Littlehouse Media

300 Dutch adventurers to run, bike and kayak across Scotland

On Saturday 06 and Sunday 07 April 2019, Rat Race Adventure Sports will stage The Healthy Fest Coast to Coast, a specially commissioned 105-mile adventure challenge in the Highlands of Scotland for 300 Dutch athletes.  The event is based on Rat Race’s hugely popular Coast to Coast multi-sport endurance event which is staged annually in September with at least 1000 multisport enthusiasts taking part.

 

Over the weekend the Dutch adventurers will run, bike and kayak on a 105-mile point to point, East to West journey along the Great Glen from Nairn Links to The Isles of Glencoe Hotel, Ballachulish, one of the most beautiful, mysterious and varied landscapes in the World.  However, the brave weekend warriors will break things up with an overnight camp at Fort Augustus on Saturday night.

 

The Healthy Fest Coast to Coast was inspired by a former marketing director of Dutch TV network RTL who took part in Rat Race’s annual Coast to Coast challenge in 2016, loved Scotland and loved the event. He saw the massive potential in recreating it for the many adventure enthusiasts in Holland.

 

The Healthy Fest Coast to Coast has all the same features as the annual Coast to Coast event that has been staged by Rat Race Adventure Sports since 2007.  It is a fully supported and way-marked endurance challenge in unforgiving terrain.  The route, which includes a total ascent of 10,840 feet, takes in stunning lochs, brooding glens, enchanting forests, rugged mountains and the most fantastic views imaginable.  It also features many evocative landmarks and locations that are steeped in generations of history, folklore and legend.  These include Cawdor Castle, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, The Great Glen, Fort William, Glen Coe and Loch Leven.

 

Jim Mee, MD of Rat Race Adventure Sports, provider of the largest selection of mass participation multi-sport events and challenges in the UK, said: “When it comes to adventure tourism, we have always made the very best of Scotland’s top quality urban and wilderness adventure playgrounds.  Our events fully embrace the country’s potential as a world-class destination for adrenaline fuelled and achievable adventure challenges, whilst at the same time matching customer demand for exploring the real Scotland.

 

“Since our first event in Edinburgh in 2004, more than 500,000 people have taken part in our Scottish events, 65% of whom have been visitors to Scotland. Our participant numbers for our Scottish events have doubled in the last five years with more than 20,000 entries and at least 75% of those have come from outwith Scotland.

 

“The Healthy Fest Coast to Coast provides us with another fantastic opportunity to bring another 300 enthusiastic athletes, this time from Holland, to not only immerse themselves in one of our most popular events, but also to experience, first hand, one of Scotland’s most stunning wilderness landscapes, together with its often challenging weather conditions.”

 

Since Coast to Coast was first staged in 2007, more than 10,000 intrepid adventurers have taken on this magnificent challenge.  As many as 8,000 of those participants have travelled to Scotland from outwith the country, from as far a field as New Zealand, the USA and Europe, to experience the true beauty (and sometimes brutality) of the Highland terrain and its everchanging weather.

 

For a video preview of Coast to Coast go to https://youtu.be/lJB5dcouud0

 

Ends

 

Media contact:

For images, interviews, further information or to arrange a route recce contact:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected]

M: +44 (0)7913 951717

 

For a selection of downloadable Coast to Coast images from 2018, go to  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y3si20smt8v77kr/AAASMF5R3L9tDCBy9h8Uukr-a?dl=0.  Please credit Leo Francis / Rat Race Adventure Sports.

 

Notes to Editors:

 

The Healthy Fest Coast to Coast

Marketed and promoted in Holland by RTL, The Healthy Fest Coast to Coast will see 300 multi-sport adventurers fly into Inverness and Aberdeen Airports from The Netherlands on a number of charter and scheduled flights on Friday 05 April.  From there they will be transported to a camping village at Cawdor Castle to prepare for a number of start waves early on Saturday morning.

 

The Dutch athletes, with live GPS tracking, will begin with a seven-mile trek from Nairn to Cawdor Castle.  This will be followed by a 48-mile road cycle along the edge of Loch Ness and a half mile run (that includes a 500-metre kayak on Loch Ness).  They will then transition again into a 21 mile off-road cycle and a 13.5-mile road cycle through the Great Glen to Fort William, where the bike is replaced by running shoes and they will take on a 14-mile trek/trail run to Loch Leven. The adventure challenge finishes at The Isles of Glencoe Hotel in Lochaber with a one-mile flat water kayak.

