Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any requirements for entry?
Why is another event which I plan to enter not accepted as a qualifier?
What surfaces will the route be on?
Can I have extra kit/clothes/food brought to me during the event?
What food/drink will be served on the event?
Will my family/friends be able to follow my progress?
Will my family/friends be able to meet me on the route/walk part of it with me?
Will I be able to buy merchandise connected with event?
What accommodation is in the area?
What's the weather like in the area?
How do I avoid disturbing the wildlife?
I've heard about the fiercesome Scottish midge. How can I limit getting bitten?
Will I be able to bring my dog?
Will I or my family be able to do any climbing or walking in the Cairngorms?
Are there any wild swimming places?
Are there any distilleries in the area?
When will entries open/close?
Entries have reopened and will remain open until all places have been filled, or if they are not filled, until Monday 29th April 2024.
What is the entry fee?
The entry fee will is £120.
Are there any requirements for entry?
All entrants must be LDWA members (both at the date of entering and the date of the event). If you are not already a member, you can join here.Entrants must also complete a qualifying event of at least 50 miles; the list of eligible qualifiers is here.
Why is another event which I plan to enter not accepted as a qualifier?
The qualifying requirement is not only to demonstrate that potential entrants possess the necessary level of fitness to stand a realistic chance of completing the event, but also that they have the required navigational ability. Any event which does not require the use of a map and compass (or electronic equivalent), e.g. because the route is flagged throughout, is therefore not accepted as a qualifier. Additionally, in order to ensure a level playing field between runners and walkers, an event is only eligible if it allows both. For the purpose of selecting qualifiers, “allows walkers” is taken to mean that the time limit would permit an entrant at an average pace of 2.5mph to finish i.e. at least 20 hours for a 50 mile event or a correspondingly longer time for a greater distance.
The list of qualifiers as determined by the LDWA is final; any request to accept a different one will be rejected.
Can I run during the event?
Yes, runners are accepted on most LDWA events – however, if you haven’t entered our events before, please understand that the format and ethos are rather different from most running events. The 100 is NOT a race – it is a challenge to complete the distance within the time limit; there are no prizes for doing so faster than that (although you will receive a certificate) and the last finisher gets a bigger cheer than the first!
We ask that you choose a start time appropriate to your expected speed, i.e. one which will enable you to reach each checkpoint within its scheduled opening hours. Any entrant arriving at a checkpoint before it has opened will be asked to wait there until it does.
Will the route be marked?
In general, no. However, there are a couple of places where we feel that route finding could be tricky, especially in poor weather or at night (e.g. cross tracks in open moorland) and so we will be flagging those, but the rest of the time you will need to find your own way. A narrative route description will be issued, which will have the flagged places noted, and which must be used in conjunction with a map (paper or electronic version acceptable) and compass. For entrants using electronic mapping, a GPX file will also be available.
What surfaces will the route be on?
LDWA events are always predominantly off road, with the majority of the Speyside 100 on paths tracks and trails. If the weather has been wet in the weeks prior to the event there may be some muddy and boggy sections. A few sections will be on minor back roads with no pavement where this is unavoidable. The route passes through several towns and villages where pavements lead the final short distances to the checkpoints. In all there will be quite a variety of terrain.
Can I recce the route?
Yes. All of the route (except the checkpoint premises) follows paths open to the public, under the Scottish ‘Right to Roam’. Therefore, entrants are free to walk/run it at any time; there are no sections where permission has been granted for the dates of the event only. For more information on your rights and responsibilities in Scotland please see:
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 which introduced new rights of responsible public access to land and the countryside. Access rights are upheld and managed on the ground by local authorities and National Park authorities (called the access authorities).
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code also sets out the rights and responsibilities of land managers and those exercising access rights.
However, please bear in mind that many of the areas covered by the route are wild and remote and if walking along for your own safety and peace of mind you should always let someone know where you are planning to go and what time you expect to return. Especially as some areas have no mobile phone signal.
Please also note that drone flying is not allowed in some areas and needs to comply with the National Park Guidance in others – you’ll need to recce these sections on foot!
Will there be a kit check?
Yes – the required kit is stated in the event rules, this will be checked during the event and any entrant failing to produce the necessary items on request will be disqualified. There is likely to be more than one check at points on the route to dissuade entrants from discarding items after passing the first one.
Can I have extra kit/clothes/food brought to me during the event?
Each entrant can send one small bag to the breakfast checkpoint where showers and changing facilities will be available. Entrants can also leave one bag (which may be larger) at the Speyside 100 Walk HQ at Boat of Garten for the duration of the walk.
What food/drink will be served on the event?
