The Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis
Across the Wild Heart of Galloway
The Long Line Through Galloway.
320 kilometres across the wild heart of Galloway. The Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis runs out from Gatehouse of Fleet through forests, past lochs, moors and hills, and back again. One continuous line through some of the most remote terrain in Britain.
This is not a race. There is no bunch to sit in and no rival to chase. Just you, the route and the hours. Long stretches of solitude, broken by the quiet company of riders drawn to the same horizon.
The Ultra rewards those who can read a day, ration an effort and keep moving when the light goes. New for 2027, it moves to Friday and opens the weekend. Roll out on Friday 14 May 2027 at 6am and let the rest of the festival come to you afterwards.
If high-speed competition is what you are after, the UCI Gravel Race is where to test yourself. The Ultra is a different thing entirely, its your chance to explore and experience the wild beauty of the Galloway Forest Park.
Everything You Need to Go the Distance
What's included
From roll-out to finish, the logistics are handled. Support, nutrition, safety and tracking are all in place, so the only thing you have to manage is the ride itself.
GPS TRACKER
Live tracking for friends and family, and a layer of safety on the route.
REFUGES
Four shelters along the route for food, hot meals, rest, recovery and mechanical support, staffed through the day and night.
FINISHER MEAL
However long it takes, a hot meal is waiting at the finish.
FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
Start and finish inside the Gralloch festival in Gatehouse, with the whole weekend either side of your ride.
ROUTE GPX FILE
A detailed GPX track to guide you through forests, glens and mountain passes from start to finish.
FINISHER MEDAL
An exclusive medal, earned only at the line.
MEDICAL SUPPORT
A 24-hour Event Control team, ready to assist or extract if the unexpected happens.
LUGGAGE STORAGE
Secure storage at the Event Village so you can ride light and leave the rest with us.
BAG DROP SERVICE
Drop up to three bags ahead to Refuges 2, 3 and 4, waiting for you when you need them most.
PARTICIPANT PATCH
A custom-designed patch to mark the line you followed and the miles you earned.
The Road Less Travelled
THE ROUTE
One long line through the Galloway Forest Park and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, out from Gatehouse of Fleet and back. Forest fire road, open moor, loch shore and high climbs, and rarely a stretch that lets up.
Few riders will ever see this much of Galloway in a single day.
In 2026 the Ultra ran to 323 kilometres and 4,819 metres of climbing. Expect the 2027 route to be every bit its equal. The full route, distance and elevation will be revealed soon. Register now and be ready when it drops.
REFUGES
Four Refuges are spaced along the route, the fixed points in a long day. More than fuel stops, they are places to get warm, eat properly, fix what needs fixing and gather yourself before heading back out into the wild.
Food and drink. Water, isotonic drinks, sports nutrition and fruit at every Refuge.
Hot food. A warm meal at the later Refuges, for the hours when real food matters most.
Rest and recovery. Indoor rest areas at the later Refuges, where you can sleep, reset and push on stronger.
Mechanical support. A station at each Refuge, stocked with spares and tools.
A team behind you. Every Refuge is run by our volunteers, on hand through the day and the night.
Approximate locations and opening times*:
- Refuge 1: 73.3km (Open from 08:00 to 11:45)
- Refuge 2: 152.4km (Open from 10:30 to 17:50)
- Refuge 3: 222.2km (Open from 12:45 to 11:15)
- Refuge 4: 272.4km (Open from 14:30 to 03:15)
*Final refuge locations, opening hours and the full food and nutrition list will be published with the route in early 2027.
TIMING & LIVE TRACKING
Every entry includes a GPS tracker that shares your position in real time, updating every minute so friends and family can follow the whole route with you. Checkpoint timing and live leaderboards run throughout. The tracker also supports event safety, letting Control monitor positions and coordinate help when needed. Keep it switched on and secure for the full ride.
CLASSIFICATIONS
All riders who complete The Gralloch Ultra will receive an official finish time along with recorded checkpoint timings.
The focus is on the personal achievement of completing the Ultra and joining the list of official finishers for this landmark event.
Travel Light, Ride Free
BAG DROP SERVICE
Pack what you will want out on the route, spare kit, dry clothing, nutrition, and we will carry it ahead to the Refuges. Drop up to three bags, one each to Refuge 2, Refuge 3 and Refuge 4, with a maximum of one bag per Refuge.
