The Gralloch Gravel Festival: Ultra Endurance, UCI Racing & Sportive Routes in Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park

Words by James Ion - Photography provided by Red On Sports

The Gralloch is where Scotland’s quiet back roads and dark-sky forests turn into a gravel crucible, with the UCI World Series race threading 111 km of fast, punishing dirt and 1,700+ metres of climbing through the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere from Gatehouse of Fleet.

This elite battle moves in waves, with strict rules, separate age groups, and riders going all-in for qualification glory or age-group honours, demanding every ounce of power and skill. The same legendary course, offered as a Sportive at your own pace, welcomes riders wishing to soak in the rugged terrain without the race-day pressure, with a shorter 53 km route also on offer.

Extending the limits, the Gralloch Ultra is a beast of endurance, covering roughly 330 km through wild Scottish landscapes. It’s a true test of grit, with more than 75% of the route on new forest tracks deep within Galloway Forest Park, connecting only briefly with the other courses at start and finish. The Ultra challenges even the most seasoned, pushing deep into remote terrain away from the race’s heart.

Galloway’s fast, varied gravel, punchy climbs, deep forests, and sweeping vistas set a breathtaking stage, while the festival atmosphere at the finish is a celebration in itself. Riders roll into the Event Village—a vibrant hub packed with an expo, live music, entertainment, panel talks, kids’ races, cheering spectators, great food, bike wash, and a dedicated campsite—creating a three-day festival of gravel and community. The Ultra finishers enjoy an overnight party, sealing their epic day with a proper Scottish celebration.

Maximilian Wussler, co-founder of Red On Sports, emphasises the race’s differences: “The UCI race (111 km) is full-gas, elite-level competition with wave starts, separate age groups, strict rules, and riders going all-in for qualification or age-group glory. The Sportive is the same course (plus a shorter 53 km), but ridden at your own pace. The Ultra, at roughly 330 km, is its own beast, demanding endurance over the wild Scottish terrain.”

All three courses—the fast-paced race, the accessible sportive, and the brutal ultra—converge in the finish village, where the spirit of gravel comes alive. Whether racing or riding for the pure joy of it, every rider ends their Gralloch adventure with a celebration, surrounded by cheers, music, and the rugged beauty of Scotland’s most iconic gravel setting.

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To find out more, visit the Gralloch homepage HERE