The Race
The Loch Ness Marathon is a point-to-point race along the eastern shore of Loch Ness, starting at the southern end of the loch and finishing 26 miles north in Inverness Bught Park. The course runs on the B862 loch shore road with the loch visible on the left for much of the route and forested hills rising on the right. It is not a fast course - the early miles have significant elevation - but it is one of the most scenic marathon routes in Europe. The field is small: approximately 2,500 finishers in a race that takes place in early October.
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Course type | Point-to-point along Loch Ness shore road. Start near Whitebridge. Finish at Inverness Bught Park. |
| Certification | UKA certified |
| Start location | South end of Loch Ness (bus transfer from Inverness) |
| Finish location | Inverness Bught Park, Inverness |
| Elevation gain | Significant (hilly Highland course - not a PB course) |
| Total finishers | ~2,500 |
| Cutoff time | 7 hours |
| Avg race-day temp | 5 to 13°C (early October, Scottish Highlands) |
| Free race-day transport | Yes (mandatory bus transfer to start, included in entry) |
The mandatory bus transfer: There is no parking at the start. All runners travel by bus from Inverness on race morning. Buses depart early - typically 07:00 - from several points in the city. Check your race pack confirmation for exact departure times and locations.
Entry
The Loch Ness Marathon operates open entry on a first-come, first-served basis. The field is approximately 2,500 finishers - small by major marathon standards - and entries typically sell out quickly once registration opens in January.
Race Weekend
Getting to Inverness
Inverness Airport (INV) has direct flights from London Gatwick, Luton, Heathrow, Manchester, Bristol, and other UK airports. ScotRail runs daytime services from Edinburgh (3h 20min). The Caledonian Sleeper departs London Euston in the evening and arrives in Inverness the following morning - ideal for a Friday departure for a Sunday race.
Expo and Number Collection
The Loch Ness Marathon expo takes place in Inverness on Friday and Saturday. Number collection is at the expo. Check the race website for the current venue; it has been held at the Bught Park sports complex in recent years.
Race Morning: The Bus Transfer
Buses from Inverness depart from several city points to the start at the southern end of the loch. Buses depart between 06:30 and 07:30 - check your race pack. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. There is no parking at the start. Bring a throwaway layer: the start is exposed and October mornings at altitude in the Highlands can be very cold.
The Finish at Bught Park
Bught Park is a sports ground on the western bank of the Ness River, 1.5km from Inverness city centre. Post-race food, medals, bag return, and changing facilities are available in the park. The walk or taxi back to central hotels is short.
Where to Stay
Stay in central Inverness, within walking distance of the Bught Park finish and the city centre bus departure points for the race morning transfer. Inverness has a limited hotel stock for its size; book early for marathon weekend.
Rocpool Reserve
££££The best boutique hotel in Inverness: a Georgian house with 11 rooms, each individually designed. Strong post-race food in the Chez Roux restaurant. Small but exceptional.
Kingsmills Hotel
£££Victorian hotel with a pool and spa - useful for post-race recovery. Set in grounds away from the city centre but close to the finish area. Good breakfast.
Inverness Palace Hotel
£££On the River Ness, opposite the castle. Well-positioned for the city centre, the castle, and the river walk. Marathon weekend fills it early.
Premier Inn Inverness Centre
££The reliable chain option in Inverness. Well-priced, consistent, close to both the finish and the city centre. Book the marathon weekend well in advance.
Inverness Student Hotel
£Private rooms available. The best budget option in Inverness. On a quiet residential road southeast of the city centre, within walking distance of the finish at Bught Park.
See & Do
Inverness is a small Highland city (population ~65,000) with a compact and walkable centre. Most of what is worth seeing in the city itself takes half a day; the surrounding countryside takes as much time as you have.
The River Ness Islands
A chain of small wooded islands connected by footbridges in the centre of the River Ness, 10 minutes from the city centre. Flat, car-free, well-maintained. The correct post-race walk.