 

The brave weekend warriors will break things up with an overnight camp at Fort Augustus. With a good rest, refuel and recharge the challenge becomes more achievable and allows participants to enjoy a cracking weekend out.

 

Rat Race Adventure Sports on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/ratraceadventuresports

Rat Race Adventure Sports on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/RatRaceHQ

 

Rat Race Coast to Coast – 14 & 15 September 2019 –  https://ratracecoasttocoast.co.uk/

 

Rat Race Adventure Sports (http://ratrace.com/) is a successful Scottish registered company, now based in York, yet with roots still firmly set in the City of Edinburgh. The company’s first ever event, The Edinburgh Rat Race, was staged in the city in 2004. It brought adventure racing into an urban environment and gave spectators a fantastic and thrilling event to watch.  The company went on to organise a Rat Race Urban Adventure Series of at least 9 Rat Races in the UK and Ireland.

 

Rat Race Adventure Sports now offers the largest selection of mass participation, wilderness adventure challenges in Britain, together with a branded range of its own sporting apparel and an online clothing and equipment store.

 

Their event programme has always been focused on Scotland – urban and wilderness playgrounds of the highest quality. In 2017 Rat Race brought a traditionally wilderness discipline, the ultra run, into an urban environment, making it truly accessible to both runners and spectators.

You Might Also Like

Re-Defining the age of adventure as the EMFF returns in February

Fort William – the perfect cruise destination

New massed ultra running tour to challenge Edinburgh’s visitors

Lochaber’s Nevis Range becomes an accredited Living Wage employer

Elite Freestyle Skier, Kirsty Muir (17), wins Youth Mountain Award

Visit Moray Speyside launches their biggest ever UK marketing campaign

Young event assistants invited to join the IRONKIDS Scotland event team

Chris O’Brien appointed Destination Manager for the Outdoor Capital of the UK

The Falkirk Funduro 2017: mountain biking fun with two capital F’s

Expert of mountain rescue, ‘Heavy’ Whalley, wins top mountain festival award

Inspirational athlete and adventurer, Karen Darke, wins top mountain award

Fife farmland to host the new Eliminator MTB Weekender Festival

Unique Mountain Culture Award goes to novice search and rescue dog teams

#myoutdoorcapital – OCUK to put visitors firmly in the frame

Keith Legge, CEO of SYHA Hostelling Scotland, steps down after 13 years

International partnership benefits Nevis Range snowsports enthusiasts

Dr Liz Cameron, Scotland’s voice of business, to headline women’s networking lunch

The Cream of Enduro will rise to the top at Comrie Croft

Media Advisory – UK’s highest Shinty match to promote tourism in Lochaber

Go Swim Loch Lomond – a new open water event for Scotland

Sporting legend Gavin Hastings to inspire Lochaber at Ideas Week 2017

A Mucky Duathlon for the Eliminator Bike Festival in Fife

Nevis Range and Trek announce a partnership for 2018/19

An appetite for adventure in the North West Highlands

New European partnership to upskill adventure tourism in five countries

Media Advisory – Cancellation of The Mighty Deerstalker, Saturday 03 March 2018, The Scottish Borders

Danny MacAskill launches video, ‘Danny Daycare’. Best ‘uncle’ ever?

‘What would Mary do?’ at the Fort William Mountain Festival

Hostelling Scotland’s network opens for 2023. Give hostelling a go!

Gravelfoyle – Gravel Cycling at the heart of Aberfoyle’s new tourism brand

Noel Williams wins 2019 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

Scottish Climbing Instructor, Tim Miller, wins Youth Mountain Culture Award

Becoming a Conscious Host: Carbon Neutrality and Beyond

Huge demand for ultrarunner Jasmin Paris at Fort William Mountain Festival

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2020/21

Paul Merton Visits SYHA’s Loch Ossian Hostel – Paul Merton’s Secret Stations

Nevis Range, Scotland’s highest snowsports destination, open for business

Competition Climber, Shauna Coxsey, wins Scottish Youth Ambassador Award

Scottish Enduro Series confirms POC as headline sponsor for fifth year

No Fuss partnerships lead the way for Scotland’s Enduro

OCUK unveil their new branded gondola at Nevis Range

Changing times at Nevis Range Mountain Experience!

