Starting off with stirring support from CairnGorm Mountain at the Coire Cas ski area lower car park, the route follows the beautiful Allt Mor trail as it descends alongside the rushing Allt Mor burn bringing water from the northern corries of Cairngorm. Allt Mor is Gaelic for ‘Big Burn’ and runners will pass through the impressive gorge that the ‘big burn’ has created over thousands of years as they descend rapidly. The excellent gravel trail runs right beside the burn with a couple of boardwalk sections, bridges and large stepping stones to help the runners on the fast descent.

There is a marshalled road crossing over the ski road at the 1.5 mile point and then the trail continues through the forest following the burn on an easier gradient with another section of boardwalk before arriving by the wooden bridge by the Allt Mor car park (approx 2 miles). Here runners will be directed right and follow the wide level forest track through Glenmore Forest, crossing the Allt Ban burn (either by the shallow ford or the bridge … your choice!), heading around the back of Glenmore Lodge and then running alongside the babbling Allt Ban burn for the last half mile or so before arriving at the Hayfield car park transition point in Glenmore via a marshalled road crossing

Arriving at the changeover, runners will be directed to their bike and bike kit by event marshals who will ensure that you are soon on your way on Stage 2 …

From the transition point, bikers will be directed to the wide forest trail that for the first mile ‘steadily climbs’ up through the forest above Loch Morlich. After this climb, the trail turns right and provides a welcome long fast one mile descent to reach the shores of Loch Morlich where the bike route continues along the shore line heading back towards Glenmore. Signs will direct the bikers from the main track and along a series of narrower paths (at approx 3m mark) before crossing the wooden bridge over the main stream that feeds Loch Morlich from the hill burns.

The final ¾ mile is a flat fast track along the riverbank and back to the Hayfield transition point. Once again, bikers will be welcomed back by event marshals and assisted in changing from bike mode to run mode for Stage 3 …

Remember that Stage 1 part ? Well here is the real Charming bit…!

From the transition point, runners will retrace their outward route from Stage 1 and of course finally conquer the last mile steady climb back up to Coire Cas. Arriving back where they started, each runner will be welcomed back with a huge rapturous welcome as they become a genuine ‘Cairngorm Charmer’.

Runners on the first lap will hand over to their team mate at this point and the second runner will blaze the trail all over again for the second lap.

To download a copy of the route map click here