If people are unaware of the thriving Scottish trail running community, the Highland Fling is a fantastic race to become aquainted with it.

The trail itself is the best the country has to offer, as you're running the lower 53 miles of the West Highland Way around Loch Lomond, arguably the most famous and scenic hiking trail in all of Scotland. Daffodils and bright yellow gorse are in full bloom, and although you're passing the occasional backpacker with a pack, you'll also see highland cows in the distance, as well as deer, sheep, wild goats, and more. The first 14 miles or so are a relatively flat warm-up for the epic climb up Conic Hill. On the other side of that, the trail turns technical as it continues up the side of the lake. Once it's past the loch itself, there's one last piece running slightly uphill to the finish.

Race organization is top notch, with runner volunteers at aid stations who know personally how exhausted you are, and offer help by filling your hydration packs for you so you can gobble down something at each checkpoint. There are also bagpipers, fiddlers, and even accordion players out there on the course to give you a little extra motivation and encouragement. At the final tents, there are hot showers, massage therapists, and first aid stations to tend to your every need. And plenty of beer, baked potatoes, chili, haggis, and whisky sauce, too!

Add to this the cameraderie of an amazing community of runners (roughly 800 run the race each year), as well as a swag bag with a tech T-shirt, a buff, a bottle of bubbly, and more, and you've got yourself a race that should be much more expensive than the £70 price tag. An incredible race for an unbeatable price!