Highland Cross
2025
Bulletin 6 - 9th June 2025
Highland BlindCraft are making a wonderful offer to the
Community of Highland Cross!
Team Highland BlindCraft Beds are offering a 20% discount to all Highland Cross
competitors and volunteers:
Highland BlindCraft were over the moon to be a 2024 beneficiary of the Highland
Cross, for us, this new van is more than just transport - it’s essential.
Without it, we would not be able to offer a delivery service, which in turn
means we could not employ 2 permanent team members or reach customers across
Scotland without the expense of couriers.
As a thank you to team Highland Cross volunteers and competitors, we would like
to offer 20% off any Highland BlindCraft Bed purchase online or in our Inverness
showroom. Just use the code ‘CROSS25’.
Parking in Beauly
Participants MUST NOT park their vehicles in Beauly
Square or on the approach road to it outside the shops on the night of Friday 20th
or the morning of Saturday 21st June.
Please refer to Page 17 of the event booklet. The whole
area, as shown on the sketch, including the coned approach zone, the Square and
the area shown with the dotted line will be covered by a No Parking Order and
the Police will have the authority to have vehicles parked there towed or lifted
away with a considerable subsequent cost to the owner!
Please park your vehicles well away from these areas, and
preferably in the car park in Braeview that is clearly shown in your event
booklet on Page 14. Ill-considered parking in Beauly creates safety hazards for
participants on the day, creates challenges for the Organisers when negotiating
for permissions to stage the event and is disrespectful of the Beauly Community
who have supported us over the decades.
Personal arrangements
With two weeks to go please look closely at your
arrangements:
Are your transport options and contact details completely
up to date on the SI Entries system? If not, please do it NOW! If at all
possible, please load your bike and bag for Affric in Inverness on Friday
evening.
Have you sourced your drinking cup or bottle? Remember
there are NO CUPS on the route.
Have you assembled your emergency kit for the day? Please
review the video at
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=384326876240796
Health issues
We want all participants to have a great Crossing but
please do not come to the event if you are carrying an injury or illness.
Remember the warning from page 11 of your booklet “
The Medical Team has advised that no participant
should enter the event if they have been in any way unwell in the 48 hours prior
to the Start”
Bulletin 5 – 2nd June 2025
Transport, Bike Transport and Walker/Runner choices
Please ensure that you have made the correct choice of
departure point on the Saturday (Inverness or Beauly), and if your circumstances
have changed, please amend your entry as soon as possible and before midnight
on 16th June.
Also, if you are changing from being a runner to a walker,
or vice versa, please amend your entry before midnight on 16th
June.
NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE AFTER THIS TIME
The changes can be made directly on the SI Entries
system by the Team Entry Owner – please make any changes as soon as possible,
that will greatly assist us in our planning and bus hire dispositions.
Information on how to make changes is in the FAQ section
of the Highland Cross website.
Participants opting to arrive at the Start in their own
transport.
Please note that there is NO PARKING at Morvich for
supporters’ vehicles.
Please arrange to be dropped off in plenty time to walk the
1 kilometre to the Start and to go through Registration and Safety Band fitting.
Remember that there will be a “one way system” in operation
– IN from Allt a’ Chruinn and OUT via the junction nearest the
Dornie Causeway.
Safety Equipment.
Please ensure that you have prepared the Safety Equipment
that you are expected to carry on the day.
The excellent video from Mountaineering Scotland shows
graphically why you must carry it. We have a safety and support system to assist
you but it cannot get to you instantly if you have a problem. You must be
prepared to look after yourself with the kit that you are carrying. Historically
the weather on Highland Cross has varied from snow to heat waves with every
conceivable variation!
Please review the video at
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=384326876240796
Cycle preparedness.
Please ensure that your bicycle is fit for the day and that
you have the spares that you need to carry out running repairs in your baggage
at Affric to take with you on the journey to Strathglass.
Numbering
The correct use of your allocated participant number from
SiEntries is vital for the operation of the “safety net”. It identifies you and
your bike and should be used for any separate items of belongings such as
personal bags etc.
The number is YOU from registration, through the event from
start to finish and to the issue of your certificate and team sponsorship
returns.
YOU are responsible for providing waterproof labels for
your bike and luggage.
Your number should be written or typed on the label so
there is no doubt as to its meaning. For example, “611” if read upside down
could be “119” therefore write your number with an underline so that it appears
like this “611”
YOU
At the registration/start of the event you will be issued
with two wrist bands, bearing your event number. These will be fitted to you by
the Marshals - do not attempt to self-fit them! One band will be removed at a
compulsory safety check at Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, 10 miles into the foot
section. The other wrist band will be removed at the change-over site as a
positive check over the foot section. A light numbered mesh bib will be provided
and must be worn for the cycle route to Beauly.
