3 June 2016
Final Event Information
Action Challenge organises the Mighty Hike Series on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support.
The 2017 Loch Lomond Mighty Hike is now just four weeks away, and we hope that you are well under
way with your training, fundraising and overall preparation. To help you make those final plans and to
get a better idea of what to expect on the day we have put together this guide. Please read it carefully
and make a note of the key timings and any action that is required from you.
KEY PRE-EVENT INFORMATION
E-Tickets
10 Days before the Mighty Hike, we will email your E-Ticket confirming your start time and any parking and
transport choices. Please bring this to registration (either printed or on your phone) as you will need it to
collect your Event Pack.
If you have NOT received the E-Ticket by 6pm on 25 May (check your junk mail first) please contact The
Macmillan Hiking Team.
Kit list & kit check:
It is imperative that you read and understand the KIT LIST (detailed at the end of this document) and
ensure that you have all essential items on the day. Please keep an eye on the weather and sense check
your packing according to the forecast. Failure to have appropriate footwear or outerwear may result in
you not being allowed to start.
TRAVELLING TO THE START
Location
The start of the Challenge is at the Drymen Showground, Drymen, Glasgow, G63 0AA.
To view a map of the start location, please CLICK HERE >>.
Parking
Free all-day car parking will be available at the Showground for those who have booked it. Confirmation of
your booking will be shown on your E-Ticket. Parking is at your own risk and we advise you to lock any
valuables in the boot of your car.
For those of you who have booked short-stay parking, there will be a dedicated area where you can be
dropped off.
Please note: If you have NOT made a booking and received confirmation of your parking choices, you will
be unable to park at the start venue.
Trains
Balloch Rail Station is a 15-minute taxi ride to the start in Drymen. The first arrival from Glasgow is at 7am
on Saturday morning. (Shuttle buses returning to Drymen from the finish can stop at Balloch if requested.)
ON THE DAY
Early Registration – Friday 2 June
For those staying locally, Early Registration will open from 5pm until 8pm at Drymen Showground on Friday
evening. This will save time on Saturday morning, meaning you only need to arrive at the start 30 minutes
before your allocated start time.
Registration – Saturday 3 June
Main registration will open from 6am until 8am at the Drymen Showgrounds.
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Please arrive on site no earlier than an hour before your start time to register. This will help
to avoid congestion in the start area and will make your final preparations more
comfortable.
Please present your E-TICKET at Registration and collect your EVENT PACK (event
pass/timing chip, route map, lanyard, bib and safety pins)
If applicable, please complete any serious medical conditions and allergies on the reverse of
your bib number
At the Start
There will be complimentary tea & coffee, plenty of toilets and medics along with a warm-up and compère.
Whilst there will be water at the start to fill up your water bottles, please bring at least 2 litres of water
with you. Please also ensure you have breakfast before you arrive as there won’t be anything available at
the start.
Start Times
You will start in your chosen wave (confirmed on your E-Ticket and printed on your bib) between 7am and
9am. You will be called to the Start Pen 15 minutes prior to your allocated start time for a safety-briefing
and short warm up before the big countdown!
Please note: Don’t worry if you are running a bit late, you can always join the next start-wave. However,
you will NOT be allowed to join an earlier start-wave so please do not arrive on site too early.
Baggage Transfer
For those being picked up or travelling by public transport, a free bag transfer service will be available to
the finish for an overnight type bag (15kg limit).
Event Timing Chip & Tracking Website
You MUST wear your Event Pass (which has your Timing Chip embedded) attached to the lanyard you
receive at registration around your neck. This is so we can easily check you in and out of each rest stop
and keep track of all participants. Please ensure that your chip has been scanned at the start, morning &
afternoon rest-stops, lunch and finish.
There will be a live feed of data from your Timing Chip to our Tracking Website so friends & family can
check your progress as you pass through each scanning point. You will also have the option of linking to
your Facebook page for automatic alerts. The Tracking Website will go live on Thursday 25 May and will
include full details of how to set up the Facebook link and download your official certificate after the Hike
(a reminder will also be sent with your E-Ticket).
Tracking Website: http://www.macmillanmightyhikes.com
Please note: Our timing & tracking technology uses mobile phone signals to update the website. There
may be places on the route where the signal is weak or non-existent and the website may take a while to
update.
Important Phone Numbers
Throughout the event there will be a Control Room in operation. Please save these important numbers on
your phone prior to the event.
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EMERGENCY NUMBER (if you are injured but non-life threatening): 020 7619 7401
CONTROL ROOM NUMBER (for non-emergencies ie. if you are lost): 020 7609 6695
CONTROL ROOM TEXT / SMS (to inform us by text if you are retiring from the event): 07800 005 012
LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS: CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY – THEN, if possible, follow up with the
Emergency Number
When using your mobile phone during the challenge, please keep an eye on your battery level so you
always have enough power to call the emergency number if needed.