Inverness Castle
Victorian-era sandstone castle on a bluff above the river. The viewing platform offers the best panorama of the city and the surrounding hills. Steps required for the viewing platform.
Culloden Battlefield
5 miles east of Inverness by taxi or bus. The site of the 1746 battle that ended the Jacobite Rising. The National Trust visitor centre is excellent. The battlefield itself is flat.
Chanonry Point
18 miles northeast of Inverness on the Black Isle peninsula (30 minutes by bus or car). The best place in Scotland to see bottle-nosed dolphins, particularly at an incoming tide. Flat beach access.
The Victorian Market
A covered market in the city centre, built in 1890, with independent shops and cafes. The correct stop for post-race breakfast or coffee on race morning before the bus.
Loch Ness from Drumnadrochit
Take the bus (30 minutes) to Drumnadrochit to see Urquhart Castle on the loch shore - the most photographed view of Loch Ness. You will have run past here on race day.
After the Race
Inverness is the hub for the Scottish Highlands. The ScotRail network, Citylink coaches, and the A9 connect to the Cairngorms, the west coast, Speyside, and the Moray Firth coast. All four itineraries require nothing more than a rail pass or a coach ticket.
Nairn and Cawdor Castle
Day tripA 15-minute ScotRail service to the Moray Firth coast. Nairn beach is flat and wide. Cawdor Castle - the fictional setting of Shakespeare's Macbeth and a real medieval tower house - is 5 miles from Nairn by taxi. Return direct to Inverness the same evening.
Inverness and the Black Isle
1 nightStay in Inverness and spend the day walking the River Ness islands, visiting the Victorian Market, and taking the 20-minute bus to the Chanonry Point dolphin-watching site on the Black Isle. No car required.
Elgin and the Malt Whisky Trail
2 nightsThe Speyside whisky distilleries (Glenfiddich, Cardhu, Balvenie, Glenfarclas) are clustered within a 20-mile radius of Elgin. ScotRail to Elgin, then a taxi or hire car for the distillery circuit. The Elgin Cathedral ruins are medieval on a grand scale.
Fort William and Nairn
4 nightsThe Caledonian Canal towpath from Fort William to Banavie: flat, car-free, and directly below Ben Nevis. The Jacobite steam train to Mallaig crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Then two nights in Nairn for the beach and Cawdor Castle before the ScotRail to Inverness Airport.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the race start?
At the southern end of Loch Ness. Mandatory bus transfer from Inverness on race morning - no parking at the start. Buses depart early; check the race briefing for exact times.
How do I enter?
Open entry, first-come first-served. Field is ~2,500 so entries sell quickly. Register at lochnessmarathon.com when entries open in January.
How do I get to Inverness?
Inverness Airport (INV) has direct UK flights. ScotRail runs daytime services from Edinburgh (3h 20min). The Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston arrives in the morning.
What is the weather typically like?
Early October: 5 to 13°C, rain likely, wind possible. The course is exposed along the loch. Dress for Highland autumn and bring a disposable layer for the start.
What is the best area to stay?
Central Inverness near the River Ness, within 20 minutes of both the Bught Park finish and the city centre bus departure point for the race morning transfer.
Is there free transport to the start?
Yes - mandatory buses from Inverness to the start are included in your entry. No parking at the start; the bus is the only option.
Is the course hilly?
Yes. Point-to-point along the loch shore road with significant hills in the early miles. This is not a PB course. The final section into Inverness is downhill.
Is there a bag drop?
Yes. Bags are transported from the city to the finish at Bught Park. Bag drop at the bus departure point in Inverness on race morning.
What is the course like?
Open roads on the B862 loch shore road, north along the eastern shore of Loch Ness for 26 miles to Inverness. Loch on one side, forested hills on the other. Among the most scenic marathon courses in Europe.
How do I get back to my hotel after finishing?
Bught Park is 15 to 20 minutes from the city centre on foot. Taxis available at the finish. Most central hotels are walkable.