The Pan Celtic Race is owned by Pan Celtic Race Ltd. The registered business address is: 19 St. Davids Road, Llandudno, LL30 2UL, United Kingdom.

Before the Pan Celtic Race begins, a Rider Agreement will be provided to each entrant. This must be signed and completed by the entrant to enable them to take part in the event.

By continuing with this race entry, you acknowledge that you are happy to receive the Rider Agreement and will sign and return it, before the race begins.

Any entrant found not to adhere to any rules, guidance or notice issued by the Organisers may be disqualified and will not receive a finishing position.

Customers wishing to enter the Pan Celtic Race are required to make a payment via the website checkout upon race entry. Special arrangements can be made, so get in touch if you foresee an issue.

Inverness has many fine accommodation options and includes hostels, hotels, campsites, B&B’s and AirBnB’s. It will be the responsibility of entrants to arrange these.

Ok, here's the thing. It comes down to personal choice. As the organisers, we have to tread a fine line on whether we call these things races, rides, journeys, adventures, tours etc. You see, by billing it as a "race", we potentially leave ourselves open for future litigation recourse, perhaps more so than if we merely called it a "ride". Rightly or wrongly, it is one of the facts we have to acknowledge living in the modern world we find ourselves in.

Our primary goal is to have a framework in place that allows YOU to get from the start to finish safely and having fun while you're doing it (even if the rain comes). How you do that is completely up to you, providing you follow the rules. You may want to stop and take in all the majestic and awe-inspiring places we've got you riding past. Or you may want to stop along the way and sample a few wee drams of Whisky from one of the distilleries along the route or a refreshing cold beer from one of the hundreds of old, country pubs you'll be passing. 

We know, if we called it the PanCeltic Social Ride, most people would still race it in some form or other. Competition is an intrinsic fabric of our being. Evolution has yet to scrub that primal urge from consciousness. It can be exciting, exhilarating and makes for great tales to be had at the finish over a pint. 

For some it will be a race no matter what we called it and for others, it won't. We won't ask or tell you how to ride it. This is your choice. We just ask that you ride safely, be considerate, take regular rest periods and abide by the rules of the Highway Code. 

BE SAFE. BE SENSIBLE. BE SEEN.

There is no hard and fast finish time. You finish when you do.

However, in practical terms, the riders and the PCR Team cannot be on standby ad infinitum. WE have jobs to go back to, family waiting for us, etc. Therefore, the Party will take place 10 days after the start of the race. This will allow most riders to complete the route in time and be back in time for the celebrations and firm handshakes. 

In past editions, with the finish being at the home of Matt and Bec, there has always been someone to see and welcome the riders in. Finishing in Inverness does present an issue in this respect. It is likely that at some point not long after the Finishing Party, the Team will have to return home to their families, pets and employment. This is the one drawback from bringing the end back to the start.

But you know us well enough by now and if there is any way we can be there, waiting for our Lanterne Rouge to cross the finish line, then we will be there.

Tuesday 16th July. Time and location to be confirmed.

You have insurance for your car, your house, your phone. All of the important things. Well, the insurance you need to ride the PanCeltic is there to provide cover for you if you happen to have a mishap. Let’s be clear from the off, there are generic risks associated with riding bicycles. They can range from a simple scuff on the elbow, through to a head injury, paralysis and potentially death. 

Insurance also provides cover should you find yourself in a third-party accident. Court costs, liabilities, fines can all add up and so having the correct level of appropriate insurance cover is essential. You will need to consult with insurance specialists to make sure you have the right cover.

We can mitigate these risks by taking necessary precautions and introducing control measures but all risk cannot be eliminated. Cycling long distances, over a long period of time, increases the risk of something happening.

By its very nature, endurance self-supported riding has a greater risk of something happening in comparison to popping to the shop on your bike.

The insurance is there for you and your loved ones should you find yourself involved in an accident.

Heck YES! We know the last thing you want to worry about is how to get that bike box, change of clothes, track pump or pretty much anything else to the finish in Inverness. Rest assured that the Pan Celtic Team will transport it to the finish line and have it waiting for you for when you arrive.

PLEASE NOTE – Every year, without fail, we end up with a few waif and stray bags, waiting for their owner to claim them. Normally, they will sit in our house for a few months before finally getting collected or sent on. This may prove difficult with the finish in Inverness.

