2027 Loch Ness Marathon - Sep 26 Countdown

Q: When is the Loch Ness Marathon 2027?

The 2027 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon is on Sunday 26 September 2027, confirmed by the organisers. The River Ness 10K and 5K take place the same day, with the finish festival in Inverness.

Q: Is Loch Ness Marathon 2027 entry open, and how does it work?

Yes. Early bird entry opened on 27 September 2026 — race day of the 2026 edition — through the "Enter Now" button on the official site (booking runs on Let's Do This). Entry is first-come, first-served with no ballot, and runners must be 18 or over on race day.Do not wait for a late decision: general entry for the 2026 race had sold out by 1 April 2026 — the fastest sell-out in the event’s history — after which the only way in was a charity place. Check the official entry page for the current early bird fee before you book.

Q: What is the Loch Ness Marathon route like?

It is a point-to-point course. Runners are bussed from Inverness out to a moorland start on the high ground above Loch Ness, then run north along the south-eastern shore of the loch, cross the River Ness and finish in the centre of Inverness. The loch views dominate the middle of the race before the urban finish.

Q: Is the Loch Ness Marathon a fast course or good for a PB?

Not really. The course is net-downhill overall, which sounds fast, but it is undulating Highland terrain with a testing climb around mile 18. Treat it as a scenic, bucket-list race rather than a flat time-trial: run by effort and use a pace calculator to plan conservative early miles.

Q: How much elevation gain does the Loch Ness Marathon have?

Around 310 m (roughly 1,020 ft) of total ascent over 26.2 miles, despite the net drop from start to finish. The biggest efforts come near mile 6 and again near mile 18. Study the climbs in advance with an elevation profile tool so the late hill does not catch you out.

Q: What is the cut-off time?

The official cut-off is 7 hours (17:00 for the 2026 race’s 10:00 start). If you expect to take longer than 6 hours 30 minutes, the organisers ask you to use the pavement through Inverness, as roads on the final 3 miles start to reopen from 16:30. A sweep bus follows the back of the field.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Loch Ness Marathon - Sep 26
City	Inverness
Date	2027-09-26 at 10:00
Field Size	~3,000 runners
Time Limit	7 hours
Cutoff pace	9:57/km
Course speed	Typical pace Speed index 1.04 — median of the last 5 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	Baxters Loch Ness Marathon (Caledonian Concepts / High 5 Events)

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	9.6°C / 49°F
Humidity	90%
Peak Wind	28.1 km/h
Rain Chance	61%
Typical Conditions	Cool, often grey and showery Highland autumn. Race-day temperatures usually sit around 8-14°C, with high humidity, brisk wind off the loch and a real chance of rain — late September is one of the wetter spells in Inverness.

What to Prepare: Pack waterproof layers and expect changeable weather. The moorland start is exposed and cold while you wait, so bring a throwaway top layer to discard before the gun and gloves for the early miles.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Winds peaking around 28.1 km/h — the typical daily maximum for this date — can affect your pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer in exposed stretches. Headwinds slow you down exponentially: a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	6.7°C	9.7°C	12.7°C
Dew point	4.8°C	8°C	11.3°C

Wet-day chance: 61% Runnability: 64/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point
Elevation Gain	310m
Terrain	Road
Profile	Net-downhill overall but genuinely undulating, with notable climbs around mile 6 and a testing rise near mile 18 before the run into Inverness.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Loch Ness Marathon - Sep 26

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Loch Ness Marathon 2027?

The 2027 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon is on Sunday 26 September 2027, confirmed by the organisers. The River Ness 10K and 5K take place the same day, with the finish festival in Inverness.

Is Loch Ness Marathon 2027 entry open, and how does it work?

Yes. Early bird entry opened on 27 September 2026 — race day of the 2026 edition — through the "Enter Now" button on the official site (booking runs on Let's Do This). Entry is first-come, first-served with no ballot, and runners must be 18 or over on race day.

Do not wait for a late decision: general entry for the 2026 race had sold out by 1 April 2026 — the fastest sell-out in the event’s history — after which the only way in was a charity place. Check the official entry page for the current early bird fee before you book.

What is the Loch Ness Marathon route like?

It is a point-to-point course. Runners are bussed from Inverness out to a moorland start on the high ground above Loch Ness, then run north along the south-eastern shore of the loch, cross the River Ness and finish in the centre of Inverness. The loch views dominate the middle of the race before the urban finish.

Is the Loch Ness Marathon a fast course or good for a PB?

Not really. The course is net-downhill overall, which sounds fast, but it is undulating Highland terrain with a testing climb around mile 18. Treat it as a scenic, bucket-list race rather than a flat time-trial: run by effort and use a pace calculator to plan conservative early miles.

How much elevation gain does the Loch Ness Marathon have?

Around 310 m (roughly 1,020 ft) of total ascent over 26.2 miles, despite the net drop from start to finish. The biggest efforts come near mile 6 and again near mile 18. Study the climbs in advance with an elevation profile tool so the late hill does not catch you out.

How does the bussed start work, and what time does it begin?

There is no parking at the start. Every marathon runner takes a coach from Inverness Ice Centre on Bught Drive to the remote moorland start line. The 2026 race started at 10:00; confirm the 2027 timings in the event guide nearer race day. Allow time for bag drop and the coach transfer, and dress warmly for the exposed wait.

What is the cut-off time?

The official cut-off is 7 hours (17:00 for the 2026 race’s 10:00 start). If you expect to take longer than 6 hours 30 minutes, the organisers ask you to use the pavement through Inverness, as roads on the final 3 miles start to reopen from 16:30. A sweep bus follows the back of the field.

What is the weather usually like on race day?

Late September in the Highlands is cool and changeable. Expect roughly 8-14°C, high humidity, wind off the loch and a real chance of rain. It is generally good running weather, but prepare for grey, showery conditions and a cold wait at the exposed start.