Challenge Yourself this Summer the Scottish Highlands Endurance Events & Outdoor Challenges
Make 2026 a year of unforgettable experiences here with us in the Scottish North Highlands. Get ready to push your limits, challenge your endurance, get your adrenaline pumping, and create lasting memories.
If you’re chasing a new personal best, want to spend time with friends in the outdoors, or just looking for a fun way to explore one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, get ready to add the North Highlands to your adventure bucket list. With rugged mountain trails, winding glens, remote beaches, glassy lochs, and expansive skies, the epic scenery of Caithness and Sutherland is the perfect backdrop for outdoor challenges you’ll never forget!
The North Highlands events calendar is packed with things to do! Here are some of the most adrenaline pumping activities and goal busting challenges in the North Highlands this Summer!
Summer 2026 Highlights: Endurance Events & Outdoor Challenges
Cape Wrath Ultra: The Ultimate Highland Endurance Challenge
The Cape Wrath Ultra is a 400km, 8-day ultra-running adventure throughout the Scottish Highlands to the north-westerly tip of the British Isles Cape Wrath.
Starting in Fort William, this endurance expedition passes through some of the world’s most inspirational landscapes – from Knoydart and Kintail to Torridon and Assynt. This extraordinary journey that links ancient footpaths and remote trails, weaving through shimmering lochs, wide open glens and rugged mountain terrain on the way to the iconic finish at Cape Wrath.
Event Details
- Cape Wrath Ultra & Explorer: 17th–24th May 2026
- Cape Wrath 100: 17th–19th May 2026
The Cape Wrath Ultra supplies nightly pop‑up camps with meals, and luggage transfer, so you won’t need accommodation during the 8‑day race. Still, it’s worth staying longer to unwind, explore Caithness and Sutherland, and savour the tranquillity and views.
Golspie 3 Peaks Challenge: Hike or Run across East Sutherland
The Golspie 3 Peaks Challenge is an epic, action-packed day covering 13 miles of hiking or running across three stunning peaks in East Sutherland : Ben Horn, Ben Bhraggie, and Silver Rock.
This fun event is a highlight of the local sporting calendar and is perfect for adventurers seeking a shorter but equally memorable challenge. It’s a fantastic way to experience Golspie and its surrounding landscape; soak up incredible views, enjoy our famed Highland community spirit, and test your endurance in a fast-paced, one-day challenge.
After the event, relax and join the celebrations with prize-giving, a BBQ, and refreshments at the Seafront Centre.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, 30th May 2026
Cycling in the Straths: A Scenic Highland Ride through the Flow Country
Cycling in the Straths is a celebration of cycling in the North Highlands and has rightly earned its reputation as the region’s friendliest sportive. It features two iconic routes through beautiful Mackay Country: the 68-mile Strathnaver Challenge and the 48-mile Ben Hope Trail.
Ride through remote straths, past shimmering lochs, and under expansive skies, immersing yourself in a landscape rich in natural and cultural heritage. The route takes you through the heart of The Flow Country, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered the world’s most outstanding example of blanket bog, and the only site inscribed specifically for its peatlands. Abundant with shimmering peat pools and carpets of moss, this unique environment is teeming with wildlife perfectly adapted to its otherworldly setting. This event combines physical challenge with breathtaking scenery, making it a must for cycling enthusiasts. Expect a warm Highland welcome, with water and feed stations serving homemade flapjacks, and enjoy hearty soup and sandwiches at HQ when you return.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, 23rd May 2026
Gentler Ways to Enjoy the North Highlands: Fun Without the Ultra Challenge
Looking for something different? Not every adventure needs to be an ultra-marathon or a long-distance ride. If you’re looking for ways to soak up Highland culture, enjoy a more relaxed challenge, or simply have fun without the intense endurance element, here are some other great options to help enjoy the Highlands at a gentler pace!
Combine a sporting challenge with traditional Highland culture at the Halkirk Highland Games
The Halkirk Games is a Scottish sporting spectacular features over 100 events packed into one afternoon, think of it as the Highland equivalent of a mini–Olympic Games. With generous cash prizes and bonuses for breaking ground records, the Games attract the country’s top amateur and professional competitors. Expect to see the famous “Heavies”; kilted strongmen tossing massive wooden cabers, alongside pipers, Highland dancers, track and field athletes, cyclists, clay pigeon shooters, and even children, all competing for glory. Plus, enjoy lively side-shows, charity stalls, a fun fair, and plenty of food and drink. It’s an event you won’t want to miss!
Event Details
- Date: Always the last Saturday in July. This year Saturday, 25th July 2026
Reconnect with Nature on the Earth Mind Geo Tour
Looking for something truly unique? Join Ruth Allen, PhD(MNCPS), author, psychotherapist, and geologist, for Earth Mind Geotour, a first-of-its-kind workshop in the wilds of the Northwest Highlands. Together over 4 days you will explore ancient landscapes, learn about Europe’s oldest rocks, and discover how geological processes can inspire resilience and reflection. Through guided exercises, you’ll have time to pause, connect with nature, and consider what truly matters in life.
Event Details
- Date: 4th – 7th May 2026
Chase down a PB at the UK’s most northerly Park Run
Free on a Saturday morning? Grab your running shoes and head to Thurso Parkrun, the most northerly Parkrun on the UK mainland. Starting at Thurso boating pond, it’s a relaxed 5k loop along the famous Thurso River, known as one of Scotland’s best salmon rivers. There’s also a junior 2k Parkrun on Sundays, so the little ones can join in the fun!
Event Details
- Dates & Times
- Thurso Parkrun: Saturdays 9:30
- Millbank Junior Parkrun: Sundays 9:30
Our Top Tips for Planning Your North Highland Adventure
- Booking your travel and accommodation as soon as your event place is confirmed is essential. With camping, glamping, hotels, guesthouses, and self-catering options available, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to places to stay, eat, and relax after your adventure.
Use the Venture North website to find great local accommodation, food and drink, and things to see and do. - Don’t rush! The pace of life in the North Highlands is perfect for restoring body and mind after testing your limits. Extend your stay, rest those aching muscles, and take time to explore Caithness and Sutherland, or simply soak up the peace and enjoy the views.
Visit the Venture North interactive map to help make the most of your stay here, it’s a great guide to local favourites, walks, trails, scenic spots and hidden gems to make sure you don’t miss out on everything there is to discover in the North Highlands! - The weather in the North Highlands can be varied and unpredictable; it really can feel like all four seasons in one day—sometimes even in one hour! Waterproofs, layers, and sturdy footwear are a must for outdoor adventures. While locals are resourceful, many shops are independently run, so specialist equipment may not always be readily available.
- Safety is always the number one priority. Join event groups for updates, and if you are traveling alone or in a small group, make sure your friends and family are aware of your location and travel arrangements.
- And finally, have fun, live in the moment, and let it all soak in. The North Highlands is a place where you can truly challenge yourself, but it’s also somewhere you can breathe deeply, sleep soundly, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Visit the things to do pages on our website to help you plan your ideal break.
Plan your North Highland Adventure!
Planning a trip to Caithness and Sutherland? Your adventure starts here! Whether you’re booking now or just dreaming, we’ve got all the inspiration you need for your trip to the far north.
