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Coast To Coast Experts,

Not long to go now. Chosen your bike? Chosen your boat? Got your kayaking skills up? Worked out how long it will take you? All these and other questions will soon be behind you, because by dusk on the 19th September you’ll be relaxing amongst your Expert and Racer peers and hundreds of others at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel having completed the inaugural Scotland Coast To Coast.

Please carefully read all information presented here and pages linked to in the Expert tab of the event website. Print and take any essential information to the event.

Essential Information on the Website

For information in context to the main event please also read the recently released Essential Event Information and your previous Expert Newsletter all accessed HERE.

We have also updated your Expert Rules and Guidance accessed HERE. Though any new items are mentioned in this Newsletter:  Namely; ID passes, Cawdor Castle bike drop-off, CUT-OFFS, 600 metre transition running interconnection at Fort Augustus, torch, mandatory kit explanations, buoyancy aid specification, kayak skills data.

Next week, we will publish the Entry List online for you all to see.

Registration, Timings and CUT-OFFS

Friday Sept 17th and Saturday Sept 18th

  • 1200 – 2300 Registration open (Nairn): At registration you will collect your race numbers, timing card, bike numbers (x2) and Support Crew vehicle I.D. pass – to be on display on the dash of your vehicle.

Saturday Sept 18th

  • 1200 – 2300 Bike drop-off at Cawdor Castle

Sunday Sept 19th

  • 0600 Start (Nairn)
  • 1630 – CUT-OFF at Claggan (Fort William) Not allowed to continue on route.
  • 1930 – CUT-OFF at Loch Leven. Not allowed onto water. You must be ON the water at 1930.
  • 1600 – 2000 Finishes (Glencoe)
  • 2000 – Course Closed
  • 2000 – late! Post Race Party (Glencoe)

Distances

  • Trek/Run - 7 miles (5 miles off-road)
  • Road Cycle - 34 miles
  • Kayak - 11 miles (600 metre running interconnection to Cycle)
  • Off-Road & Road Cycle - 33 miles (16 miles off-road)
  • Trek/Run - 14 miles (12 miles off-road)
  • Kayak - 1 mile
  • Short run to finish line
  • TOTAL JOURNEY - 100 miles

Kit
Although we have issued a mandatory kit list for the whole course, it is clear that some items are applicable to certain stages, and not to others. You can make the decisions whether to carry certain items based on your knowledge and skill, and your assessment of the weather conditions - because you are an Expert. However, with the exception of the following items - which must be carried throughout; survival bag or blanket, whistle, basic first aid kit, race number, timing card.

Furthermore, there are specific mandatory items for activity safety; cycle helmet and buoyancy aid. We have amended the buoyancy aid requirement to read ‘60N is recommended. 50N is allowable. Whistle must be fitted’.

There is a little novelty to mention for the Trail Run at the start. We are committed to starting the Expert Category at 0600 on Sunday morning. The reason for the early start is to give you the greatest possible chance to complete the route and cross the final Loch before dusk at 2000 hours. Now, some of you may have researched that this is likely to be dark – in fact twilight is at 0622. If the weather is overcast then it is very likely that (any form of) torch will be required ... within 5 minutes you will be running in woodland ... and after 30 minutes, daylight. This item of kit has therefore been added as recommended. If you are in Scotland and up early on Saturday morning then you can preview this situation.

Kayaking Qualifications and Experience
You should now have provided us with this data – to a September 6th deadline. We have nearly 50 responses. If you have not yet responded or convinced us, then according to our ruling issued in the ‘Expert Rules and Guidance’ and our Newsletter of that time, then you will not be allowed to take part in the Expert Category and we offer you a transfer to the Racer Category at this time. If you have failed to supply any data to date then you have some significant begging to do. Please contact us at info@scotlandcoasttocoast.co.uk with ‘I DO have the skills for the paddling stages’ in the Subject Line.

Course Updates
The only updates on the course routing relate to the Transitions, and these are described below.

Transition Locations – Details for Support Crew
In the Expert Category we have some exact transition spots to describe to you and your support team. In some instances they are deliberately different to the Challenger/Racer Category transitions spots, and of course the Loch Ness stage is unique to you. When manoeuvring the vehicle do not rush .. there will be a boat on the roof that is likely to be longer than the vehicle.

As you will have already read, ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPORT is allowable outside of these locations.

Run to Bike; at Cawdor Castle

As per all Categories - In the field behind Cawdor Castle. Your support MUST deposit the bike, bike accessories and kit at Castle Cawdor on the day/evening before event 1200-2300. Your support crew person does not have to be present at this transition (e.g. they might just be collecting your trail shoes) but it is possible. DRIVE CAREFULLY. Your support crew may also watch/say hello/contact you as you pass on the cycling stage to Foyers but no actual support is allowed until the Lower Foyers kayak put-in.