SYHA opens new summer youth hostel in Edinburgh

Muckin’ good festive discounts on Muckmedden 2018 bike events

Lochaber Tourism Summit 2019, a must-attend event for Highland tourism businesses

Young volunteers wanted to run IRONKIDS Scotland running events

Big Biking October – two International bike events for the Outdoor Capital

SYHA partners with Ayrshire College for valuable volunteer experience

Rob Cochrane wins 2019 Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

A new mucky duathlon for the Eliminator Weekender in Fife

A muckin’ great Audax, perfect for Cream o’ the Croft road cyclists

New hydro scheme powers Scottish mountain resort

Fort William Mountain Festival 2024 – Come and discover your adventure

Call for nominations to join Hostelling Scotland’s Board of Trustees

Danny MacAskill celebrates Edinburgh anniversary with Fringe debut at Circus Hub

‘Death Zone’ mountaineer, Nirmal Purja, to headline Fort William Mountain Festival 2020

Elite mountain bike racer, Mikayla Parton, wins Youth Mountain Award

Sustainable active travel and food tourism at the heart of new adventure film

Do we hear Muckwedding Belles in Fife?

Lochaber Ideas Week programme revealed

Business Community Programme launched for Lochaber Ideas Week 2018

SYHA Hostelling Scotland assist in a Recovery Version

Fort William has all the Mòd cons

Route announcement confirmed for HSBC City Ride in Edinburgh

Tour De Ben Nevis and and Ultra Marathon De Ben Nevis – Race Report

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company sees 80% rise in Lockdown sales

Figurehead environmental campaigner, Dave Morris, wins top mountain award

Enduro World Series Qualifier, Kinlochleven – Race Report

People are at the heart of SYHA Hostelling Scotland!

Outdoor Capital Activities and Attractions Expo open for tourism business

Top award for World renowned Scottish landscape photographer, Colin Prior

Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland wins two rural industry awards

Nevis Range looks forward to reopening in July

Discover Your Adventure – Fort William Mountain Festival 2023 programme announced

Lochaber Ideas Week returns to Fort William after a two-year covid hiatus

Nevis Range team up with Endura

The UK’s first waymarked gravel cycling trails opened near Aberfoyle

Developing for the future at Nevis Range!

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2019/20

New Beinn a’ Ghlo trailhead car park gives back to the mountains

Run day and night at the new Tweed Valley Trail Run

Muckin’ good news for two wheeled Early Birds

Start your Highland biking adventure at the new Nevis Range Bike School

Another Muckin’ great line-up of mountain bike events announced for 2017

Fair City Enduro Confirmed As Scotland’s Only Enduro World Series Qualifier

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company has been supercharged

New Lochaber website aiming high

VisitScotland’s Lord Thurso to deliver The Charles Kennedy Memorial Lecture

Muckin’ good mountain bike events launched for 2016

Celebrating 90 years of Scottish hostelling

Coast to Coast – run, bike ride and kayak 105 miles across Scotland

£100,000 awarded to innovative Scottish mountain project

Haggis from Scotland’s first free-range Haggis farm goes on sale in Lochaber

Cyclists Get into Gear for Angus Cycling Festival

Hostelling Scotland to temporarily close Youth Hostel network

Inspirational volunteer, Steph McKenna, wins Youth Mountain Award

Aberfoyle to host new endurance gravel cycling event and festival

Fife farm to be transformed for a family bike and outdoor festival

Discover Scotland’s ‘Braw Buildings’ with Hostelling Scotland

Monster Meets Mountain – Nevis Range joins forces with the Cobbs Group

Mountain Bikers Gear Up for a Fun Day’s Night in Falkirk

Finance and Economy Secretary, Kate Forbes, opens car park and off-grid toilets at Skye’s Iconic Fairy Pools

Millburn Academy ensures a warm welcome to Inverness Youth Hostel

The Ultra Tour of Arran, a big draw for international adventure tourists

Media Advisory – Images – The Ultra Tour of Edinburgh

IRONKIDS Scotland – 3,000 kids to take part in global running series

Gold and Silver gongs for Torridon and Loch Ossian Youth Hostels in TGO Reader Awards

Inspirational Climber, Caitlin Connor, Receives Prestigious Youth Mountain Culture Award

Lochaber community is pulling together to give Nevis Range a lift after lockdown!

