Whiting Bay Forest Trail Race - Arran

The Race starts at 2.30 p.m., on the Glen Ashdale track next to the main road A841

This five mile race starts by heading up from Whiting Bay village to Glen Ashdale Falls, one of the iconic beauty spots of Arran. Crossing the Ashdale Burn immediately above the Falls, the route takes runners through the forest to join a Forestry road which continues northward for two miles above and behind Whiting Bay. The course then turns right descending down a footpath to Hawthorne Farm. Runners turn right here and contour southward along the farm track, through a wicket gate into a field, and over a footbridge through the Fairy Glen, and onto a footpath which takes us to the Golf Club road. The route continues contouring  south till it descends over a footpath to the north bank of the Ashdale Burn, and emerges in Montrose Terrace to the finish.

Views of Holy Isle and Ayrshire from the Forestry road should be, weather permitting, spectacular. 

As only about half a mile of the course is on tarmac road, trail shoes, with grip, would be the recommended footwear.

Whiting Bay has cafes and eating places and the pub is 250 yards from the finish of the race.

 The race starts at 2.30 p.m. allowing time for mainland runners to day-trip to the Island. The 9.45a.m.or 12.30pm ferry from Ardrossan (11.15am train from Glasgow Central) connects with the 323 bus to Whiting Bay, Ashdale Bridge  (arriving 14.05 pm), from where the race will start. Stagecoach buses return to Brodick to connect with the ferry back to Ardrossan and the train to Glasgow. There is also the Troon-Brodick ferry, leaving Troon at 10.15 a.m. ( 9.00a.m. from Glasgow Central).  The 323 bus from Brodick Ferry terminal takes 25 minutes to Ashdale Bridge, at the south end of Whiting Bay, from where the race is run. Stagecoach buses (service 323A) return passengers to Brodick and the ferries back to Ardrossan.

***Please note that runners returning to the mainland will need to travel via Ardrossan .(not Troon)

***Intending day trippers should confirm ferry times with Calmac and bus times with Stagecoach***

The Race is run in conjunction with Whiting Bay Improvement Association.

Records: Male:Tom Jessop 37.05 (2022),  Female: Daisy Macnamara 0.40:46(2025)

Entrants must be 16 years old and over on the day of the race.

Entry limit: 100

Scottish Athletics licenced trail race.