Cycle to Kayak; at Foyers Pier

Grid Ref 250012,821382 and shown on online mapping here http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=250012&Y=821382&A=Y&Z=115. This location is a large gravel car parking area near the Loch shore (not the Hotel) where a marshal will be met. Follow their instructions to the put-in point (which will not be exactly at the Pier shown on map). It will be honourable if support crew can help other crew carry boats into position on the beach here. Drive safely down the minor road after leaving the B852, ESPECIALLY taking care at the sharp bends and ESPECIALLY when departing this location, as other riders will be descending towards you. PARK SAFELY. DRIVE CAREFULLY. If dry weather permits we alternatively have the option to send the cyclist down the footpath before the road down to Lower Foyers. If so, this will be marshalled and this will avoid road conflict. Please note that this path has steps at beginning and end and needs to be walked, at least at those parts.

NOTE: Support Vehicle: After leaving Nairn it is strongly recommended that you drive via Dores to Foyers and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you access the (very narrow and steep) road between Errogie and Inverfarigaig.

NOTE: That the underpass under the A9 at Daviot is strictly OUT OF BOUNDS to ALL vehicles.

Kayak to Cycle; at Fort Augustus

Grid Ref 238240,809372 and shown on online mapping here http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=238240&Y=809372&A=Y&Z=115. It is tight for space and there will be a queuing system, marshal control and marshal assistance. This location is a tarmac road and turning circle alongside a beach. The landing area is between the mouth of the canal and the river. (The footbridge shown over the river is not applicable, derelict and inaccessible). We have also now created separation between the Loch egress point and the bike depart point in order to make safe use of the space (i.e. there is now a 600m run in-between) ... consider your footwear. There will be a system on the day that will allow you down this road from the A82, in sequence, and only after your Expert has been through and collected their bike. As follows;

  • Park your car in Fort Augustus, anywhere west of A82. PARK SAFELY. DRIVE CAREFULLY.
  • Place the bike and any accessories at this marshalled location alongside the upper canal lock. Grid Ref 237587,809157 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=237587&Y=809157&A=Y&Z=115.
  • Wait here. When your Expert arrives direct them to their bike and take any discarded kit to the vehicle.
  • Without delay drive to the egress point and collect their kayak and any discarded kit.
  • Drive towards Fort William on the A82 only.

Cycle to Run; at Claggan (Fort William)

The main transition for all classes is at the Football Ground at Claggan. However, we ask that Expert support vehicles park in the Ben Nevis Industrial Estate and follow the following routine; This will keep Expert support vehicles out of our main transition area/car park, which needs to retain space for large manoeuvring vehicles

  • Park at a safe location in the Ben Nevis Industrial Estate. PARK SAFELY. DRIVE CAREFULLY. Grid Ref 211812,774595 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=211812&Y=774595&A=Y&Z=106&ax=211812&ay=774595
  • Walk through to the Transition Area with any transition kit for the final run. (The route passes through a narrow pedestrian alley into Grant Place, then turns into Telford Place to the Transition). Transition area Grid Ref 211928,774313 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=211928&Y=774313&A=Y&Z=106
  • Wait here. When your Expert arrives direct them to their run kit.
  • Take their bike and accessories back to the support vehicle – Please use an alternative walk route to the race route, as there are narrow pathways to take the bike back against the flow – the Streetmap link shows the road choices, they pass a small SPAR shop in Claggan Estate.
  • Prepare the boat, kit and accessories thoroughly before departing for Loch Leven.. see reason below..
  • Drive to Loch Leven transition.

Run to Kayak; Loch Leven (near Callert House on map)

There is very limited parking here and you will be directed by marshals as you arrive. There are choice of fields and lay-bys that will be utilised according to the ground conditions on the day. Please be very observant to these instructions, as follows;

  • DRIVE CAREFULLY on this narrow B road.
  • The mean area for this transition is Grid Ref 208780,760230; http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=208780&Y=760230&A=Y&Z=120
  • You will be required to drop the boat and accessories very quickly. This requires that you have prepared before you left Fort William.
  • Then you will probably be directed to move your car to another location away from the boat drop location.
  • You can then wait in person back at the boat drop and help your Expert into the water
  • Remove any discarded kit, return to car and drive to the Finish kayak collection car park at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel – follow marshals instructions.

Kayak to Finish Run-in

The target point is right of all islands, and in the bay west of the Hotel. Grid Ref 208170,758675; http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=208170&Y=758675&A=Y&Z=120

You will not need to handle the boat immediately upon your Expert landing. In fact your Expert can reach the finish without you actually being at the kayak egress point. Just consider footwear for the final 300m run-in. As soon as your Expert has finished, return to load the boat, immediately.

Good luck,

Coast to Coast Team