Halloween fancy dress mountain bike Enduro returns to Perth

UK’s first Team Enduro event comes to Comrie Croft, Perthshire

Get your adventure challenge on with Project: Explore

Entries open for SKI-AN-DURO, Scotland’s new ski and mountain bike Enduro

Lee Craigie, outdoor ambassador and adventurer, wins top mountain award

Danny MacAskill is ‘Doing the Dubhs’

Hostelling Scotland begins phased opening of Youth Hostel network

‘Connect To Your Adventure!’ – big success in just 7 weeks

No Fuss add two International MTB events to 2018 programme

National Funding Boost for Cream o’ the Croft and The Eliminator

Inverness Youth Hostel gets a fresh new look

The new Pentland Trail Centre – The future for Edinburgh biking

SYHA Hostelling Scotland – building Scottish hostelling for the future

Fair City Enduro – The UK’s Most Spectacular Mountain Bike Race

Loch Ossian and Torridon Youth Hostels shortlisted in TGO Reader Awards

Jura, the Border Collie, trains to become the first Ski Patrol rescue dog at Nevis Range

Are you hard enough to take on The Double Stalker?

Glen Nevis Youth Hostel re-opens after major redevelopment project

Planning on holidaying at home? Give hostelling a go!

OATS in search of a Fairy Pool of staff

New look Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel, new era of hostelling in the Capital

Nevis Range partner with Disability Snowsport UK for Winter 18/19

Cream o’ the Croft: three Muckin’ good family festivals rolled into one!

Nevis Range is making it snow all season long!

Run Scotland in two days with the new Ultra Tour of Arran

Nevis Range moving forward with interim CEO Rod Pashley

Chris O’Brien, MD of Nevis Range, shortlisted for Business Leader of The Year

IRONKIDS activity programmes promote healthy and active lifestyles – SUN, FUN, RUN!

Enduro riders, prepare yourselves for a Highland Clan battle!

No Fuss running events given Compression boost in 2018

Hostelling Scotland, a new brand identity unveiled

SYHA collaborates with Glasgow Caledonian University

Up to 350 riders will take on the Fair City Enduro when it returns to Perth

Nevis Range to turn back the clock to 1989 to celebrate 30 years of adventure

Young people invited to collaborate in Muckin’ good summer festivals

The Fort William Mountain Festival 2018 – Celebrate the great outdoors

Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 2018 – The Long Road To Adventure

Hostelling Scotland fully open for business after two years

POC headline sponsor for Scottish Enduro Series for sixth year

Dukes Weekender, a catalyst for Aberfoyle’s rise in gravel cycle tourism

‘A Meeting of Minds 2’ celebrates innovation in Scotland’s aquaculture sector

Two Scottish youth hostels celebrate landmark anniversaries

Young ‘Fifers’ invited to collaborate in Eliminator Bike Festival

SYHA’s Glasgow Metro youth hostel awarded 3 stars by VisitScotland

Media Advisory – 500 runners to tame Edinburgh with the inaugural Ultra Tour

Muckin’ good discounts for a muckin’ good 2019 event programme

Margo Paterson appointed as CEO of SYHA Hostelling Scotland

It’s all about head to head bike racing at Fife’s Eliminator

Winner covers 319km at The UK 24hr Mountain Bike Championships

Cameron McNeish wins 2018 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

Scotland’s mountain bike Enduro World Series qualifier sold out in record time

SYHA appoints Lois Marshall as Youth & Volunteer Engagement Manager

Lochaber’s ‘Connect to Your Adventure’ digital marketing campaign, a huge success

A bit of ‘This and That’ for stunt riders Danny MacAskill and Kriss Kyle

Immerse yourself in Lochaber Ideas Week 2019

Frazer Coupland appointed Chair of The Highland Tourism Partnership

Hot water on tap for Loch Ossian Youth Hostel

Nevis Range announces Commencal as new global gravity sports partner

SKI-AN-DURO, a new ski and mountain bike Enduro for Scotland

Lochaber Tourism Day with Cal Mac – Debate, Engage, Network

Summer Youth Hostel Returns to Glasgow

An Teallach wins €60,000 European Outdoor Conservation Association grant

The ultimate runners’ sightseeing tour of Edinburgh returns

Fort William Mountain Festival 2021 goes Covid-19 safe

Expose yourself the No Fuss way

Cream O’ The Croft – far more than just a bike festival

Fort William Mountain Festival back to a live, multi-venue event in 2022

Run Scotland on The Ultra Tour of Arran

It’s Up to Us…to step up and save our mountain paths

No Fuss for Kinlochleven, the UK’s only Enduro World Series Qualifier

Hostelling Scotland opens four summer youth hostels in 2018

Epic Halloween tale of ‘Ned vs Monster’ in the Outdoor Capital

Loch Ossian and Glencoe Youth Hostels, big winners in TGO Reader Awards 2024

Three female adventurers to take on epic 1936 cycling trip

Youth development key to Edinburgh Central’s 10th Anniversary

No Fuss serve up a vindaloo of an off road bike festival