THE ROUTE
The course
The Loch Lomond Mighty Hike is a 26.7 mile trail with a total ascent (climb) of over 800m. It’s a beautiful setting,
hopefully with some sunshine, and great views of the Loch and the surrounding hills. The terrain is undulating with
some reasonable climbs and you need to be confident that you are fit enough. Make sure your training has
incorporated a mixture of aerobic fitness and some long outdoor walks in the elements, testing out your kit and
footwear as well as your feet & legs!
Along the route there will be 3 rest stops. One in the morning, a major one for lunch at about half-way and
one in the afternoon just before the ferry crossing. All rest stops have toilets, medics, event staff and food
& drink.
The ferry crossing
There is a short and scenic ferry crossing of 1.2 miles, taking 15 minutes, across to the west bank of the
Loch in the afternoon. The ferry will depart from our afternoon rest stop at Inversnaid Pier. We have 3
ferries making the journey throughout the afternoon departing every 20 minutes or when full, whichever is
sooner. As you arrive at the rest stop you will be allocated a wristband to book you onto the next ferry.
Water, snacks, toilets and seating will be available if you need to wait.
Google map
Save this Google Map of the route including rest stop locations to your phone’s browser for use on the
hike. CLICK HERE>>
GPX files
You can download the route’s GPX files for GPS devises (such as Garmin) via the Outdoors GPS website.
CLICK HERE>>
Select the ‘Download GPX’ icon from the toolbar on the bottom right of the map & save to your device.
Please note: The map shows the route to be 27.9 miles however this includes the ferry crossing of 1.2
miles. The distance you will hike is 26.7 miles.
OS Locate App (pin-points your location)
This free app from Ordinance Survey converts GPS readings from your phone into a grid reference enabling
you to determine your location. All participants should download the app in case of an emergency.
Download now for Iphone>> or Android>>
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Use to communicate your location to our Control Room if you are lost or need assistance
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Open the app where your location is marked by the Longitude (number) and Latitude (number)
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Use the left-hand share widget to text us your location or write it down and call the Control Room
REST STOPS
Lunch Stop
Our lunch stop at 13.1 miles will have a marquee area where you can eat, drink, rest & relax. There will
also be toilets and medical assistance should you need it. A buffet lunch will be available to ensure you are
re-fuelled for the second-half of the hike.
Morning & Afternoon Rest Stops
Rest stops at 4.5 and 21 miles are smaller sites for quick stops where you can top up with water and snacks
and visit the toilet. Medics will be on hand to deal with any injuries or foot problems.
Food & Snacks
All dietary requirements will be catered for if you have let us know in advance and the lunch and snacks
provided will be nutritious, plentiful and varied. If there are certain snacks you have been training with or
just ‘work’ for you, we recommend you bring a small supply. However, there’s no need to over load your
bag as we have lots!
Rest Stop Summary
REST STOP
Mile FOOD / CATERING
1: START
Drymen Showground, G63 0AA
0
2: MORNING REST STOP
Buchannan Primary School
4.5
3: LUNCH STOP
Rowardennan Hotel
Buffet lunch, grab & go cakes, tea, coffee,
13.1 energy drinks, water and snacks
4: AFTERNOON REST STOP
Inversnaid Hotel
5: FINISH
Tarbet Pier, G83 7DE
Tea, coffee, biscuits, energy bars and water
Variety of snacks, water and squash
Variety of snacks, water and squash
21
Hot food, tea, coffee, water and squash
26.7
Family & Friends at Rest Stops
This hike has been chosen for its stunning scenery and the rest stops are located in remote areas where
there is no parking and very limited access. Due to the size of the event we are unfortunately unable to
accommodate supporters at rest stops (including lunch). We ask that your supporters, friends & family do
NOT attempt to visit any of these venues as they will be unable to do so and there is no parking available.
Estimated timings & cut off times
Due to restrictions at the finish venue and for general welfare reasons there is a cut off time of 9pm for
finishing the hike. If anyone is clearly not able to meet the required schedule Action Challenge reserves the
right to withdraw participants from the event, or to move them forwards, from the lunch stop onwards.
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A cut off time of 6pm will be enforced to arrive into the afternoon rest stop at 21 miles.
This is 9 hours after the final start wave and would mean you would not make the finish by 9pm.
You will be shuttled forward close to the finish line to walk the final distance.
We will, however, do everything we can to ensure that participants who want to continue can do so, as we
are fully aware of what ‘finishing’ means to you all.
Please note: This event is a hike not a running challenge. Anyone attempting to run or jog the route will be
at a pace outside of our organisational times and will be ahead of the signage team, support teams
(including medical) and rest stop opening hours. Therefore, running is strictly NOT allowed.
SUPPORT
Route signage
The route will be clearly signed with PINK ARROWS (which are directional) and occasionally PINK RIBBONS
and PINK MARKER FLAGS (which are non-directional but means you are on the right route). In villages, the
signs may be harder to spot, so please familiarise yourselves with the route beforehand and have the route
map with you at all times. It is your responsibility not to get lost and to know your rough location if you do.
Having access to a Google type map or GPS device is recommended. The route will be marked with Mile Markers
so try to remember which one you passed last to help you describe your location.
