Having exploded in popularity since its inception in 2017 and with 15 countries playing host to its events already, HIGHLANDER is now coming to the UK for the first time – more specifically, to England’s Lake District National Park.
Taking place from the 22nd of June to the 26th 2022, HIGHLANDER is a challenge that’s not just for experienced hikers, but for anyone who loves nature, the outdoors.
Each event has three different formats to choose from, including a 100km trek split over 5 days, a shorter 50km trail split over 3 days or a 25km one designed for those who only want the one night out on the trail.
It’s by no means a race, with entrants encouraged to go at whatever pace they’re comfortable with. They just need to make sure to stop by at each checkpoint along the way where they’ll be able to camp with other participants and enjoy things such as yoga classes, workshops, book and movie presentations and even live music.
Food and drink will be provided over the course of the entire trip, though participants will still need to have the equipment to sustain themselves for a multi-day wilderness trip, including a backpack tent, sleeping bag and camping stove.
Each hike is said to be meticulously planned by local mountaineers with the aim of creating a demanding yet accessible challenge, allowing participants to take in as much of the area as possible. At the moment, the exact routes are yet to be revealed but expect popular locations including Patterdale, Thirlmere, Langdale and Borrowdale to all be visited.
HIGHLANDER was founded in 2017 in the mountains of the Croatian seacoast where three friends, Jurica Barac, Igor Mlinarevic, and Andrej Mlinarevic gathered to celebrate nature and explore the mountain of Velebit. Recognising the restorative benefits of hiking through highlands and the fresh perspective they gained from their time in nature, the trio launched the HIGHLANDER long-distance event with the aim of encouraging more people to take a break from screens and streets and reconnect with the natural beauty of the great outdoors.
The small group quickly grew into an impactful international operation. Seeing this growth, endurance sports event brand Spartan became partners with HIGHLANDER in 2021, which they described as a natural fit on account of their aligned goals and ideologies.
