Fife Pilgrim Way 90K Ultra Event Plan – For Runners

(Last updated 05/03/2026)

The Fife Pilgrim Way 90K Ultra is an endurance event seeing runners cover this recognised route from North Queensferry to St. Andrews.

Race Briefing: 05:45 walk to the start line and race briefing

Race Start:  06:00

Race Finish:  21:00

MANDATORY KIT

1. Foil Blanket

2. Mobile phone (switched on and with Race Control number (Catriona: 07905167695 and Susie: 07879030669 saved prior to race start)

3. Waterproofs as required.

4. Head torch (if expected to be out after 20:00)

5. Spare battery pack for phone

6. At least 1L of hydration

Recommended Kit

Emergency food, compeed blister plasters, wet wipes.

ROUTE / SECTIONS

Maps and routes can be found here: -

Pilgrim Way - Fife Coast & Countryside Trust (fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk).

GPX file: Strava

1. North Queensferry to Dunfermline – 8.6 miles with approx. 750 feet of elevation

2. Dunfermline to Lochore Meadows – 10.7 miles with approx. 750 feet of elevation

3. Lochore Meadows to Markinch – 13 miles with approx. 890 feet of elevation

4. Markinch to Ceres – 13.6 miles with approx. 1,100 feet of elevation

5. Ceres to St Andrews – 9.7 miles with approx. 640 feet of elevation

There will not be any closed roads and all footpaths & pavements will be open to the public.

There will be first aiders at each check point plus at least 2 first aid response vehicles available throughout – both services supplied by Fife Medical Group, who will have access to the GPS tracking devices on each runner.

SUPPORT RUNNERS

Each leg shall be self-supported until Ceres and from there the runners may have one support runner to accompany them to St.Andrews should they wish.

Who is eligible to take part?

Age: 20+ on race day (2 May 2026)

Experience: We ask that you have completed a distance of at least 42K (a marathon distance) within the last 24 months, or an ultra of at least 50K in the last 36 months. If you have entered and not completed these distances please can you contact us to chat throught your running experience - 07905167695

I don't want to run it, may I walk it?

No, sorry, this is a running event. That said, we are highly in support of walk breaks.

Is there a relay team option?

No, sorry, this is a solo event only.

How do I get back from St Andrews to North Queensferry?

We will be running a bus service from Holy Trinity Church, South Street, St Andrews back to North Queensferry on a 2 hourly rota from 4pm to 10pm.

CHECK POINTS

At each check point we will have access to a private or a public space to use for toilet facilities, aid station, drop bag etc, see table for more location info.

1. North Queensferry – Doubletree Hilton

2. Dunfermline – Pittencrieff Park (Public Toilets will be open from 7am)

3. Lochore Meadows Country Park, Willie Clark Café

4. Heart of Fife Kirk, Markinch

5. St Kenneth’s Parish Church, Kennoway

6. The Ceres Memorial Hall, Ceres

7. Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews

Each check point will be manned with marshals and will tick runners in/out, runners will also be live-tracked with GPS devices and monitored by an outside contractor, Open Tracking, who will be present throughout.

DROP BAGS

There will be 3 locations where you can have a small bag of items taken for you to collect, things like a change of socks, extra food, sun cream, crisps etc

Please mark your SMALL waterproof drop bag with YOUR NAME and the drop bag location you wish it to go to as in LOCHORE / MARKINCH / CERES and put it in the correct area at registration for our lovely marshals to take ahead for you.

Please note that drop bags are one way only – marshals are not able to reunite you with your favourite Sweaty Betty or Salomon bag so don’t use precious bags.

If you wish to pull out DURING the race – Please notify either your nearest marshal or call Race Control: Catriona: 07905167695 OR Susie: 07879030669 We will need to get your GPS tracker to the finish area.

Keeping the landowners happy – if you pass through a gate that is open, leave it open, if the gate is closed, please close this behind you.  DO NOT DROP LITTER.

DO NOT ANNOY THE ANIMALS.  If you are going through a farm yard, be mindful of the people working there.

