Gary raced Loch Ness 24 in 2023. When the event went quiet, he took it on himself. Now he’s returning to the loch as the organiser.
Same loch. Same loop. Same spirit. A race worth coming back for.
“That was spectacular guys! Challenging course, sooooooo well organised and friendly from staff to volunteers to runners to support. Missing the place already (not the tree roots sadly… yet).”Gary Larman, after racing Loch Ness 24 in 2023
At Loch Ness 24, we want your experience to be about more than just the miles! Your entry gives you access to the beautiful trail course at Aldourie Castle Estate, managed timing and results, event support, refreshments, camping and a commemorative finisher’s medal.
Your race. Your challenge. Your Loch Ness 24 experience.
CampingOne tent/pitch per booking for the runner or team and their support crew.Read more
Extra supporter pitches are £10 for Friday only or £15 for both nights.
RefreshmentsFree hot drinks for runners: instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate and Bovril (runners only).Read more
A snack table at the start area, right on the course.
Hot water available for your own noodles and similar. Please bring your own mug/cup and cutlery.
Gourmet food and drinks are available to buy from the vendors, at their own prices, at any time.
Water: this is a cup-less event. Bring your own cup or collapsible cup.
WaterThis is a cup-less event.Read more
Bring your own cup or collapsible cup. Fresh drinking water at the start/finish and at an on-course checkpoint approximately halfway around the loop, shortly before the beach section. Please bring your own preferred race nutrition and bottles or flasks.
Goody bagEvery registered runner receives a goody bag at registration.Read more
Contents will vary depending on event-partner contributions.
PhotographyAn official photographer will photograph runners on course and offer finisher photographs, with images available to buy directly from the photographer.
Chip timingProfessionally managed chip timing and official results.
Medical & marshalsOn-site medical support and event marshals/volunteers.
Toilets & villageAccess to toilet facilities and the event village with independent traders and food vendors.
Finisher’s medalA commemorative finisher’s medal.
Get race ready
Train smarter.
Arrive ready.
Our official coaching partner.
Official coaching partner
Pawel Cymbalista
My Mountain Lab · Trail & ultra running coaching
An experienced ultrarunner and dedicated running coach, Pawel knows what it takes to prepare for endurance racing.
UESCA Ultra Running CoachUKA Athletics CoachBased in Fort William
Read more
Whether you’re taking on your first 6-hour event, stepping up to 12 or 24 hours, or preparing your whole team, Pawel offers personalised coaching to help you train smarter, build confidence and reach your potential.
See LN24 coaching packages
Official Loch Ness 24 Coaching – My Mountain Lab
Prepare with purpose. Race with confidence.
Whether you’re tackling your first endurance event, chasing a personal best or preparing for 24 hours of relay racing with your teammates, our official coaching partner, Pawel Cymbalista of My Mountain Lab, is here to help you reach the start line ready.
Pawel has developed exclusive coaching packages specifically for Loch Ness 24 participants, combining structured training with personalised guidance and race-day preparation.
LN24 Premium Coaching
Our dedicated three-month coaching programme, designed to prepare runners for race weekend. Your package includes:
Exclusive LN24 price: £240 per runner (normally £270).
Three months of structured coaching
Personalised TrainingPeaks programming
Nutrition and fuelling guidance
Injury prevention support
Race-specific pacing and strategy
Direct access to Pawel throughout your programme
Access to a dedicated WhatsApp support group
Team Coaching – Train Together, Race Together
Taking on Loch Ness 24 with friends, family or your running club? Our dedicated team coaching packages offer the same professional support at discounted group rates.
2 runners£360£180 each
3 runners£510£170 each
4 runners£640£160 each
+15 runners£750£150 each
+48 runners£1,120£140 each
Each runner receives their own TrainingPeaks access, with team coaching and WhatsApp support to help your squad prepare together.
Want to start training earlier?
Full-season coaching is also available for runners who want support well before the final three-month preparation block. Pawel offers flexible coaching arrangements to suit your experience, goals and available training time.
Get started
Explore the coaching packages or contact Pawel directly to discuss the right training approach for you.