YOUR BIKE - WITH YOUR EVENT NUMBER
Using your weatherproof labels - please have a numbered
stick-on label on the saddle and a numbered tie-on label secured on the handle
bars (not on any covering or protective wrapping). This greatly assists
unloading, correct racking and official numbering at Glen Affric.
YOUR CYCLE HELMET AND PERSONAL BAGS
Use your own numbered weatherproof labels on separate
items. At the Bike Loading: Do not attach your belongings, cycle computers, or
your helmet etc to your bike. Put clothes and cycle helmet that you want to have
with your bike at Affric in a waterproof bag bearing your event number and hand
it to the Bag Van at bike Loading. Marshals will place your bag beside your bike
at Affric. At the Start: Put clothes or other belongings in a waterproof bag
bearing your event number for immediate return to Beauly Pound by event
transport. Changeover at Affric: Put clothes and other belongings in a
waterproof bag bearing your event number and hand it to a Bike Pound volunteer
to go in the Bag Van for transfer to Beauly Pound.

Bulletin 4 – 29th May 2025
Bus choices
The supply of buses in Highland now is challenging and
although we have booked sufficient capacity there is little room to spare.
Therefore, it is vital that participants assist us by being
accurate in their bus choices and sticking to them.
Participants have all made their bus choices on their
initial application forms. Please ensure that you have made the correct choice
of departure point on the Saturday (Inverness or Beauly), and if your
circumstances have changed, please amend your entry as soon as possible and no
later than Noon 16th June.
Also, if you are changing from being a runner to a walker,
or vice versa, please amend your entry by Noon 16th June.
If you are registered as a runner, do not travel on the
walkers' buses. We are aware of runners travelling on walkers' buses which has
nearly caused a lack of seats for properly registered walkers.
This is important as the organisers are arranging for buses
to be in place in line with what competitors have requested.
Bike Loading
It helps the organisers to have as many bikes loaded as
possible on the Friday evening at Inverness, irrespective of where you depart
from on Saturday morning. Again, if appropriate, please amend your record.
Safety Equipment
Please review your equipment choices for the day especially
the Safety Equipment that we expect you to have. Please watch the video that we
gave you a link to.
Highland Cross is a cupless event
Participants are remined that that we will not be providing
cups on the event. It is your responsibility to bring a cup or bottle of your
choice to the event.
Participant Bulletin 3 – 19th May 2025
Transport to Morvich
Please use the event buses wherever possible!
If you are registered as a Walker please travel on the
Walkers’ buses and equally if you are registered as a Runner/Jogger please
travel on the buses scheduled for that start time. We have a juggling act to
ensure that we have the correct number of buses in place for each start time. We
appreciate that you may want to travel with teammates going at a different time
but that causes real challenges to the Bus Schedulers!
If you cannot use the event buses, please follow the
instructions below…
Access to Morvich for folk arriving in non event
vehicles
Please approach Morvich via the junction at Ault a’ chruinn
off the A87 to the South of Morvich and NOT via the junction on the North side
of the causeway.
We have applied for a Road Traffic Order on the road and
there will be an effective one-way system for access. IN at the Ault a’ chruinn
access and OUT at the North side of the causeway.
Parking is extremely limited in the area, and we appeal for
participants to be dropped off at the Morvich road T junction before Croe Bridge
and for cars to leave the area.
These measures are necessary to reduce disruption to the
community of Morvich that hosts the Start and has supported us so generously
over four decades and to protect participant and volunteer safety.
Morvich Breakfast Bar
The Loch Duich Primary School Parents and Teachers
committee intend to organise the Morvich Breakfast Bar once again.
If you intend to avail yourself of an “athletic breakfast”
prior to the event please make sure that you have some cash with you and in
small denominations if possible. All funds raised support activities for the
young folk.
The Breakfast bar has become something of an institution on
the Cross!
Fundraising
Highland Cross exists to raise funds for folk in Highland
disadvantaged by medical or social causes. We have learnt of some amazing
fundraising efforts by participants and we are hugely encouraged by these. Thank
you to every team who are exerting themselves to generate the best sum
possible.
We have four wonderful charities nominated as main
beneficiaries – Badenoch and Strathspey and Badenoch Community ConneXions,
Gatway, Rag Tag and Textile and Skye and Lochalsh Mental Health Association.
Any funds remaining after the pledges to them are fulfilled will be distributed
in smaller grants to other Highland charities.
In 40 years participants in Highland Cross have generated
£6.3m for charities! This is an amazing total, but the need continues…
Participant Bulletin 2 – 12th May 2025
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Many folk will recognise various versions of this old
saying – some more polite than others.
With the Cross six weeks away now is the time to check that
you have all your preparations in order.
Emergency Kit
The Organising Committee expect all participants to carry
the Emergency Kit detailed in the event booklet.
1. A whistle to summon help – 6 blasts of the whistle
repeated at one minute intervals
2. A weather protective suit
3. A small amount of high energy food
You may get away with a t-shirt and shorts some years but
an injury causing a minor slowdown on a windy, damp day can have serious effects
and if you end up sitting waiting for help you can be in serious trouble without
the emergency gear. Please take it with you.