Fife Pilgrim Way sign posts –  the route is marked by stickers showing this logo and an arrow on either lampposts or wooden posts along the way and wherever we feel you could make a wrong turn we’ve added a few more signs/arrows. The responsibility lies with you the runner to keep an eye out for the signs and to have the Strava map and/or GPX map available on your devices to refer to.

GPX file Strava

Recommended footwear – this is very much weather dependant and how wet the prior days/weeks have been along the route. It might be muddy in places and we would recommend well-cushioned trail shoes. Strava tells me that roughly a third of the route is solid / tarmac and the rest is off road / trail.   

Timing Chips / Tracker:

You will be given a race bib and a tracker at registration. Your tracker will enable the race team to see where you are, and we’ll call you if you meander greatly off the route, however, please don’t rely on this error-correction method for your navigation strategy!

Live Tracking will be here: TBC

RULES

• No Dogs, including therapy dogs.

• No Support Runners until Ceres.

• You are permitted to wear headphones / earbuds / bone conductors but NOT noise cancelling options and you must turn off music / podcasts when you running on roads and crossing roads - this is for your safety as there are no closed roads on the route.

• Please look at the marshals as you are passing them in case you miss any important communication from them.

Diversions:   

We’ll let you know beforehand if there are any diversion in place.

Accommodation:

We have teamed up with the Doubletree Hilton in North Queensferry and as well 20% off their best available rates from 1st - 3rd May 2026, they'll open the continental breakfast bar early to make sure you're well fuelled before the 6am start. The sales team are runners, can you tell?

The code 113532910 is to be used on any hotel booking on the dates above to access the discount.

Mobile home parking:

We are waiting to hear from Fife Council whether you may park up overnight at Battery Park Road car park – tbc

Car parking:

If you are a hotel guest, you have access to their car park.

If you are not a hotel guest, then they have put aside a few spaces for us to use, otherwise there is free street parking in the village of North Queensferry and a free car park at Battery Road and the rail station.

We are also waiting to hear from Fife Council whether the barrier at Battery Park Road car park shall be opened at 4am to allow early morning parking – tbc

Registration 

All participants must collect their TRACKING DEVICE and race number, we have 2 options for you:

Friday 1st May, Doubletree Hilton, North Queensferry, 6 – 9pm

Sat 2nd May, Doubletree Hilton, North Queensferry, 4.30 – 5am

For safety reasons please do not swap your entry with another runner; if you are involved in a medical situation, we can use your chip information to get you the help you need. IF YOU ARE TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER RUNNER - please tell us by Saturday 18th April as we need this info locked into the timing system, you must not give your place to someone else without letting us know in advance

Supporter Locations

There are many great locations on the route for your family and friends to support you. We can suggest the following for ease of transport, proximity to coffee etc..

1. Dunfermline – Pittencrieff Park (Public Toilets will be open from 7am)

2. Lochore Meadows Country Park, Willie Clark Café

3. Heart of Fife Kirk, Markinch

4. St Kenneth’s Parish Church, Kennoway

5. The Ceres Memorial Hall, Ceres

6. St Andrews Cathedral (finish area)

Littering

All of our marshals will have black bin bags for you to throw your empty gel sachets etc into. There will also be bins at the aid stations. Deliberate littering will result in instant disqualification.

Race Finish

The race will finish at the gates to the St Andrew’s Cathedral. From there you will be guided the short walk to the Holy Trinity Parish Church on South Street for a well deserved seat!

Race Limit

250 runners

First Aid

Fife Medical will be stationed at the start/finish line with a support vehicle on standby to come to a runner's aid should first aid be needed. If you come across a fellow runner who needs emergency medical attention please do not hesitate to call 999. However, if a first aider is more appropriate then you will find the race director's number on the front of your bib, 07905167695 and the first aiders will be dispatched. If you have the app What3Words on your phone, then this is very helpful in locating you quickly.

Defibrillator locations on the route

tbc

Dogs

Unfortunately our insurance will not cover runners running with your four legged friends, this includes therapy dogs.

Results, medals and prize giving

Official race results can be viewed on the tracking system, xxx

All finishers will receive a medal and race goodies.

Social Media

We take photos during the race and put some on our social media pages, if you are not happy for us to put your photo online then please just let me know.