The Scottish Three Peak Challenge is a brand new event scheduled to start in 2007. Already there has been quite a buzz of excitement, not just from would be competitors but from some big name sponsors too. Our aim is to substantially raise the profile of this event, and to make it a national attraction and to gain good media attention. Hopefully from a personal point of view, this may draw the crowds away from the severely criticised National Three Peaks event and hopefully give Snowdon and Scafell that little breathing space and recovery time they deserve.

Having spoken to various participants of The National Three Peaks who set out to do the event annually, they state that they are a bit 'puffed out' with it now and are looking for a new challenge. This is where The Scottish Three Peaks comes into play, a brand new annual event to be held once a year and set amongst one of the most dramatic areas in Scotland - The Cairngorms. This is a team event designed to test endurance, strength and stamina within a 24hr period, although participants do not have to be ultra fit to take part in this type of event good fitness and a good build up programme is essential, the rule of thumb being the fitter you are the more you'll take from it and enjoy the experience.

This could also be viewed as an excellent team building exercise by bringing small groups together by helping them work, exercise and train together. This training period would begin some months prior to the event taking place to work on fitness and the ability to work together as a 'team'. This sort of event would be particularly appealing to large corporate organisations to help assist in their so called 'Team Building Exercises'. The event itself will consist of around four hundred plus individuals, mainly made up from various UK charities and some private entries from the UK and abroad. Each team will be made up of three to four participants and two support members (drivers) utilising their own vehicle to transport themselves to and from each location.

The team support members will be completely self sufficient and responsible in the administration of fellow members throughout the 24hr period, including maintenance to the team mountain bikes and to provide them with such things as food & drink and dry warm clothing coming off each stage. They will also ensure that the team arrives at each location safely and at the right time. The event begins in the Highland town of Aviemore where each team registers their attendance on the weekend and get issued their official team number, which is always worn on each stage. From here the teams will move by their own vehicles to the start point and admin area a few miles east of Aviemore, at this location they will be met by a series of points to move through. The First point is the team check in, this will also involve a kit check area, the safety briefing point, the team holding point and finally the start.

From the start the team will mountain bike some 15km on good forest tracks to the mountain transition point near Loch Einich at the foot of Braeriach (1296m) in the northern Cairngorms, here they will be met by event marshals and their time recorded. They then depart by the designated route onto the mountain carrying all the essential kit required, the mountain route will be marshalled to ensure each teams safety and that no team takes any 'shortcuts' anyone caught cheating may face disqualification or have a time penalty imposed.

There will be an official checkpoint some of the way up that the complete team must pass through and on arrival at the summit RV they will again be met and their time of arrival taken. Its then up to the team when they depart, but remembering the clock is ticking, the descent route is by the same route up and must be followed all the way back down. On arrival at the transition point they will then climb back onto their mountain bikes and make their way back to the start/finish point.

At the finish point the final time will be recorded for that stage based on the last member crossing the finish line, ample time will be given for each team to administer themselves prior to moving off to the next location. All teams will be given a time to arrive at the next venue and any team arriving before that given time will be penalised.

The second start point takes us to Linn of Dee north of Braemar in the southern Cairngorms. Again all the necessary facilities will be in place as will the procedures found at the previous locations start point, these will be carried out exactly as the last stage. This second stage involves an approximate 10k cycle to Glen Luibeg Bridge west of Derry Lodge. Here we find the mountain transition point where the teams again leave their mountain bikes and make their way on foot to the summit of Ben MacDui (1309m) and return via the route taken on the way in, with all times recorded as mentioned previously. Again, ample time will be given for the teams to administer themselves after completion of the stage.

The last stage sees all the teams arrive at the Glen Nevis visitor centre at the foot of Ben Nevis (1344m). This stage is a straight forward hike by the 'tourist route' to the summit of the UK's highest mountain. As already mentioned all the starting procedures remain the same. There are no mountain bikes required for this final stage and again there will be marshals set out along the mountain route to ensure the teams safety and that no 'shortcuts' are taken. On arrival at the finish the final time will be taken only when the last team member crosses the finish line.

Once all teams have finished they will then make their way to their accommodation in Fort William of which they will be advised to book well in advance. The final phase of the weekend comes when all of the participants meet together at the Nevis centre (TBC) to be awarded the various team trophies and prizes and to enjoy the free buffet feast and entertainment, each team will also receive 2007 Scottish Three Peaks Challenge T shirt.

Please note that all of the start and finish locations will contain toilet facilities, first aid facilities, private catering and entertainment! Also ample free parking, there will be car parking marshals in place to ensure the free flow of traffic and to assist with the siting of vehicles etc.

Each team will be issued full team instructions, maps and directions, copy of team rules, kit lists and training advice on registering. Vehicle passes will be issued prior to the event.

Information available soon on www.scottishthreepeaks.com