Significant hazards on the route will be indicated by a PINK SQUARE with a BLACK CIRCLE inside. Take
special care when you see these and be aware of your surroundings (including road crossings, slippery
surfaces, cattle grids etc).
Route support
We recommend walking in groups where possible and for individuals this may mean making some new
friends and we will do our best to help with that! We will have our own expert walkers out on the course
providing support to those who need it in the form of Qualified Mountain Leaders as well as Trek Masters
who will act as additional walking guides.
Medics
We take your safety and welfare very seriously. There will be medics available at the start, finish, lunch and
rest stops as well as mobile medics in rapid response vehicles for emergencies, injuries and accidents.
Medics vary from first aid qualified staff, nurses, paramedics and doctors.
Control Room & Event Staff
Our Control Room is manned by our management and medical response coordinators. You will be able to
contact the Control Room at any time throughout the Challenge in emergencies or if you want advice or
help. We will also have information points at all our rest stops manned by our event staff who are there to
help you.
Retiring procedures
The ideal place to retire is at a rest stop or at lunch so unless it’s absolutely necessary, please do your best
to carry on walking to one of these venues as there will be support and event staff to help you.
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If dropping out at a rest stop or at lunch go to the information point and hand in your Event Pass.
Our staff will provide details of shuttle services or other ways to exit the event.
If dropping out on the course (and making your own transport arrangements) send a text message
to 07800 005 012 with your NAME, BIB NUMBER, APPROXIMATE KM and TIME with the words
‘DROPPING OUT’. Please include details of any team mates who are also exiting the event.
If you need help as you can’t walk or feel unwell please contact the Control Room and assistance
will be arranged.
Vehicle support/ pick up
 If you drop out at the first rest stop you will be transferred by shuttle bus back to the start or to
Balloch train station.
 If you drop out at lunch you will transfer to either the finish venue by ferry at 4.45pm or by shuttle
bus back to the start.
 If you drop out at the afternoon rest stop, you will be transferred to the west side of the loch on
the ferry and from there by shuttle bus to the finish venue.
 If you drop out anywhere else on the route the Control Room will advise you where you will be
transferred to.
FINISH LINE AND DEPARTING THE CHALLENGE
The finish line in Tarbet
As you cross the finish line you’ll receive a medal, a glass of fizz and a very big cheer! In the marquee there
will be a hot meal, space to rest and tea & coffee for a bit of a boost. Shuttle buses will take you back to
Drymen Showground (via Balloch rail station if required) to collect your car. For those who have booked,
we will run a shuttle to the close-by Arrochar & Tarbet rail station where trains depart for Glasgow at
17:56, 19:19 and 21:22.
IMPORTANT - Supporter pick-up
There is very limited short-stay parking near the finish. To avoid causing traffic jams and disruption to the
local community, we recommend that whoever is picking you up wait in the nearby town of Balloch (15 -20
minutes by car) where there is ample parking at the train station (with cafes & restaurants).
As you near the finishing line, let them know so they can arrive in Tarbet to see you complete your
challenge. You get the support you need and the residents of Tarbet aren’t inconvenienced by traffic
blocking up their village.
Shuttle bus return
Coaches will depart Tarbet for Drymen Showground every 20 - 40 minutes (depending on the time you
reach the finish line). The final coach will depart at 9.30pm.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT
E-Ticket
You will be sent a Confirmation E-Ticket 10 days before the event. Please look out for it in your inbox and
bring with you to registration.
Tracking Website - go live
The website will go live on the 25 May. Your E-ticket will remind you how to access it.
Contingency planning & communication
Severe weather is the main concern for any outdoor event in a remote area. If we consider the weather
may cause a problem we will email and/or text you in the days before the hike to flag any specific issues,
changes or revised transport requirements.
RECOMMENDED KIT LIST
Please follow weather reports the week before the event and choose from the list below for what to wear
on the day and what to bring with you. You must wear clothing appropriate for outdoor hiking and
changeable conditions. If Action Challenge and / or the medical teams deem your kit and clothing to be
inappropriate for the challenge you may be refused participation. Please come prepared.
Essential Kit Items
 Waterproof hiking boots - fully broken in
 2 pairs of medium/heavyweight walking socks
 Waterproof style jacket with hood
 20 to 30 litre rucksack with waterproof cover / bin liners inside (if wet)
 Light trekking trousers and/or shorts
 Micro fleece top for layering
 Trekking t-shirts / base layer / breathable or wicking top
 Platypus / Camelback / 2L Water bottle
 Head Torch with spare batteries (just in case you are still walking after sun set)
 Mobile Phone fully charged
 Credit card / cash
Weather dependant kit
 Waterproof trekking trousers (if raining)
 Warm hat / brimmed hat (for warmth and sun protection)
 A bandana / buff or scarf (for warmth and sun protection)
Suggested items
 Trekking poles
 Sunglasses with 100% UV Protection
 Camera
 First Aid / Medical Items / Pain killers
 Blister kit (including Compeed, plasters and antiseptic cream)
 Insect repellent
 Rehydration sachets
 Hand Sanitizer
 Wet wipes / Toilet roll & bag for used paper
 Sun Screen
 Lip Balm