After a one-year break, Salomon Skyline Scotland roared back to life this weekend with a festival of mountain and trail running that brought the spirit of trail running back to the highlands and tested runners’ abilities. In just 24 hours, seven epic races unfolded, beginning with the midnight start of the Jacobite 100, rolling through a day of trail challenges centred on the Nevis Range, and climaxing with the Steall Marathon and the iconic Ben Nevis Skyline: a dramatic showdown on Britain’s highest peak.

This year, the mountain showed its teeth. On the summit of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s and Britain’s highest peak at 1,345m, athletes faced –6°C wind chill and punishing winds, conditions that forced organisers to activate mandatory cold-weather kit for the Ben Nevis Skyline and Steall Marathon. While passing showers dampened the glens below, the upper slopes of the mountain delivered true alpine-scale adversity, turning finishers into weather warriors.

1st place woman Elle Twentyman said: “It was absolutely brutal, the first 5km was really runnable lovely in the trails out through the park then you contour round up to Ben Nevis, it got pretty steep then on top you’re in a boulder field and on the ridge then you descend on the much less visited side – for good reason – that was the hardest part of the course, it was really steep and the rocks were slippery. Then the last 7km downhill through the bike park [Blue Doon MTB track] was just so much fun!”

Salomon Skyline Scotland remains one of the few international-calibre trail running events in the UK, keeping the Highlands firmly on the global trail running calendar. Across the weekend, runners from across Europe and beyond enjoyed the very best the highland have to offer on these rugged courses, while the home crowd roared on Scottish athletes making their mark.

The Ben Nevis Skyline podiums captured the spirit perfectly: Scottish runner Mia Padmanabhan stormed into second place in the women’s race, whilst Carnethy hill running club swept first and second place with Scottish runners Sasha Chepelin and Finn Lyndon. Edinburgh based Ewan Dodd claiming third, all of these athletes did Scotland proud holding their own against a world-class field. Their performances showed that local talent can rise to the occasion on an international stage — a point of pride not just for Scottish trail running, but for the community that supports the event year after year. Along with the other Ben Nevis Skyline podium winners they have been invited to attend the Grand Finale of the Golden Trail World Series 2025 next month in the Ledro Valley in Italy, where they will go head-to-head with the world’s top trail runners.

Shane Ohly, Skyline Scotland Race Director, said: “It was incredibly satisfying to witness two years’ hard work come together for the Ourea Events team with the successful relaunch of Skyline Scotland at the Nevis Range. The cheering supporters at the finish, the wild-eyed looks of exhilarated and exhausted runners, and vibrant Event centre atmosphere were all testaments to an outstanding world-class trail running event returning to the Scottish Highlands, and showcasing the incredible Highland world to the world.”

Results

All four major races carried prize money: £300 for 1st place, £150 for 2nd, and £100 for 3rd, rewarding top athletes across both men’s and women’s fields.

Ben Nevis Skyline (Golden Trail World Series ticket race)

Women

1st Elle TWENTYMAN (ENG) – 03:22:38

2nd Mia PADMANABHAN (SCO) – 03:44:06

3rd Chloe LUMSDON (GBR) – 03:58:29

Men

1st Sasha CHEPELIN (GBR) – 02:50:57

2nd Finn LYNDON (GBR) – 02:55:10

3rd Ewan DODD (SCO) – 03:01:33

Aonach Mòr Anarchy

Women

1st Katie LOWERY (GBR) – 01:02:38

2nd Georgia LEDINGHAM (SCO) – 01:03:18

3rd Abigail WOOLASTON (GBR) – 01:10:21

Men

1st David BUNN (ENG) – 00:51:35

2nd Alistair THORRNTON (GBR) – 00:54:26

3rd Ross SPALDING (SCO) – 00:54:37

Steall Marathon

Women

1st Laura DOZIER (SUI) – 05:10:12

2nd Robyn CASSIDY (GBR) – 05:22:17

3rd Ester EVERITT (GBR) – 05:33:30

Men

1st Brennan TOWNSHEND (ENG) – 04:31:25

2nd Tom OWENS (GBR) – 04:44:13

3rd Jono ATKINSON (GBR) – 04:57:14

Jacobite 100

Women

1st Beth LANGLEY (WAL) – 12:47:06

2nd Noemi LOW (SUI) – 13:35:49

3rd Alexandra BOLOUX (FRA) – 13:38:20

Men

1st Pawel CYMBALISTA (POL) – 11:37:28

2nd Ewen LARNICOL (FRA) – 11:53:38

3rd Aaike DE WEVER (BEL) – 11:53:48

Next year’s edition of Salomon Skyline Scotland, which will take place Saturday 19th September 2026.