Inverness, Scotland Sunday 27th September 2026
Source: https://www.lochnessmarathon.com/
The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running is an entire weekend of events held in the Scottish Highlands. The main race day is Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The general schedule and program details for the race weekend are outlined below:
Saturday: Pre-Race & Registration
All marathon runners must collect their race packs the day before the event.
- 10:00 – 18:00: Pre-race registration opens at the Event Village (Bught Park, Inverness).
- All Day: The Sports Expo, Runners’ Cafe, guest speakers, street food stalls, and live music are open to both runners and spectators.
Sunday: Race Day Schedule
The main event is split into multiple race distances with staggered starting times and locations.
| Event / Activity | Time | Location / Notes |
| Marathon Bus Departures | 07:00 – 07:30 (Arrival) 07:30 – 07:50 (Departure) | Runners board official coaches at Inverness Ice Centre (Bught Drive) to be taken to the start line. |
| River Ness 5K | 09:30 | Starts and finishes at Bught Park, Inverness. |
| Baxters Loch Ness Marathon | 10:00 | Starts in a scenic moorland setting between Whitebridge and Fort Augustus. Point-to-point course. |
| River Ness 10K & Corporate Challenge | 10:30 | Flat, fast route starting and finishing in Inverness. |
| Wee Nessie Kids’ Race | Staggered | A fun loop for kids under 5 years old at Bught Park. |
| Race Cut-Off Time | 17:00 | The marathon course has a strict 7-hour time limit. |
Important Runner Notes
- Baggage & Transport: The marathon is a point-to-point race. You can pack a baggage bag to be transported by the event team from the start line back to the finish village.
- Aid Stations: There are 7 water stations and 4 High5 energy gel stations positioned along the 26.2-mile route.
- The Finish Line: All races culminate at Bught Park, where the Festival of Running continues into the afternoon with live entertainment, pipe bands, and food options.
The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running is a relatively recent addition to the world running calendar, but has quickly grown into a major event.
- Inception: The Loch Ness Marathon began in 2002.
- Expansion: Following the success of the first marathon, the organisers were keen to offer a full weekend of races and festivities, leading to the creation of the Festival of Running which includes the marathon, the River Ness 10K, the River Ness 5K, the 10K Corporate Challenge, and the Wee Nessie fun run for children.
- Title Sponsor: The event has been sponsored by Baxters Food Group as the title sponsor since its very beginning in 2002.
- The Route: The marathon is famed for its spectacular and scenic point-to-point route, which starts in a moorland setting and follows the south-eastern side of the world-famous Loch Ness before finishing in the Highland capital, Inverness.
- Growth: In the years since its launch, the event has attracted thousands of participants from numerous countries, becoming a bucket-list marathon for many runners worldwide. The full Festival of Running typically sees over 8,000 participants across all events.
- Charity Focus: The event is also a significant fundraiser, having raised millions of pounds for various charities over its history, with Macmillan Cancer Support often serving as a lead partner charity.
