ScotRail runs east from Inverness to Nairn in 15 minutes on the Aberdeen line. Trains run roughly every hour; the fare is around £4 to 6 single. Nairn station is at the town's southern edge, a flat 10-minute walk from the beach.
Nairn is 16 kilometres east of Inverness, sitting on the Moray Firth coast with the particular microclimate that the surrounding hills provide - it is consistently one of the sunniest and driest towns in Scotland, sheltered from the prevailing Atlantic westerlies. October temperatures sit at 9 to 13°C; the beach is accessible, the town is quiet, and the post-marathon legs have the easiest possible terrain available: flat sand.
The Beach
Nairn East Beach is the direct and specific asset. A long, flat, firm sandy beach runs east from the town's beach access point along the Moray Firth. At low tide, the exposed sand extends for several hundred metres toward the water - wide, level, and firm enough for walking without sinking. The view north across the Moray Firth in October, with the Black Isle and the hills of Ross-shire visible across the water, is one of the better coastal views on the northeast Scottish coast.
Walk east along the beach for as far as the legs recommend. The round trip to the river mouth at the Nairn harbour entrance and back is approximately 3 kilometres on level ground.
The harbour at the mouth of the River Nairn, where the fishing boats tie up, has the specific atmosphere of a small working Scottish harbour in October.
The River Path
The River Nairn flows through the town from south to north, meeting the Moray Firth at the harbour. The riverside path running south from the town bridge follows the river through open agricultural land on entirely flat ground. Walk south for 20 to 30 minutes and return.
Where to Eat
The Classroom on Cawdor Street is the current Nairn recommendation for a proper lunch - local Moray Firth and Speyside produce used with care, at prices that reflect a market town rather than a tourist economy. In October, the menu typically includes venison from the surrounding estates and smoked fish from the Moray coast smokeries.
Stovies - the specifically Scottish dish of slow-cooked potatoes with onions and the remnants of a roast - are available at the better Nairn cafes. The Monday post-marathon dish if the marathon is on a Saturday.
Getting Back
ScotRail from Nairn to Inverness runs roughly every hour, 15 minutes. From Inverness station, Inverness Airport is 12 kilometres east - accessible by bus (30 minutes) or taxi (12 minutes, approximately £12).