Glencoe X-Scotia 2026: Dougie Swanson-Low Claims Victory in Scottish Hike-and-Fly Thriller
The weather forecast for the 2026 X-Scotia had been oscillating wildly in the days leading up to the event, which took place over the first weekend of May in the West Highlands of Scotland. After a spectacular spell of flyable weather across the Scottish Highlands, the prospect of battling suboptimal conditions was, to put it mildly, frustrating.
However, the organising team – which included highly experienced Glencoe pilots Neil Rollings, Andy Howson, Kieran Campbell and Andy Fowlie – devised a clever plan. They designed a compact course that could, in a worst-case scenario, be completed entirely on foot over two days.
## A Tactical Masterclass
## A Tactical Masterclass
The five-turnpoint course was strategically laid out with the ever-present threat of overdevelopment and scattered showers in mind. Starting from the Glencoe Mountain Resort, competitors would tramp up 750m through the ski area to TP1 at Meall a’ Bhuiridh (1,108m), before traversing the Coire Odhar glens towards Dalness, TP2, in Glen Etive.
TP3 could be tagged at Glencoe Village on Loch Leven, requiring a transit through or over the imposing massif of the southern ridge – the legendary Three Sisters – towering above the Glencoe valley. The next turnpoint, TP4, sat just outside Kinlochleven at the head of Loch Leven. Then it was back south, up the Devil’s Staircase and over the start of the Aonach Eagach ridge, aiming for TP5 at Beinn a’ Chrùlaiste. From there, it was a straight shot to goal and the finish back at Glencoe Mountain Resort.
Every turnpoint could be tagged either on foot or in the air. Should the entire course need to be run, the statistics alone would make even the fittest fell runner pause: 62km total distance with 2,710m of climbing and descent – with the wing remaining stubbornly in the bag.
## Race Day: Mist, Strategy and Split-Second Decisions
## Race Day: Mist, Strategy and Split-Second Decisions
At the 7am briefing on Saturday, conditions were damp and misty under a solid ceiling of low cloud. But by the 8am start, the mist was beginning to lift, and the occasional bright patch was peeking through the cloud deck.
The climb to TP1 witnessed an immediate breakaway group forming, including Dougie Swanson-Low, Tom Webb, Alan Styan, Alex Parmenter and Korbinian Kreilinger, all picking their way through snow patches to the summit before continuing on to a near-perfect launch site after a 900m ridge walk.
Then everything slowed. The cloud rolled back in, hugging and enveloping the summits. The tactical question hanging over everyone: do you take off and dive down to TP2 through a flyable gap, or do you hold position and wait for larger breaks – hoping the sun can work its magic on the south-facing slopes above Glen Etive?
There was plenty of discussion about tactics while everyone stood around parawaiting. All the while, more competitors had caught up with the lead group and joined the waiting game. First to make a move, at 10am, were Alex, Alan and Korbinian – deciding that the breaks in the cloud ceiling would allow an easy glide to TP2 in Glen Etive, whilst hoping for some magical lift upon arrival.
Meanwhile, the others were biding their time, holding out for proper thermals and increased airtime. The lack of significant thermals for those first three away resulted in landings at the Dalness TP2 in Glen Etive, and the beginning of a serious hike to the high col next to Bidean nam Bian and the chance for another flight.
## The Decisive Move
## The Decisive Move
Then, thirty minutes later, Dougie and Tom – quite possibly two of the most experienced hike-and-fly athletes in the UK – made their move. This would prove to be the opening salvo in a closely fought aerial battle, eagerly watched by fans on the Geotracks live tracking.
Using every ounce of skill in those testing conditions, they battled all the way from TP1, along the looming bulk of Bidean nam Bian into the main Glencoe valley and on to TP3. Cloudbase was still sitting below the mountain tops (around 900m), so they had to squeeze through just above the main col at 700m, rather than looking down smugly from a great height.
It became a case of flying in and through the terrain, not comfortably above it. Now out in the open valley with Loch Leven spread out below, Dougie executed the crossing onto the Pap of Glencoe, milking the weak conditions for every last metre of height gain. Eventually he pulled away from the hill to tag the TP above Glencoe Village, then immediately banked back towards the slopes of the Pap to scavenge enough height gain to follow the north-facing slopes of Garbh Bheinn for a 10km glide to TP4 at Kinlochleven.
Tom didn’t quite make the transition to the Pap, so had to land in Glencoe Village with Dougie still circling above him. Instead of chasing Dougie through the air, he now faced a 10km run to TP4.
## The Finish
## The Finish
At the head of the race, Dougie had already climbed the Devil’s Staircase to the start of the Aonach Eagach ridge, then traversed to the adjoining peak of Beinn a’ Chrùlaiste – the final TP. By now the skies were starting to fill in and rain wasn’t far away.
Dougie set up from the final TP and flew down to Glencoe Mountain Resort, finishing with a final 100m sprint to the line – an incredible 6 hours 30 minutes after the start.
“It was amazing,” Dougie said afterwards. “Fast and furious. Although we had a slow start, trying to play a bit of strategy, waiting for the conditions to come right. We got the timing right, just as it started getting thermic but before all the dark clouds came in.”
Tom maintained an incredible running pace from TP3, constantly eating into Dougie’s lead and taking second place, 1 hour 11 minutes after Dougie. “It was real neck and neck between Dougie and I, then he just got a little bit of a jump on me on the glide and I had a long way to go in the end. Really great race, really enjoyed it,” he said afterwards.
A further five pilots made goal on the Saturday, including first woman Emma Withers, tied with Alex Parmenter (5 hours 11 minutes after Dougie).
## Hike-and-Fly: The Ultimate Test of Gear and Grit
## Hike-and-Fly: The Ultimate Test of Gear and Grit
Events like the X-Scotia showcase exactly why Fast Pack Bags have become essential kit for serious hike-and-fly athletes. When you’re racing against the clock and the weather window is narrowing by the minute, every second spent faffing with your wing packing system is a second you’re losing to the competition.
The ability to transition rapidly from hiking to flying mode – and back again – is what separates the podium finishers from the also-rans. YOWFLY’s Fast Packing Bags are purpose-built for exactly these high-pressure scenarios: vertical packing that mimics the backpack state, eliminating the time-consuming accordion fold when you need to move fast across the terrain.
For pilots transporting their gear to events like X-Scotia, protecting your wing is equally critical. The Paraglider Concertina Bag remains the gold standard for safe wing transport, whether you’re stuffing it into a car, checking it on a flight to Scotland, or shipping it ahead to the event location.
## What’s Next
## What’s Next
The X-Scotia 2026 was the opening event in the 2026 Tri Nations UK Hike and Fly Trophy. The next fixture is the Gin Dragon Hike & Fly (15-16 May), followed by the X-Lakes (18-21 June).
If you’re inspired to give hike-and-fly a go – or if you’re looking to upgrade your kit before the next event – swing by YOWFLY.com and check out our full range of paragliding bags and accessories. Because when the clouds are lifting and the thermals are starting to pop, you want to be the one with the fast pack.
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Results: X-Scotia 2026
1. Dougie Swanson-Low 2. Tom Webb 3. Emma Withers & Alex Parmenter (tied)
Find the full results at x-scotia.co.uk
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Thanks to all sponsors and partners, especially Glencoe Mountain Resort for helping make this event possible.
Photos: Kieran Campbell