Cairngorm to Coast Participant Information

For sign up information, prices and booking link, please visit the main C2C page, for those who have taken the plunge, please make sure you read this page fully and have made a note of timings, particularly with regards to registration on the Friday and departure times on the day. If you have any questions, please visit our FAQ page, or email Karen Cox.

A simplified copy of this page is available here for downloading and printing for future reference.

Cairngorm to Coast is Outfit Moray’s biggest fundraising event of the year and raises vital funds to support one of our Trainee Scholarships. Each scholarship provides a unique, life-changing opportunity for the young person to learn new skills and gain qualifications, while building resilience and self-esteem; empowering them with the confidence to show themselves, and the rest of the world, just what they are capable of.

We’re looking forward to following each ‘C2C scholar’ through their year with Outfit Moray and hopefully encouraging them to take part once they have finished their training!

Each annual scholarship costs between £15,000 to £20,000, so we’re offering reduced entry fees for Outfit Moray fundraisers to encourage more people to be part of C2C’s scholarship. However, you can still sign up for a Pay to Play place and fundraiser for us at the same time!

We know how tricky fundraising can be, so we hope you find our fundraising portal helpful. It’s full of great hints and tips, including our online fundraising guide, plus a sponsorship form. Our event organiser, Karen Cox, is also available for help and support.

Cairngorm to Coast Timetable

WEEK BEFORE: Bikes and kit bags can be dropped off Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm.
FRIDAY: Bikes and kit bags can be dropped off between 9am and 6pm.

Your goody bag and race number will be ready to collect when you drop your bike and kit bags off. Please make sure you attach your numbered buff tags to anything you are leaving with us and your bike number is on your bike. If you are unable to make it to Lossiemouth, you will receive your goody bag and race number on the bus or at the start.

NB: if you want your bike transported to the start, it MUST BE WITH US BY 6pm on the Friday before. Outfit Moray will not be held responsible for bikes left anywhere else along the route.

SATURDAY: Cairngorm to Coast day!
Please note: Cairngorm to Coast is NOT A RACE, so there is not an official ‘start line’ or time. Participants are welcome to go to the toilet, take photos etc and start when they are ready. *If you miss the bus, you will need to make your own way to Grantown-on-Spey or the ski centre car park

Hike and Hike & Bike entries:
6.45am: arrive at Station Park play park, Lossiemouth
7am sharp: depart from Lossiemouth*
8.15am: arrive at The Square bus stop, Grantown
8.30am: depart from Grantown*
9am: start from Cairngorm Mountain car park

Bike only entries:
8.45am: arrive at Station Park play park, Lossiemouth
9am sharp: depart from Lossiemouth*
10.15am: arrive at The Square bus stop, Grantown
10.30am: depart from Grantown*
11am: start in separate waves from Cairngorm Mountain car park

Grantown on Spey (34km finish & 100km transition):
Hikers: well done, you did it! You will receive your medal and have your finish photo taken.

All participants: there will be toilet facilities, somewhere warm to get changed, an opportunity to charge e-bikes, plus hot food and drinks. Please note: for anyone finishing at Grantown, there is no return transport to Lossiemouth, so please bear that in mind when arranging your coach choices.

Forres Academy car park:
For those wishing to transition on to road bikes, there will be a checkpoint marshal here from 1pm. Please note that this transition must be self-supported and we cannot help with any arrangements, although we will collect any of our hire bikes that are left there.

Lossiemouth (100km finish):
Well done, you did it! You will receive a medal and have your finish photo taken.

There are toilets and changing facilities, as well as light refreshments available. Your walking kit will have been dropped off but, if you beat it back to the finish line and can’t wait, it can be collected from Outfit Moray the following week (we aren’t open on weekends). If this is an issue, please let us know.

The Route

Cairngorm to Coast is a challenge event and part of that challenge is navigation, so this is NOT a fully signposted event. There will be signposts from the ski centre to the first checkpoint but, from there on, there are limited signposts between checkpoints.

Participants must stick to the paths whilst travelling through the Cairngorms National Park and Abernethy Nature Reserve, as these areas are renowned for their sensitive natural habitats and are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and wild land.

IMPORTANT: you are walking and biking through spectacular countryside and must to abide by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times along the entire route.