Our coaching partner Pawel of My Mountain Lab won’t just be helping runners prepare for Loch Ness 24, he’s taking on the full 24 hours himself! Think you can beat the coach?
The coach
Pawel · laps??
VS
You · laps??
?You?
Who can enter?
Beat the Coach is an individual challenge only. It is open to 24-hour solo runners. Relay teams are not eligible.
If Pawel has to withdraw from the challenge within the first 12 hours due to injury, the competition will unfortunately be declared null and void.
How to qualify
Complete more officially recorded laps than Pawel during the 24-hour event. You’ll need to beat his lap count. A tie won’t cut it!
The Handicap Challenge: To keep things interesting, a handicap system will be in place. Pawel will start on -3 laps, meaning individual challengers will effectively have a three-lap head start. You'll still have to put in the miles to beat him!
The prize
Every qualifying solo runner receives one entry in a prize draw for free entry to Loch Ness 24 in 2028.
Full prize rules
Every qualifying solo runner receives one entry in a prize draw for free entry to Loch Ness 24 in 2028. There will be one winning solo runner in the draw. The prize can’t be transferred or swapped for cash.
One coach. Twenty-four hours. Think you can beat him?
The course
One loop.
One loch.
Scroll to run a lap. A grassy hill, forest, one pebble beach on the shore of Loch Ness, then a climb out through Torr Wood and back to the village.
Start · Event Village
Head out from the village
Every lap starts and finishes at the Event Village, next to the campsite. Your crew is never more than a lap away.
Grassy hill · Forest
Into the pines
Up the grassy hill from the village, then onto soft forest trail under tall Scots pine. The tree roots are real.
Pebble beach · Torr Point
Down to the loch
Out onto the pebble beach at the water’s edge, round Torr Point and along the loch shore.
Loch shore
Along the loch
North along the shore of Loch Ness, with the water right beside you.
Torr Wood
The climb
At the end of the loch-side section the route turns right and climbs through the trees into the open field above the Duck Pond. Your legs will know about it by lap ten.
Lap complete
One more lap?
Famous last words. Refuel, see your crew, go again.
Elevation profile
62mHigh point
15mLow point
7.032 kmLoop
Event format
Two races
in one
For the first 12 hours, everyone runs the loop in the same direction. If you arrive back at the start area before the 12-hour mark, you carry on that way.
Once you arrive back after the 12-hour cut-off (22:00), whether that’s at 12 hours 1 minute or 12 hours 59 minutes, you take a very short turnaround loop and head out in the reverse direction. Brand new race. Same place. You continue in reverse until the finish.
10:00–22:00Turnaround22:00 → finish
Turnaround 22:00
10:00Saturday22:00Turnaround10:00Sunday
Fastest ascentSaturday 10:00–22:00 only
Mount Ness: fastest ascent
Fancy yourself as a bit of a mountain goat? Runners have the option to race for a prize for the fastest ascent of the day up the second climb.
Pass the start point and go for it: up the hill, emerging into the field where the segment finish sits about 30 metres further along. Your time is recorded.
Only available during the first 12 hours of the race, before the turnaround (10:00–22:00 Saturday). You can try more than once. Relay team times are recorded under the team’s timing chip and team name.
The winner is announced once the 24-hour race has finished.
Prizes
Prizes and
awards
24 Hour – individual winners
£150
1st male, 1st female and 1st non-binary runner each receive an award and £150 cash.
Team prizes
Prizes for the first-place teams in each team-size category: 2 runners, 3–4 runners, 5–8 runners. Prizes to be confirmed.
Fastest ascent
A prize for the fastest ascent segment. To be confirmed.
100 miles
100 mile achievers in the individual races receive a special award.
Built for teams.
Running clubs, friends, colleagues. Swap laps, cheer each other through the night, camp together.
Whether you’re running with your partner, friends, family or running club, our team relay events are designed to let you tackle Loch Ness 24 your own way!
24HRTeams of 2–4 or 5–8
12HRTeams of 2–3
1One runner on course
2Change in the relay exchange area at start/finish
3Finish your lap before handing over
4Every lap counts to the team total
Night handover
How it works
Only ONE runner from each team is on the course at any one time. Teammates can help from the side of the course, including handing over nutrition or equipment and collecting rubbish. To keep things fair, teammates can’t pace or run alongside each other on the course.
