A new film from Bikepacking Scotland captures the endurance, atmosphere and wild beauty of The Gralloch Ultra, a 323km gravel race through the Galloway Forest Park in southwest Scotland.
The film, available on YouTube, follows riders as they take on the demanding route through forests, lochs and high passes, and captures both the physical toll of the distance and the camaraderie that defines ultra-distance riding. It is supported by Maxxis, Genesis and Restrap.
Markus Stitz, an experienced ultra racer, filmmaker and route designer, followed the riders around the 323km course during a 25-hour shift – an effort almost as demanding as the race itself.
Markus said: “The Gralloch Ultra is an endurance adventure that connects the vastness of the landscape with the strength of its riders. Between the forests, lochs and seemingly endless gravel roads, I was able to find moments of solitude and the shared rhythm of a community drawn to the same horizon.”
“Alongside the UCI Gravel Race on the same weekend, The Gralloch Ultra shows another side of gravel riding. It isn’t solely about racing; it’s about adventure, discovery and the journey itself.”
For Liz Stafford from Stirling, who features in the film, the event delivered exactly the kind of stories that make ultra-distance riding memorable: “I got in a lot later than I expected. I was in at 5:00, so it was literally dawn till dawn. But the fun and the stories I have from the race are just what makes it. I was meeting some really cool people on the ride.”
Jenny Tough, one of the most experienced women in ultra cycling, was drawn back to The Gralloch by the new format: “I did The Gralloch last year, the normal UCI distance, and there was a really good, fun atmosphere. So, when they launched an ultra, I think the email came in and I signed up about 30 seconds later.”
That sense of camaraderie runs through the film, with riders shown not only racing through the landscape, but also supporting each other along the way. Josh Reid, who finished The Gralloch Ultra after racing the Highland Trail, said the atmosphere on the route made a real difference.
“There was food and warm drinks, which I think helped a lot of people. Everyone was helping each other out. For me, the race was good to just chat and enjoy riding with people,” said Josh.
For some riders, The Gralloch Ultra was also a first step into ultra-distance cycling, with the experience opening the door to future challenges rather than closing it.
“This was my first ultra. I was really just excited to finish and actually finish with a smile. For me, it has not put me off in any way, shape or form – neither the distance nor the time I was on the bike. If anything, for me, it’s: what’s next?” said Gavin Cooper.
The film is now available to watch on YouTube. The Gralloch returns for 2027, taking place from 14 – 16 May. More information can be found at www.grallochgravel.com/ultra.
About the Gralloch
The Gralloch is Scotland’s gravel festival and a UCI Gravel World Series event, held in Gatehouse of Fleet, within Galloway Forest Park and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. Drawing more than 3,000 riders from 47 nations alongside thousands of spectators and supporters, it combines elite-level competition with a full festival weekend – the UCI Gravel World Series Race on Saturday, the Gralloch Sportive (111km and 53km) on Sunday, and an Event Village of expo, panel talks, shakeout rides, live music and family activities.
Saturday also marks The Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis: a 323km semi-supported ride through the remote heart of the Galloway Forest Park – forest tracks, exposed ridges, high passes and country lanes tackled in a single push. Launched in 2026, it is an exercise in endurance, self-reliance and mindset rather than a race against the clock, with the inaugural field spanning 19 nationalities and roughly a third of riders taking on their first ultra-distance event.
Organised by Red On Sports and delivered in partnership with the local community, The Gralloch contributes an estimated £2 million in direct economic impact to the South of Scotland each year. The Gralloch returns for 2027, taking place from 14–16 May.
About Markus Stitz
Markus Stitz is a route designer, filmmaker, photographer and writer based in Edinburgh. Originally from Germany, he has explored Scotland extensively since moving there in 2009. Before cycling 34,000 kilometres unsupported around the world on a single-speed mountain bike, he mapped his first long-distance route, the Capital Trail, and on his return founded Bikepacking Scotland, through which he designs bikepacking and gravel routes across the country.
He is a co-director of the Cateran Ecomuseum and an accomplished ultra-endurance racer with three finishes of the Highland Trail 550 and further races in Kyrgyzstan, Morocco and Norway. His writing appears in English and German publications, and he is the author of Great British Gravel Rides, Bikepacking Scotland, Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire, Gravel Rides Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Gravel Rides Edinburgh, East Lothian & Fife.