Toilets: Ski centre, Glenmore Lodge, Nethy Bridge, Grantown On Spey, Edinkillie Hall, Forres Swimming Pool (only until 3pm), Grant Park public toilets (until 8pm) and 100km finish line. Other than that, it’s natural breaks and we would ask you to take particular note of the SOAC information regarding natural toilet breaks:

If you need to urinate, do so at least 30 metres from open water or rivers and streams. If you need to defecate, do so as far away as possible from buildings, from open water or rivers and streams, and from any farm animals. Bury faeces in a shallow hole and replace the turf.

The C2C route is listed on AllTrails (see embedded map at foot of page) and we’ve listed the checkpoint locations below. Printed maps are available on request and we will send a PDF copy, as well as a GPX file nearer the event date.

CP	Grid Ref	Location	Comments	Closes
1	NH 980094	Allt Ban car park, Glenmore	First manned checkpoint
2	NH 957113	Badaguish Outdoor Centre	First Aid access, food and water
3	NH 974164	Tontearie	Water
4	NH 996200	Duackbridge	Join Speyside Way to Nethy Bridge
5	NJ 000207	Nethy Bridge	Food & water: start of the Speyside Way
6	NJ 035262	The Smoke House carpark	Crossing A95: be traffic aware
7	NJ 036268	Speybridge	Turn right into Anagach Woods to Grantown
8	NJ 033279	Royal British Legion, Grantown on Spey	Event Control: hike finish, bike start First aid, toilets, hot food, snacks and drinks	4pm
9	NJ 025283	Start of the Dava Way	Under bridge, immediate right onto Dava Way
10	NJ 008388	Dava Way (Divert onto A939)	Water. Divert onto A939: be traffic aware
11	NJ 008394	Back onto Dava Way	Crossing A939: be traffic aware
12	NJ 015482	Edinkillie Hall, Dunphail	Toilets, first aid, food and water
13	NJ 037577	Mannachie Rise (end of Dava Way)	Route cuts through housing estate
14	NJ 038581	Forres Academy	First aid, food and water Road bike transition (unsupported)	7.30pm
15	NJ 038589	South Street/High Street junction	Be alert to traffic on High Street (turn right)
16	NJ 045594	Victoria Rd/Findhorn Rd junction	Turn right to Sueno’s Stone – do not go down to A96
17	NJ 093627	Milton of Brodie	Stay on NCN 1
18	NJ 151649	Spindle Muir: B9013 junction	Crossing B9013: be traffic aware
19	NJ 178660	Waterton: B9012 junction	Crossing B9012: be traffic aware
20	NJ 223687	Muirton cycle path junction	Turn left onto cycle path
21	NJ 230702	Coulardbank Road	Turn left to avoid A941 traffic
22	NJ 238709	Station Park, Lossiemouth	Event Control: 100km finish line First aid and refreshments	9pm

Participant kit list (suggested)

What you wear on the day is vital for your comfort and success, so please make sure you are appropriately dressed for the occasion, terrain and weather. Rain (and mud) is always possible, so we recommend making sure you have a towel and change of clothes at your finish line just in case. Please note: there is a strict NO ALCOHOL policy along the entire route

Hikers: we have outdoor kit available for hire, including day sacks, walking poles, boots and waterproofs. Please email for more information and costs. Make sure you wear new boots in first: new boots = new blisters!

Bikers: we offer a pre-C2C inspection and service*, so please get in touch with any questions or to book. If you’re unable to transport your bike, or your not sure whether it’s suited to the terrain, there’s the option to add bike hire during checkout (can inc helmet, lights and gloves if required) – this also saves you having to wash it the next day!

* the inspection fee will be included in the service charge (not including parts) please get in touch with any questions.

Hike Personal Kit:

day sack (25l)
layered clothing: breathable base layer, mid layer (shirt etc) outer layer (fleece etc) plus waterproof or buffalo
spare socks (wool – no nylon or polyester)
hats and gloves suitable for weather
walking trousers
good pair of worn in, lightweight walking boots with ankle support
two walking poles
personal first aid kid inc blisteze/compeed plasters, sun cream, midge spray
high energy snacks (muesli bars, flapjacks)
camelbak or similar for water
mobile phone (fully charged)
waterproof pouch for the maps

Bike Kit:

Bike helmet (compulsory)
biking shorts/leggings
bike gloves
bike lights (compulsory)
head torch
high energy snacks (muesli bars, flapjacks)
camelbak or similar for water
personal first aid kid inc blisteze/compeed plasters, sun cream, midge spray
mobile phone (fully charged)
waterproof pouch for the maps