Scottish Woodlands staff complete ultramarathon in footsteps of cattle thieves!
Three intrepid Scottish Woodlands employees have completed a gruelling 55-mile run along roads and tracks formerly used by cattle thieves.
Neil White, Craig Wrightson and Mike Page - all from the company’s Sandpiper office in Perth - completed the Cateran Trail Ultramarathon, through Highland Perthshire and Angus.
Neil, Regional Manager for Central Scotland, was the fastest of the three runners as he ‘warmed up’ for an even longer race, the 100km Jacobite Ultra through the West Highlands in September.
The Cateran Trail course passed three Scottish Woodlands properties - Dalnagar, Forter Strip and Forter - and started and finished at Gulabin Lodge at the Spittal of Glenshee, on the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
Around 90 per cent of the running was off-road, on forest trails, rough tracks and hillside trails - routes used by the Caterans, notorious cattle thieves who raided Starthardle, Glenshee and Glen Isla from the middle ages to the 17th century.
The course headed south to Blairgowrie before turning north-east toward Alyth and then north-west for a final spectacular climb back to Gulabin Lodge.
Mike Page, a Forest Manager with Scottish Woodlands Ltd, said: “It was a hot day and a long way, but it’s a stunning course and everyone got around. Neil was significantly quicker than Craig and I."
“But Craig [an Assistant Harvesting Manager] has definitely caught the ultrarunning bug - although I’m now considering taking up golf!”
Neil White said: “It’s an amazing course with a rich history - and the fact that it passes by a number of our properties added some personal interest. It was great that all three of us completed it and I’m looking forward to going even further on the Jacobite Trail later in the year.”