We will look to find a fix for this and will let you know in good time.

The Ultra (both Full & Short Routes) will commence on the evening of Saturday 6th July 2024 in Douglas, Isle of Man. Start time TBC.

£465.00

Yes. There will be camping available to book at a later date.

Only the Ferry leaving the Isle of Man is included. Riders must arrange their own transport to the Isle of man and any ferries encountered on the route.

We've chosen the July date for a few reasons:

Our race will be completed before the height of international summer tourism. Whilst Schools in Scotland begin summer holidays earlier, the rest of the UK holidays start after the race is finished.

We think it’s good to have the race completed before the largest influx of tourists in late July and August. We also try to avoid the half terms.

The long days will provide good light from early morning late into the evening, ensuring a good amount of rider visibility/safety, noting that riders may opt for only 4hrs rest each day/night.

Although we are not historically blessed with good weather we hope for a better chance for drier and safer rider conditions.

You have to be aged 18 by the 6th July 2024 in order to take part as a solo rider.

We have sought guidance from the Event Insurance Providers for the 2nd part of the question following a question from a parent asking if their child could ride as a pair with them. The underwriters responded and confirmed they were happy to allow minors to ride. As parents ourselves, we have had to think long and hard about this. Would we take our child with us? Would we be happy for parents to take their child along with them?

We are mindful of the incredible experience it could be for a young person. A life defining undertaking that will shape them and live with them forever.

So, do we accept people under the age of 18? The answer is Yes. However, they would be required to abide to additional rules and procedures.

1. They are to be accompanied by a suitably experienced, responsible adult/ parent
2. They do not ride for more than 3 hours without a 30 min break
3. They do not ride between the hours of 22:00 – 06:00
4. They do not exceed 30mph
5. They are allowed to draft
6. They utilise additional and enhanced lights, reflective and high visibility materials

Further, each entry will be reviewed by the PanCeltic Team on a case-by-case basis. Parents/ guardians will need to provide supplementary evidence to support the application of the minor, covering areas such as past cycling achievements, ability, distances ridden, self-supported experience, etc.

Interested adults should email the PanCeltic team at info@pancelticrace.com in the first instance and we can discuss further.

Yes, I may well have agreed with you some time back and asked the same question. The surprising thing, is that when you start looking at what it takes to run something like this (aside from the hundreds of hours putting it altogether) are all the hidden costs you just don’t consider being a “punter”.

One thing we want to make clear from the off, is that we are not about making a quick buck at the expense of participants and people who follow the race. The Pan Celtic vision, is just that, a vision without the riders, characters and personalities who will breathe life into her (yes, we see it as a her).

We have to make the race financially sustainable as have an amazing long-term dream we want to share with you. We are sticklers for value for money and resent paying inflated prices for anything. We want you to see the value in what we are offering and have an appreciation of some of the hidden costs we have had to factor into the pricing.

The list is far from definitive but here are a few to consider:

• Race Insurance Liability Cover
• Website design, graphics, domain registering, hosting, SSL certification, MailChimp, Text Messaging SOS, etc
• SPOT Tracker hire, platform hosting and delivery
• Hire of Race Start venue
• 2 Crewed Checkpoints with food and drinks for you.
• Support staff costs at checkpoints (payment, food, drink, travel)
• Finish venue (with proper music and food)
• Van Hire for transporting bike boxes, bags etc from Inverness to the finish
• Photography and Film crews
• Vehicle hire, insurance and fuel.
• Ferry crossing for every rider.
• Costs associated with in-person route recce-ing and assessment of the full course
• Film premiers and Gatherings
• Hire of a Druid

Yes, that’s right. SPOT Trackers are an important element of an event like this. It gives people at home an insight into your progress and allows DOT Watchers the world over to have the opportunity to track and analyse every decision you make.

They are also essential for the PanCeltic Team to monitor your progress and keep our beady eyes on you at all times. We will know when you have stopped at the pub for lunch, or called in at a local supermarket to stock up on essentials. They transmit and record all of your ride telemetry and is an important tool to help ratify results at the end of the ride.

We also chuck in lithium batteries, which aren’t cheap!

