Making your way to the race
Loch Ness is located in the beautiful Scottish Highlands close to Inverness. Here are some useful numbers and links to help you get there.
By Rail
There are regular services to Inverness from most major cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. The train station is situated just off Academy Street in the town centre. If you are travelling from London why not make the most of your time by travelling overnight? Book a berth on the Caledonian Sleeper at Scotrail.
- ScotRail - www.scotrail.co.uk - 08457 550033
- National Rail Enquiries - www.thetrainline.com - 08457 48 49 50
- GNER - www.gner.co.uk - 08457 225225
By Bus
The bus station is also just off Academy Street.
- Citylink - www.citylink.co.uk - 08705 505050
- National Express - www.nationalexpress.co.uk - 08705 808080
By Air
Flights to Inverness
Inverness Airport is the air gateway to the highlands. The following destinations are served by scheduled flights from Inverness airport.
- London Gatwick - British Airways - www.ba.com - 0870 850 9850
- London Heathrow - bmi - www.flybmi.com - 0870 607 0555
- London Gatwick - easyJet - www.easyjet.co.uk - 0871 244 2366
- London Luton - easyJet
- Belfast - easyJet
- Bristol - easyJet
- Birmingham - Eastern Airways - www.easternairways.com - 01652 680600
- Manchester - Eastern Airways
- Newcastle - Eastern Airways
- Dublin - Aer Arann - www.aerarann.com - 0800 587 2324
- Leeds Bradford - Eastern Airways
- Edinburgh - British Airways
- Glasgow - British Airways
- Liverpool - Ryanair - www.ryanair.com
Routes into Scotland from European, USA and other worldwide destinations can be found at: www.visitscotland.com
Public Transport
Bus services operate from the airport to meet scheduled flights into Inverness city centre. Service times are available from the airport information desk on: 01667 464000 or visit www.rapsons.com
By Road
The main accesses are:
- From Edinburgh - M9 then A9
- From Glasgow there is a choice of routes. The most direct is A/M80 via Stirling, then M9 to Perth, and A9 to Inverness. Or you can indulge in the scenic delights of the A82 via Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and past Fort William and Ben Nevis, then skirting the western side of Loch Ness virtually all the way.
- From Fort Augustus there is also the option of turning right, and then following the route of the Loch Ness Marathon up the southern side of Loch Ness through Foyers, and taking Dores Road into Inverness.
- From Aberdeen - A96 to Inverness
- From the south - M1/A1 to Edinburgh then as above, or M6/M74/M73 then A/M80 and onward as above.
- Once in Inverness use the link below to find the start: Inverness Multimap.
Car Hire
- Arnold Clark car rental. Tel: 0845 602 1895 - www.arnoldclark.co.uk
Taxis
Taxis are available at Inverness airport and in the town centre.
- Central Highland Taxis - www.central-highland-taxis.com - 0800 402010
Where to stay
There are a number of hotels and guesthouses in and around Inverness that would be suitable for accommodation.
Why not stay longer and explore the Highlands?
The magic, mystery and legend of Loch Ness and its famous monster have captured the imagination of generations, and now it is capturing the imagination of runners worldwide too. The Highlands with its picturesque lochs and scenic glens, stunning coastline and majestic mountain peaks offer the perfect combination for post-race recovery. Discover castles, battlefields, historic sites, nature reserves, visit the magical west coast and enjoy the best of Highland hospitality.
The following websites will help you plan your trip:
- www.visitscotland.com/shop/accommodation/book-inverness/
- www.invernessbedandbreakfast.co.uk/
- www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/inverness-accommodation.htm
- www.scottishaccommodationindex.com/inverness.php
- www.lochnesswelcome.co.uk
- www.visitlochness.com/section.php?id_sec=8
- www.highlandslochness.com
- www.visithighlands.com/inverness-loch-ness/
- www.inverness-scotland.com
- www.fortaugustus.org