A varied menu of food will be provided at checkpoints, informed by what has been found appropriate on previous Hundreds. At earlier checkpoints light food (sandwiches, fruit etc.) will be available, with subsequent ones roughly alternating between hot and cold food, with tea, coffee, squash and water available. A full breakfast will be served at the breakfast checkpoint, and a hot meal will be available at the finish. Vegetarian options will be available; entrants with other dietary requirements should state these on the entry form, and the event catering team will contact them to discuss how these can be accommodated. If you feel that our catering cannot meet your requirements, you may instead leave your own food at HQ to be transported to the checkpoints.
Full checkpoint details will be available before the Event.
Will my family/friends be able to follow my progress?
Yes. All entrants will be issued with a GPS tracker, and their location will be shown on the event website in real time.
Will my family/friends be able to meet me on the route/walk part of it with me?
There will be some parts of the route where this is possible, and some where it is not; more detailed information will be issued along with the route description. Similarly, supporters will be permitted to enter some checkpoints but not others; which ones will be specified in the checkpoint information. Entrants will be held responsible for their supporters’ behaviour - bad behaviour of a supporter may lead to disqualification of an entrant.
Will I be able to buy merchandise connected with event?
There will be a selection of event-branded merchandise available to purchase; more information will be available nearer the time.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available at various centres not far from HQ - see the Accommodation page Participants (only) are allowed to sleep in cars and camper vans parked at HQ. There will be a sleeping area at HQ for those finishing or retiring from the event.
Weather
Although the main event is at the end of May it has been known to snow in the Cairngorms area in June! In the Scottish Highlands where we can experience all four seasons in one day, so come prepared with layers and do not skimp on your kit. There are several exposed areas on the route, including the Cromdale Hills and Carn Daimh.
Transport
There is parking for cars and camper vans for entrants at walk HQ in Boat of Garten, which is approached along a minor road that turns off the A95 about 4 miles north of Aviemore. For those travelling by public transport, Aviemore, which is 5 miles from walk HQ, is on the main A9 road north and is also on the main rail and coach routes. There is a regular 37 bus service from Aviemore to Boat of Garten currently with an early enough bus to reach Boat of Garten in good time for the start.
Wildlife
The area is home to a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species and May is ground-nesting season for many of the birds. Therefore it is crucial that everyone stays to the paths and trails at all times, especially where it is noted on the route description that the route is passing through a particularly sensitive area. Elsewhere on the website are descriptions of the birds and animals that you might see over the weekend.
The not so attractive wildlife – the fiercesome Scottish midge, Clegs and Ticks
One of the less appealing seasonal visitors is the midge, a tiny biting insect, which hovers around the Highlands between May and September especially if the weather is calm and damp. The bites don’t bother many people but some do take a reaction to them so it is advised to have a midge net/hat in your kit and bring along one of the several midge repellent sprays. Midges even have their own forecast (other repellents are available!) - see also Mountaineering Scotland for more information.
Clegs are, also known as horse flies and their bite can cause a painful reaction. Carrying antihistamine will help alleviate any symptoms of a bite.
Ticks are widespread across the UK and especially in forestry and bracken. There are sprays that can be used on skin and on clothes but the best protection is long sleeved and long legged clothes, with trousers tucked into socks. It is advisable to avoid going off paths into undergrowth or bracken where a bite is likely to occur. If bitten, carefully remove the tick by twisting the whole body and lifting clear of the skin. Special tick tweezers are cheap and a good investment to have in your first aid pack. Tick bites may not be noticed at the time so a thorough check of your whole body should be made as soon as possible. For more information see Mountaineering Scotland's Ticks - and how to deal with them web page. An infected tick bite can cause Lyme’s disease, which is serious, and if you see the signature ‘bullseye’ mark developing you should consult a doctor.
Pets
No dogs are permitted on the event and cannot accompany walkers. Supporters can be accompanied by dogs, however, as there will be fledgling birds and sheep with lambs in the area, dogs should be kept on a lead.
Hillwalking
Over 50 of Scotland’s highest mountains, the Munros, are located within the Cairngorm National Park, and 17 are easily accessible from the Aviemore side of the park if you or your supporters are spending any additional time in the area before or after the event and you fancy doing some hill-walking, or Munro-bagging.
Please note there is NO access to Cairngorm mountain summit if you plan to use the funicular railway. At the top you are required to stay within the restaurant facilities. If you wish to reach the summit you must walk up from the base station car park.
Swimming
There are a number of lochs and lochans suitable for wild swimming, mainly in the area around Aviemore, such as Loch Morlich, Loch Insh and Loch an Eilien. It is essential for anyone participating in wild swimming to be aware of risks involved and the safety precautions necessary, see for example, Royal Life Saving Society advice. Some even swim in the River Spey. In particular, Scottish lochs can be very cold, even on a warm day. During the summer water sports are available at Loch Morlich.
Whisky
Speyside is one of the main whisky producing areas of Scotland and is famous for its distilleries! Many have visitor centres where visitors are shown round to see the process of producing whisky. Whisky is on sale, and if you are lucky you may get a taster.
