Outdoor enthusiasts head to the Outdoor Capital of the UK

With its long, sunny days, the summer often inspires people to take to the outdoors and undertake a more active lifestyle. But when the schools go back and colder days set in, it can be difficult to keep up that motivation. The Outdoor Capital of the UK, however, encourages people to sustain their summer activity throughout the autumn via their calendar of exciting sporting events.

The Outdoor Capital of the UK, which encompasses Fort William and Lochaber, has long been a 'must visit' destination for outdoor enthusiasts and is renowned for hosting adrenaline-fuelled outdoor events. As the location for world-class events such as the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, combined with its glens, mountains, coastlines and forests alongside, the Outdoor Capital of the UK has built up the reputation as the best region in the UK to experience the outdoors.

The months of September and October see the Outdoor Capital of the UK play upon the above credentials and host a comprehensive programme of events including a challenging race up and down the UK’s highest mountain; several gruelling triathlons; one of the country’s ultimate MTB challenges for endurance athletes and a relentless overnight biking challenge.

The first event to commence the autumn calendar is the Ben Nevis Race on Saturday 3rd September. The event is one of Fort William's oldest and most popular outdoor activity events and attracting around 500 competitors each year. The Ben Nevis Race, which is approximately 10 miles in distance, is unlike any other. It consists of a 4,400 feet climb to the top of Britain’s highest mountain, before immediately descending via road, rough track, grassy slope and scree slope.

The earliest recorded time for this race was that by William Swan of Fort William on August 2nd 1895 and took 2 hours, 41 minutes. In the years that have passed since William’s feat, the time taken to run this race has decreased with the record for men currently standing at 1 hour 25 minutes and for ladies, at 1 hour 43 minutes.

Meanwhile, the following week will see athletes embark on what must be one of, if not the, hardest triathlon in the country. The Big Ben Nevis Triathlon, which takes place on Saturday 10th September, runs over the standard Olympic triathlon distance but replaces road bike with mountain bike and road run with hill run, allowing it to be described as ‘tougher than the Ironman'.

The event is organised by the highly acclaimed and extremely passionate team at No Fuss Events and consists of a 1900m sea loch swim, 90km mountain bike and a 21km run to the summit of Ben Nevis and back down.

If the above sounds a little too demanding, competitors can also choose to do the half triathlon, which follows the same route but half the distance on each stage.

In keeping with the ‘extreme’ style of the above triathlon, No Fuss Events offer three further intensive events during the autumn – namely the Highland Warrior Triathlon, the Tour de Ben Nevis and the Niterider Relentless 24.

The Highland Warrior Triathlon, which was staged for the first time last year, will return to the Outdoor Capital of the UK on the 11th September.  Following the success of last year’s event, it proved it has the potential to become a legendary race within the triathlon community. Consisting of a 1900m sea loch swim, 90km road bike and a 21km run in Glen Nevis, this event will be the triathlonscotland Scottish Middle Distance National Championship for 2011.

The forthcoming Tour de Ben Nevis, which takes place on 24th September, is considered to be “the race that took mountain biking back to the mountains”. The event entails a 72km circumnavigation around Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest mountain and is considered to be one of the ultimate MTB challenge for endurance athletes and people with a sense of adventure.

Starting out at Fort William, it is an arduous journey of discovery which travels down the spectacular south side of Kinlochleven before heading back up towards Spean Bridge over some of the most dramatic scenery in the UK.

The last event of the autumn calendar – but certainly not the least - is the Niterider Relentless24. Taking place on the 8th October, this event is located on the world renowned Witch’s Trail and World Championships courses in the Forestry Commission Scotland’s Leanachan Forest. 

Beginning with a Le Mans style racing start, more than 400 riders from across the UK and beyond will battle it out on world-class trails, from Saturday lunchtime deep into the night, with the event concluding at 12 noon on Sunday 9th.

Despite the extreme titles of some of the above events, Frazer Coupland, Project Manager of the Outdoor Capital of the UK and one of the event organisers at No Fuss events, comments, “At No Fuss Events we like to provide exciting and professional events with a relaxed atmosphere.  Whilst some of our events may sound a little daunting on first impression, the emphasis is firmly on participation enjoyment and fun for all involved, whether riders, family members, spectators or support crew.”

He continues, “The Outdoor Capital of the UK likes to provide opportunities to showcase the wealth of activities available. From the summit to sea, the area is blessed with an incredible landscape which not only allow visitors to take part in a huge variety of outdoor activities on land, in the air and on the water, but for them to undertake them in some of the most dramatic Scottish locations imaginable.”

Demonstrating their eagerness to showcase the wealth of activities available, The Outdoor Capital of the UK has recently devised the concept of ActiVacations - action packed holidays which play upon the ‘staycation’ phenomenon and simultaneously respond to the demand for activity holidays.

For those who might find the above No Fuss Events a step too far, the ActiVacations are designed to suit everyone from gentle walkers to adrenaline junkies and are available throughout the Autumn.

Example ‘ActiVacations’ include ‘West Coast Waters’, a week long excursion in Mallaig and the Small Isles, encompassing Rockhopper sea kayaking, white water rafting with Highland Activities, cross-country mountain biking at Nevis Range and luxury self-catering accommodation at Sunnyside Lodge.

Alternatively, the 7 night ‘Treat The Teenagers’ package will tempt youngsters into the great outdoors with high adrenaline activities such as quad biking and paintballing with Highland Activities, canyoning with Vertical Descents and a high wire adventure course at Nevis Range.

For further details on ActiVacations visit outdoorcapital.co.uk.