Teams may choose their own running strategy. Runners do not have to alternate each lap or divide the distance equally.
A runner may complete multiple consecutive laps before handing over to another registered teammate.
Relay changeovers
All changeovers must take place in the designated relay exchange area at the start/finish.
A runner must complete their current lap before handing over.
Only officially registered team members may run a lap for the team.
Teams must manage their own changeovers and ensure only one team member is on the course at a time.
Timing and results
Each valid completed lap contributes to the team’s overall result. Team rankings are determined by officially recorded laps in the applicable race period, under the event timing rules. One team. One challenge. Your strategy.
Saturday 10:00
The sun goes down.You keep going.
When the headtorches come out, the real adventure begins. Day, night, keep moving, from first lap to sunrise.
Run the loch.
Stay for the weekend.
Event village
Your base for the weekend. Food, supporters and vendors. A place to regroup between laps, refuel and see your crew. Nessie will be there again this year.
CampingOne camping pitch is included with each runner or team booking. The campsite opens at 12 noon on Friday 27 August. Camping & arrival →
FacilitiesToilets and fresh drinking water on site.
ShowersWe’re working on it. Watch this space!
Food & drinkLocal vendors in the village.
Getting hereAldourie Castle Estate, Inverness IV2 6EL. Open in Maps →
Village partners
Official coaching partnerMy Mountain LabTrail & ultra coaching with Pawel CymbalistaVisit → My Mountain Lab
VITA Performance Testing offers lactate threshold testing in Edinburgh and across Scotland.
VITA will be at Loch Ness 24 on race weekend to demo lactate testing and let you try it out.
Read more
Run by India Fraser, a sport scientist and S&C coach based in Edinburgh, VITA works with runners, cyclists, triathletes and team-sport athletes. Using finger-prick lactate sampling alongside heart-rate data, testing helps identify training zones based on your physiology rather than an age-based formula.
Each athlete receives a clear report with personalised heart-rate zones, an overview of current fitness and advice on where to focus training. Testing can take place at the VITA Lab just outside Edinburgh, or India can travel to you.
Take away the guesswork. Train with your real zones.
Make a weekend of it at Loch Ness 24! The campsite opens at 12 noon on Friday, giving runners and supporters time to arrive, set up and settle in before Saturday’s racing. Please follow event signs and marshal directions on arrival.
1 pitch included
Fri12:00Campsite opens
Sat10:00Race start
SatNightUnder the stars
Sun12:00Pack down & depart
Camping included with race entry
One camping pitch is included with each runner or team booking for the runner(s) and their support crew to share. This allows one tent per booking; a larger family or group tent is welcome, provided it can be safely accommodated in the allocated space.
We’ll aim to give unsupported runners across all three races a camping pitch as close to the start/finish area as possible.
£10Fri£15Fri + Sat
Supporter pitches
Additional supporter camping pitches are available at £10 for Friday night only or £15 for both Friday and Saturday nights.
Stoves only
No BBQs or open/raised fires. Stoves are fine.
Parking alongside pitches
We aim to allow one vehicle alongside each camping pitch for easy access to kit and supplies. This is subject to the final site layout, safety arrangements and marshal directions; separate parking may be used if needed.
Saturday arrivals
Runners not camping overnight should allow plenty of time for parking, registration and race preparations ahead of the 10:00 am Saturday start for the 24-hour, 12-hour and 6-hour events.
Sunday departure
We kindly ask all campers to have tents packed away and camping areas cleared by 12 noon on Sunday 29 August, so the event team can prepare the site for Sunday’s races. You are very welcome to stay, enjoy the atmosphere and cheer on Sunday’s runners after packing away your camping equipment. To help us get the site ready, we can’t take any new tents or set-ups on the Sunday. Thank you for helping us make the transition between events run smoothly!
Aerial view of the Loch Ness 24 campsite, with the loch beyond
Kit, fuel & race-day tips
Plan well.
Run well.
Whether you’re tackling your first endurance event or chasing a new personal best, a little preparation can make a huge difference. Our trail course, changeable Highland weather and overnight running all reward good planning.
