We were looking for another marathon and the Loch Ness marathon was perfect timing for us.

Its ran in September so most of your training can be ran on the sun / summertime and the race itself is in the slightly cooler month.

You need to leave your hotel early to get to the pickup area for the bus to take everyone to the start, which is on a very exposed moor. It's a good idea to have a disposable poncho or black bag or foil cover to keep yourself dry or warm while waiting for the start, which depending on which bus you arrived on could be a couple of hours away.......

There are no toilets or changing rooms just lots of heather and gusting winds....... be warned!.

The route is very picturesque but you dont run on the road you arrived on, rather a much smaller road on the opposite side of the Loch,  which was a little disappointing as you dont see as much of the Loch as you might hope to see.....

There are several hefty hills on this route...... not a great run for a 1st time marathoner but a one that's well worth doing at some point.