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (our 2024 ferry provider) have set up a specific Pan Celtic Race booking area (with offers) for ferries to the Isle of Man, prior to the race start.

They've increased capacity on their crossings to accommodate all the riders traveling from the mainland.

View offers and make your bookings here.

Yes, you can change route as many times as you like. However, a few weeks before the start, we will be printing the brevet cards, so make sure you've decided by then. We will send out reminders.

Sorry folks. At.this stage entries are non refundable or transferable as per our Ts & Cs

Entry to the Magnum Opus is free for qualifying riders. It is our gift to those who have supported us. All qualifying riders will be required to pay a deposit of £100.

This will be refunded upon return of the tracking device, either after completion of the event or having scratched.

Whilst entry to the Magnum Opus if free, all participants will be required to pay for all of their ferry crossings, including to and from the Isle of Man.

The organisers will make arrangements for the crossing from the Isle of Man to Heysham on Sunday 7th July and payment for this will be collected not less than 4 weeks prior to the event start.

PLEASE NOTE – If an entrant, after having paid the deposit, decides not to participate, with less than 4 weeks prior to the start (June 1st 2024), the deposit will not be returned.

You can but you must pay the full price to ride.

Yes – these have to be ridden in numerical order as stated on the maps.

If you intend to ride a "standard" Pan Celtic (is there such a thing?), then you will have to pay the standard entry fee and go through the entry process on the 10th of December 2023.

You will be told in good time, however, fortune favours the bold.

All riders can start no sooner than 10 days before the Start in Douglas: Saturday, July 6th 2024 - 10 days = Wednesday, June 26th, 2024. However, they CAN leave starting the event as late as they dare and their will be a prize for the last person to activate their tracker AND make it to the start in time.

They can choose but in order to be eligible to win the Magnum Opus, riders must complete the LONG route.

If a MO rider decides to switch to a “standard” distance Pan Celtic, they can do this. They will have to email matt@pancelticrace.com and a request for payment will be sent through. We appreciate circumstances are always liable to change for people and so we can handle changes late on into 2024, however the earlier notice we have, the better.

No, they are not out. They will have to ride the TT course and record their own time for later submission. This time will be checked against the data from their tracker. They will have to book and pay for their ferry over to Heysham, where they can continue the adventure.

No, there will not be separate leaderboards. Some routes offer certain advantages, whilst others may be longer, or less elevation or better ferry connections. Each will be chosen on their merit for each individual rider. The choice to choose any start location will be relevant to those perhaps looking for every possible advantage and placing on a leaderboard.

Yes, the Magnum Opus rider with the shortest combined time (bar any penalties/ bonuses) will be crowned the Grand Champion.

Trackers will be sent out via tracked postage, along with Brevet Cards. Riders will be required send an addressed padded envelope in advance (sometime in early June).

Yes, all MO riders will have a booking for the Sunday morning ferry (7th July 2024) from Douglas to Heysham. The cost for the ferry will be covered by the PCR and a request for payment/ refund will be sent through to every MO rider.

Please note, if a rider fails to make the Sunday morning ferry for any reason, they will have to book themselves on the next available ferry and cover this cost also. There are NO REFUNDS for any ferries missed.

The What3Words coordinates indicate exactly where each parcours starts and finishes. These determine where the riders will need to reach to consider each parcour “completed”. For example, the South Stack one does not finish at the lighthouse. However, the St Michale Mount one does finish on the small isle. Riders should pay close attention to the W3W data.

*Bicycles can be taken onto the isle but the curators have asked for no more than 8 at a time (this is basic homework-level information gathering and so no further info will be given – make enquiries!)

Prior to finalising results post finish of the PCR, all MO tracker data will be examined to ensure compliance. Photographic backup using an app like Timestamp Camera will assist in corroborating if any tracker issues are encountered.

The option of booking accommodation is available through the Steam Packet Ferry weblink on the PCR website. Steam Packet are one of the largest agents for providing accommodation on the Isle of Man. Camping will also be available to book and more details on this will be released in the coming months.

Transporting bags to the Isle of Man does provide a logistical difficulty for us. We are working on a solution and envisage that an easy workaround can be reached. We will provide more info on this in the coming weeks.

Please make sure you are looking at the correct map layer in whatever planning software you use. V45 is definitely there and it follows the coastline between the two places.