From Keoldale on the Kyle of Durness, participants ran the 11 miles to Cape Wrath, returned by the same route, before being transported by boat over the Kyle to run the 4.2 miles to the village hall.

Around 140 people took part, including many involved in teams.

The week comprises several challenges, starting on the Monday with the choice of a half-marathon or a 10km run. Tuesday's event was the hill race, offering an option of 5.3 or four miles, and on Wednesday there was an 8.4-mile run round the village on tracks and paths through Keoldale and Balnakeil.

Thursday's run was sponsored as a fun run with a fancy dress option and a prize for the best fancy dress. Competitors also had to estimate their time over a threemile beach course and the closest to their guess was the winner.

The week of running was combined with a range of social events, including a pub quiz, clay pigeon shoot, wine tasting, sheepdog trial demonstration and farm visit, barbecue and beach games, and a coastguard demonstration with a helicopter visit. The whole experience was concluded with a dinner ceilidh dance where the presentation of prizes was carried out.

"Had great time and already looking forward to coming back next year" and "A really nice event, there is nothing else anything like it" are samples of the comments in the visitors' book.

The Cape Wrath Challenges are designed to give runners a unique experience in which they can take part at their own level, competing against their contemporaries or challenging themselves to improve times over a fixed distance.

Options are offered for the beginner, while the serious runners are catered for with challenging and competitive courses.

Two young runners, Fiona Dixon of the City of Edinburgh RC, who was 15th overall and second lady home running in 03:47:21, and William Downie, home in 04:04:02, were running their first marathons.

The whole event is organised and run by the local community with involvement from many people on a voluntary basis.

The technical and marshalling, administration, time-keeping, social activities and catering are only possible because of the dedication and cooperation of enthusiastic and supportive people. For the marathon event to be safely monitored and controlled, RAYNET - the Radio Amateurs Emergency Network, the UK's national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed radio amateurs - is employed. They ensure that effective communication is relayed around the course and that race director Lucy Mackay is fully aware of all the proceedings as they happen.

The weather started off cold on Monday and on Tuesday the conditions were wet, but as the week progressed the weather steadily improved and by Saturday running conditions were near perfect, the only comment being that in the few sheltered dips on Cape side the heat was becoming insufferable.

The Cape Wrath Challenges have become a fixed event and many were booking their accommodation for 2007 before they left Durness. The event brings an economic boost to the area and is a welcome start to what is hoped will be a vibrant tourist season.

Full results are on the website - www. capewrathchallenge. co. uk On Wednesday, after taking part in the cross-country run, naval officers Lieutenant Commander Stewart Bankier, Warrant Officer Stuart Morrison and Petty Officer Cameron Ross carried out the second Cape Wrath Iron Man Challenge.

This was a triathlon consisting of a swim of 750 metres across the Kyle of Durness and cycling 11 miles to the lighthouse and back to the sentry hut another 16 miles, then running the remaining six miles to the ferry. They completed this in three hours 15 minutes. The trio were raising money for the Erskine Hospital for exservicemen, near Glasgow. They have so far raised over £525, with more money still to come in.