Mandatory
Mandatory kit
Recommended clothing and equipment
Trail shoes with suitable grip; spare socks; waterproof jacket; warm layers; hat, gloves and buff.
Spare running clothes and comfortable footwear for between laps.
Spare head-torch batteries or a backup head torch for overnight running.
Water bottle, soft flask or hydration vest; GPS watch if preferred.
Anti-chafe balm, basic blister care, sunscreen and a cap.
Insect repellent and a midge head net, particularly useful in the evening and overnight.
For base camp: camping chair, sleeping bag or blanket, familiar food and drinks, power bank and waterproof kit storage.
Nutrition and hydration
Fuel early
Fuel early and regularly, rather than waiting until you feel depleted. Many endurance runners aim for roughly 30–60g of carbohydrate per hour, with higher intakes only where practised and tolerated.
Bring familiar sweet and savoury options. Gels and sports drinks can be handy, but so can sandwiches, bananas, potatoes or other foods you know you tolerate.
Drink according to your needs, conditions and thirst; avoid forcing excessive water. Plan what to carry on each lap.
Prepare for night-time fatigue and cooler conditions: have warm layers and easily digestible food ready.
Pace conservatively, use the looped course to organise your kit, and deal with rubbing or wet clothing early. Nothing new on race day!
These tips are general guidance, not personalised medical or nutritional advice.
From the field
Thank you for an awesome event, it was tough but so rewarding.
Trevor Phillips
Great event, tough course and your organisation was perfect. Definitely will be back next year.
Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 August 2027 at Aldourie Castle Estate, Inverness, IV2 6EL. The 24-hour race starts at 10:00 on Saturday and finishes at 10:00 on Sunday.
Is there a minimum distance?
Nope! Run, walk or rest whenever you like within your time window. You decide what success looks like.
Is it a backyard ultra?
Not this one! There’s no lap-on-the-hour rule. Cover as many laps as you like, at your own pace.
What if I can’t make it?
You can buy refund protection when you register. You can also transfer your place to another runner, free until 13 August 2027.
Who organises Loch Ness 24 now?
Run Your Race Events Ltd, led by Gary Larman, who raced Loch Ness 24 in 2023.
What happens at the 12-hour mark?
After the 12-hour cut-off (22:00), runners arriving back at the start take a very short turnaround loop and run the course in reverse until the finish.
When do entries close?
18:00, Tuesday 10 August 2027.
Teams
What team sizes are there?
24 hours: teams of 2–4 or 5–8. 12 hours: teams of 2–3. The 6 hours is for solo runners.
How do relay changeovers work?
One runner per team on the course at a time. Changeovers happen in the relay exchange area at the start/finish, after a full lap. Teams choose their own lap order.
Camping
Can I camp?
Yes. One camping pitch is included with each runner or team booking, shared with your support crew. Extra supporter pitches can be added (£10 Friday only, £15 Friday and Saturday). See Camping & arrival.
Are there showers?
We’re working on it! We’ll update this as soon as it’s sorted. Toilets and fresh water are on site.
When can I arrive?
The campsite opens at 12 noon on Friday 27 August.
When do I need to pack up?
By 12 noon on Sunday 29 August.
Kit
What kit is mandatory?
A whistle on the course at all times, a working head torch in darkness, and a full change of running clothes at your base. We may do the odd kit check.
Is there water on the course?
Yes: at the start/finish and at a checkpoint about halfway round, just before the beach.
Can I take ibuprofen?
Please leave them at home. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac aren’t allowed during the event, as they can raise the risk of kidney problems on long endurance efforts. If you feel unwell, our medical team is on hand to help.
Coaching & extras
What is Mount Ness?
An optional fastest-ascent challenge up the second climb, during the first 12 hours only. The winner is announced after the 24-hour race.
What is Beat the Coach?
An individual challenge for 24hr solo runners only. Complete more laps than coach Pawel, who starts on -3 laps, to go into a draw for a free 2028 entry.
Will there be photos?
Yes. An official photographer will be on course, with finisher photos available to buy.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes, you can pay in instalments when you register.