Bag size: No larger than 45cm x 35cm x 20cm per bag.
Labels: Included in your rider registration pack. Attach one to each bag before drop-off.
Drop-off: Hand bags in by 6am on Friday 14 May 2027, before the event start.
Collection: Bags return to the Event Village, ready to collect from 11am on Saturday 15 May 2027.
Simple, reliable, and designed to keep you focused on the ride ahead.
LUGGAGE STORAGE
Leave valuables and extra luggage at the Event Village for secure storage while you ride. Drop your bag at the Info Desk, where it is checked in and tagged. Present your tag at the finish to collect it. Simple, secure, and managed by our team throughout the weekend.
REGISTRATION
Every Ultra rider must collect their registration pack in person before the off. Inside you will find your number, timing chip, GPS tracker and your bag drop labels, everything you need for the route ahead.
Collection is at the Event Village on Thursday 13 May 2027, 4pm to 9pm. One window, so plan your arrival around it.
Are You Ready to Go the Distance?
Take on 320 kilometres of Scotland’s toughest and most beautiful gravel. Join riders from around the world for a true test of endurance, skill and spirit.
Places for The Gralloch Ultra 2027 are limited — enter now and start your journey through Galloway’s wild heart.
Keeping You Safe
Medical and Emergency Support
Your safety comes first. Red On Sports holds the same standards across every event, and the Ultra is no exception. A dedicated Event Control team monitors rider progress throughout and coordinates medical or emergency help whenever it is needed. Reach them any time by call, text or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day for the duration of the Ultra. You ride the wild parts of Galloway knowing the team is behind you.
REGULATIONS
Before you take on the Ultra, be sure you are ready. Our regulations cover mandatory equipment, route access, safety, etiquette and fair play, all written to help you ride responsibly and well. Every participant must read and understand the full Gralloch Ultra Regulations before the event.
No outside assistance: Riders may not receive help with drinks, nutrition or mechanicals from anyone other than event staff or other riders.
FINISHER MEDAL
Every rider who completes The Gralloch Ultra receives an exclusive finisher's medal for the distance and the effort behind it. The design will be revealed soon, made to stand for every kilometre, every climb and every hour that brings you to the line.
FESTIVAL
The Ultra is part of the wider Gralloch festival, a full weekend of gravel, endurance and community. Ride in on Friday and the rest of the weekend is yours: panel talks, shakeout rides, food and drink, and an expo of leading brands and local producers at the Event Village in Gatehouse of Fleet. Whether you are winding down after the Ultra or cheering the Race and Sportive that follow, it is the place to find the other riders and swap the stories only the route can give you.
Refuel and Recharge
post-ride meal
Finish in the evening, through the night or at first light, and a hot meal is waiting. Our catering team will have it ready at the line, so you can refuel, sit down and swap stories with the riders who took on the same route.
welcome evening
The night before you roll out, every Ultra rider gathers for the briefing that matters: the route, the Refuges, safety, and what the next stretch of hours will ask of you. Alongside it, a welcome talk from Ultra legends and riders who have taken on lines like this before, with the final tips and the motivation to see you to the start.
Come with your questions. Leave ready.
Details for 2027: Thursday 13 May 2027, 6pm to 8pm in the Event Village
- no outside assistance
No outside assistance is permitted. When it comes to drinks, nutrition and mechanical issues riders may not receive assistance from any person other than event staff or other riders.
cut-offs
The Ultra runs from the 6am start on Friday 14 May 2027 through the day, the night and into Saturday morning. You have 24 hours to complete the route. To hold every rider inside that window, cut-off times are enforced along the way, set at the main Refuges. Those times will be published shortly, and our team is there throughout to help you get round.
Miss a cut-off and you will be asked to stop, for your safety and the team's. A shuttle runs from each cut-off point shortly after the time, returning riders to the Event Village. You may choose to carry on, but you do so entirely at your own risk and outside official event support: Refuges will be closed behind you, with no further mechanical, medical or emergency coordination through Control.
The finish line closes on Saturday morning 6am, ahead of the day's racing getting under way. Any rider still on course after that diverts to the main public entrance of the Event Village and returns their timing chip and GPS tracker to the Info Desk.
