2025 Highland Trail 550 (HT550)

Latest Updates

• 244 days ago
  4

  Emma Bateup Wins 2025 Highland Trail 550 Women’s Race

  by Miles Arbour
• 246 days ago
  4

  Dicky Hibbert Wins 2025 Highland Trail 550

  by Miles Arbour
• 248 days ago

  Donnie & Richie: The Whisky Trail Angels

  by Donnie & Richie

  Words and photos by Donnie & Richie

  We’ve been following the race since it kicked off on Saturday at Tyndrum. Our first camp was at the base of the Corrieyairack Pass, where we met some of the riders. Spirits have been high all round. Dicky Hibbert, the current race leader, even stopped for a dram of whisky, which we were pretty impressed by!

  From there, we moved on to Oykel Bridge, which turned out to be a perfect spot—it’s a bit of a crossover point where the riders on the northern loop start coming back through while those towards the rear are still heading north.

  

  Morale’s generally good, but this year’s weather has been the real story. Scotland’s had brilliant weather for the last couple of months, but true to form, the weather turns when the Highland Trail starts. It’s been cold and windy—with a harsh westerly wind—and we even had hailstones. That’s taken a toll on a few riders.

  But we’re reassuring everyone that the worst is behind them. The forecast looks much better for the rest of the week, so they’re pushing on, and most are still in great spirits.

  
• 248 days ago

  More Scratches, More Rain

  by Miles Arbour

  As riders ride towards their third evening at the 2025 Highland Trail 550, the scratches continue to stack up. Trackleaders reports 17 scratches, with just 41 active riders still on route.

  Annie Le, the first person to finish the HT550 route in winter, scratched earlier today after struggling with trench foot and decided to quite before things got worse.

  

  Emma Bateup, who’s currently the first woman and fifth overall rider, at mile 355, posted an Instagram story early this morning commenting on the wild weather, a blown up knee, and that she’s off to chase a record. We can only assume she has her sights set on Lee Craigie’s 2018 record of 3 days, 20 hours and 53 minutes. However, the HT550 varies drastically from year to year due to infrastructure changes and fluctuating weather conditions, so it’s hard to really pin down records.
• 249 days ago

  Night Two: An Update From Leila Husain

  by Miles Arbour

  Photos by Lindsay Warrack

  According to a few riders who have been updating us on Instagram, the rain has been challenging but the real hurdle has been the relentless winds. We just heard from our friend Leila Husain who reported “whipping rain, some hail, and winds are gusting around 40-50mph. Temperatures are dipping into the 30s. None the less the views are beautiful and folks spirits are high…kinda.”

  
• 249 days ago

  Rain and Cool Temps

  by Miles Arbour

  Photo by Manu Cattrysse

  The weather forecast in Scotland has lived up to everyone’s expectations, dishing out plenty of rain and cooler temperatures that is surely making things more challenging for the riders of thee 2025 HT550. The temperature for the next few days isn’t forecasted to break 49°F (9°C) and it could get as cold as 37°F (3°C) tonight. It’s going to be a cold and wet one!

  

  32-year-old Dicky Hibbert took the lead early in the race and has held his position as he closes in on the halfway point of the route. Manu Cattrysse from Belgium is currently in second, just over 10 miles behind Dicky, followed by Tomas Novotny. Emma Bateup is leading the women, holding fourth place overall, followed by Kerry Macphee and Ashley Cordingley in fifth and sixth place. It’s currently just past 4:00 p.m. local time and we’ll report back later tonight to see how the riders are moving.
• 251 days ago
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  2025 Highland Trail 550 Preview and Who to Watch

  by Miles Arbour
• 251 days ago
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  Rigs of the 2025 Highland Trail 550 (HT550)

  by Miles Arbour