, or failing to check in at a timing point may lead to disqualification. The event operates under a strict no-litter policy: anything you bring onto the trail must leave with you or be placed in bins at checkpoints. Dropping gel wrappers or bottles on the route will result in penalties and possible removal from the race.

Please respect local residents, landowners and other trail users. Give way courteously where paths narrow, keep noise to a minimum in villages and leave gates as you find them. Headphones are allowed only if they do not block your awareness of traffic, marshals, or other runners; bone-conduction or one-ear use are strongly recommended, and headphones must be removed at road crossings, checkpoints and when requested by volunteers.

Medical support is available at the start, finish, and key points along the course, with mobile response teams on call. If you or another runner needs help, stop if it is safe to do so, provide basic assistance, and contact race control using the emergency number printed on your race number. In a serious emergency, call the 999, then inform race control as soon as possible. Your safety and that of fellow runners always comes before finishing time.

Kit checks will take place at registration, at the start line, and at random points on course. Please arrive with your pack fully prepared and allow extra time for checks. Failure to present mandatory kit, or refusal to carry it, may result in time penalties or disqualification. These rules are in place for your safety on a remote and sometimes exposed route.

Support Crews & Spectators

Support crews and spectators are very welcome along the route and play a big part in the atmosphere of the event.

Support crews are only permitted at designated checkpoints and must follow marshal instructions at all times. As indicated earlier, pacing for the 100 mile solo is allowed from the Grantown checkpoint all the way to the finish line. 

Spectators should park considerately, avoid narrow roads, and respect local residents and communities. Please do not stop or park in unsafe locations.

We ask everyone supporting runners to help us keep the event safe, friendly and respectful for all.

Finish Line Experience

Congratulations — you've reached the finish of one of the most beautiful ultras in Scotland (not that we're biased!).

At the finish line in Forres, you'll receive your Moray Way Ultras medal, a Spey Valley beer and a souvenir momento! Post-race refreshments will be available for all runners.

Prizes & Awards

Prizes are awarded for the top overall male, female, and (where applicable) non-binary finishers. Age-group awards typically recognise leading runners in standard categories (for example V40, V50, V60 and above), subject to entry numbers.

All finishers receive a medal and some race goodies! Podium presentations will take place once results are confirmed at the finish. If you need to leave early, prizes can be collected by a friend or posted by arrangement with the organisers.

Media, Photography & Race Coverage

Official photographers and media will be present on the course, at checkpoints, and at the finish. By entering the event, you acknowledge that images and video of the race may include you and may be used for event reporting, marketing, and future promotion, both online and in print. We aim to capture the spirit of the day while respecting personal dignity and safety at all times.

Links to race galleries and any video coverage will be shared on the event website and social media channels after the race. If you have a specific concern about an image, please let us know and we will do our best to help.

Race Merch 

Coaching, Training & Preparation

TRS Training, led by Race Organiser and GB Ultra runner, Kyle Greig can help you out with a training programme in the run up to the event.

Volunteering Opportunities

The event relies on a fantastic volunteer team to keep runners safe, supported, and smiling. Typical roles include registration and number collection, checkpoint and aid-station support, course marshalling, finish-line welcome, and post-race tidy-up. No previous experience is required; we provide briefings, simple instructions, and all necessary equipment.

If you, your friends, or family would like to volunteer, please sign up below. Volunteering is a great way to be part of the race atmosphere, give back to the running community, and enjoy a day on the Moray Way without having to run the full distance.

Final Notes

The aim is to reach the start line feeling informed, confident and excited. The Moray Way offers sweeping sea views, sandy beaches, mystical forests, rivers, stunning moorland and characterful villages – take time to look up, breathe it in, and savour the journey as well as the finish line. Conditions on the coast can change quickly, so come prepared, listen to your body, and never hesitate to ask a marshal or medic for help.

The most up-to-date information, including final race instructions, route updates and any last-minute changes, will always be published on the official event website and shared via email and social media. These channels should be checked in the week before the race and again the day before running. The Moray Way 100 Mile looks forward to welcoming every runner to the event.