The link below will take you to a superb video from
Mountaineering Scotland about the necessity to carry kit in case you have to sit
and wait for help. PLEASE WATCH IT and take account of its learning when
developing your kit for the day. It was filmed on a windy day with a temperature
of 13 deg C – common conditions on Highland Cross. We have had snow on the
Cross! A minor twist or sprain can change the whole nature of the risk of the
Cross. We will try to get supporting resources to you as quickly as possible,
but they will not be immediately there for you.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=384326876240796
Each year we end up helping find and return gear loaned to
injured folk by good hearted fellow participants. This means that the injured
party were without the correct kit and other folk put themselves at risk by
loaning gear to them!
Bike
Every year our wonderful volunteer Bike Doctors work
miracles on bikes in Affric Quarry that were not really ready for the day, but
there is a limit to what they can achieve! There have even been a number
of bikes discovered in the Quarry with repair lists attached to them
for their attention! Please make sure that your bike is ready for the event and
that you have the spares that you need and can use for punctures etc on the
route. Our Support Crews do not have cycle spares or puncture repair sets with
them.
If you arrive at Bike Loading on Friday and have an urgent
need for “bits” our friends from Highland Bikes will have their mobile shop in
attendance for last minute purchases.
Baggage
Think very carefully about the bags that you are going use
to protect your baggage going to Affric and to Beauly. We recommend some sort of
robust DRY BAG.
The Bike Pound at Affric and the Baggage Pound at Beauly
are open to the elements and there is no way that baggage can be kept off the
ground in wet conditions. If you are using a rucksack or sports bag, please use
strong waterproof bags as a liner. All baggage must bear your event number on a
waterproof label, and we recommend that you place a label with your details
inside the bag. Please underline the number to indicate how it should be read...
611 can be 119.
Fluid on the Foot Section
Highland Cross is a “cupless event” – participants are
responsible for bring their own choice of cup or bottle with them. The pictures
below show the style of cup that you might find useful.



We will have fluid stations with water or water and
rehydrating fluid at regular intervals along the way. We recommend that you
start the day carrying some fluid to suit your own needs and if the day is
forecast to be hot carry a bit extra.
Participant’s Bulletin 1 – 6th May 2025
Participant’s Booklet
No matter how many Crosses you have taken part in please
study the booklet! There are changes and memory can play tricks on you!
Rules
Please read ALL the rules and the Safety Advice.
Your individual 2025 event number
You will be issued with your individual event number by SI
Entries within the next few days. This must be displayed on all baggage and
bikes that you want Highland Cross to convey for you. Please carefully read
page 4 of the booklet.
Please ensure that you remove all past event numbers from
your bike and baggage!
Rehydration fluid on the course
We will be providing water or a product from Active Root, a
Scottish based company who have developed and manufacture it in Scotland. This
year it will be their hydration product in Lemon flavour.
Highland Cross is a cupless event
Please provide your own cup or water bottle as stated on
page 11. THERE WILL BE NO SPARE CUPS!
If the day looks like being hot, please start the event
carrying fluid of your own choice.
A warning from our Medical Team
Please see the medical warning on page 11. Our wonderful
Medical Team state that:
Do not be tempted to start the event carrying an injury or
hiding an illness.
The Medical Team has advised that no participant should
enter the event if they have been in any way unwell in the 48 hours prior to the
Start.
Nothing matters more to us than our participants getting
home safely. We have had a number of instances of folk allowing their urge to
take part to overrule their commonsense and ending up very ill. If you have
been unwell prior to the event please do not attend, let us know by e mail that
you are dropping out due to medical reasons and get well safely at home.
If our marshals or Medical Team believe that you are not
well enough to continue on the course we will withdraw you from the event. If
you are moving so slowly that you are unable to complete the course in
appropriate time you will be removed from the course. Please see rules 8 and 9
on Page 3.
Safety layouts at the Strathglass/Beauly Toll
junction and on the route into the Square for the Finish
Please look closely at the sketch plans on pages 16 and
17. These new provisions have been brought in as a direct result of near misses
between participants and oncoming cars.
The final approach into the Square has been altered from
last year and the final chicane into the Finish from the Police control is
narrower and over a mix of surfaces including a ramp into the final approach to
the Finish Arch.
PLEASE study the changes and stay in the coned off lanes
for your safety and to protect the future of the event as we know it.
Further regular bulletins will be issued in the run up
to the event please read them all and please check that your team colleagues are
getting theirs. If anybody is not getting their bulletin, ask the Team Owner to
check the e mail address that is displayed on the team’s SI Entries page and
correct it as necessary. If you have problems, check the FAQs page on the event
website or as a last resort e mail
info@highlandcross.co.uk with details so that we can help you out.