The Route
From Loch Ness
to London
It begins in Loch Ness.
You wade in. Five kilometres later you are out of the water, on the bike, and riding to Fort William under Ben Nevis with six days in front of you.
Then the country starts to move. Glencoe and the long shores of Loch Lomond. The Borders, and a sign that says Welcome to England. Shap Pass and the Lancashire countryside. Warwickshire lanes, the final hills of the Chilterns, and a descent into Windsor with your last day in the saddle behind you.
On the final day you run. Fifty kilometres of Thames Path, six days of riding in your legs, and London coming up to meet you.
Seven days. 1,055km. The length of the country, under your own power.
Loch Ness to London
The whole route, one stage at a time
From a loch in the Highlands to the Thames. Seven stages, and the country changing under you the whole way.
Select a stage to see its overview, stats and elevation profile.
Route shown is indicative. See the stage details below for final distances and overnight locations.
The seven stages at a glance
| Stage number | Stage | From To | Distance | Elevation | Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Loch Ness | Fort Augustus Fort William | 5km swim + 52km | 423m | 3/5 |
| 02 | Into The Highlands | Fort William Glasgow | 174km | 1,686m | 4/5 |
| 03 | Scotland Into England | Glasgow Carlisle | 206km | 1,732m | 5/5 |
| 04 | The Longest Day | Carlisle Preston | 200km | 1,806m | 5/5 |
| 05 | The Heart Of England | Preston Telford | 185km | 1,827m | 4/5 |
| 06 | Chilterns To Windsor | Telford Windsor | 186km | 1,583m | 4/5 |
| 07 | The Final 50km | Windsor London | 50km run | 174m | 5/5 |
Loch Ness
Distance
5km swim + 52km
Elevation
423m
Start
Fort Augustus
Finish
Fort William
Challenge
3/5
Overview
It begins in Loch Ness.
Starting on the shores of the fabled loch, home to a mythical monster, you begin your challenge by braving the waters with a 5km swim. The course is marked at 500 metres, close to the shoreline, so you swim laps and can exit the water at the end of any lap if you need to. A wetsuit is compulsory.
The swim is fully supported from the moment you enter the water. Kayaks, paddleboards, a dedicated safety boat and shore-based medical cover stay alongside participants throughout. While you are swimming, your main luggage is taken directly to your hotel room. You only need a small transition bag for your cycling kit and swim gear, which we collect once you are out.
Then changing facilities, and a short ride to Fort William, home of Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain.
Seven days start here.
Highlights of the day
- The 5km swim in Loch Ness
- Fort Augustus and the Caledonian Canal
- The ride along the Great Glen
- Arriving at Fort William beneath Ben Nevis
Top Tip
The best preparation for the Loch Ness swim is time in open water, not more time in a pool. Get comfortable in cool, natural water and in a wetsuit. Neoprene gloves, socks or swim boots and a neoprene cap make a real difference, and a brightly coloured silicone cap over the top helps our safety team see you.
Elevation profile
At the end of the stage
Your bag is already in your room. Shower, eat, and get ready for your first full day on the bike.
Into The Highlands
Distance
174km
Elevation
1,686m
Start
Fort William
Finish
Glasgow
Challenge
4/5
Overview
The first full day in the saddle, and the most dramatic scenery of the week arrives immediately.
You take on the climbs of the Scottish Highlands, including the iconic Glencoe Pass, then the twisting lanes on the shores of Loch Lomond, before reaching Glasgow and the day’s finish.
Three fully stocked feed stations along the route, with hot food at the middle stop.
Highlights of the day
- The climb through Glencoe Pass
- Rannoch Moor
- The lanes along the shores of Loch Lomond
- Arriving into Glasgow
Top Tip
This is the day you will want to photograph, and it is also the day it is easiest to go too hard. Glencoe will make you feel invincible. There are five more days of riding after this one. Ride it at the pace you could repeat tomorrow.
Elevation profile
At the end of the stage
Bag in your room, secure bike storage, dinner with the group.
Scotland Into England
Distance
206km
Elevation
1,732m
Start
Glasgow
Finish
Carlisle
Challenge
5/5
Overview
This is the day the map starts to mean something.
Following the rugged landscape, you cut through the Scottish Borders as you head south towards England, taking in more incredible scenery as you take on the next leg of your challenge.
You began the week on a loch in the Highlands. Today you leave Scotland.
Highlights of the day
- The Scottish Borders
- Crossing the border into England
Top Tip
The border crossing is one of the best photographs of the week and one of the best moments to take in. Stop for it. You will want the picture and you will want the memory.
Elevation profile
At the end of the stage
Bag in your room, secure bike storage, dinner with the group.
The Longest Day
Distance
200km
Elevation
1,806m
Start
Carlisle
Finish
Preston
Challenge
5/5
Overview
The halfway point in your challenge, and the longest day on the bike.
You head over the incredible Shap Pass and through the undulating terrain of the Lancashire countryside. It is the day the week asks the most of you, and it is usually the day people discover what they are actually capable of.
Three feed stations, hot food at the middle one, and a support vehicle on the route.
Highlights of the day
- Shap Pass
- The Lancashire countryside
- Reaching the halfway point of 1,055km
Top Tip
Eat before you are hungry today, not when you are. Use all three feed stations even if you feel fine at the first one. The riders who struggle on day four are almost always the riders who under-ate on day three.
Elevation profile
At the end of the stage
Bag in your room, secure bike storage, dinner with the group. Halfway to London.
The Heart Of England
Distance
185km
Elevation
1,827m
Start
Preston
Finish
Telford
Challenge
4/5
Overview
This is the day the group tends to come together.
By now the challenge is starting to take its toll. You face a fast and flat start to the day, which is welcome, but keep some energy in the bank: you take on the hills of the West Midlands towards the end of the day’s ride.
Four days in, everyone knows everyone, and the riding gets noticeably more social.
Highlights of the day
- A fast, flat opening
- The hills of the West Midlands
Top Tip
Day five is a mental day more than a physical one. The novelty has worn off and London still feels a long way away. Ride with someone. It is the single best thing you can do for your legs today.
Elevation profile
At the end of the stage
Bag in your room, secure bike storage, dinner with the group.
Chilterns To Windsor
Distance
186km
Elevation
1,583m
Start
Telford
Finish
Windsor
Challenge
4/5
Overview
Your last day in the saddle, and another long one.
You pass through Shakespeare’s country and the beautiful Warwickshire countryside, then battle your final hills of the trip through the Chilterns before descending into Windsor.
Tomorrow you run.
Highlights of the day
- Shakespeare’s country
- The Warwickshire countryside
- The final climbs in the Chilterns
- The descent into Windsor
Top Tip
Look after your feet tonight. Six days of cycling and then a 50km run is a strange thing to ask of a body, and the riders who finish the run comfortably are the ones who sorted socks, shoes and a bit of stretching the evening before.
Elevation profile
At the end of the stage
Bag in your room, bike handed over, dinner with the group. One day left.
The Final 50km
Distance
50km run
Elevation
174m
Start
Windsor
Finish
London
Challenge
5/5
Overview
The final leg of your journey, and an ultra-marathon to complete.
You follow much of the Thames Path as it winds its way into the capital. Six days of cycling in your legs and a marathon and a half in front of you. Nobody arrives at this morning fresh, and that is precisely the point.
By the time you reach the finish you will have joined the list of Monsters who have taken on the full journey from Loch Ness to London. You are within touching distance of your goal and the embrace of your fellow finishers.
The 2027 final run will feature chip timing. Completion is still the story.
Highlights of the day
- The Thames Path
- Running into the capital
- The finish, and the people you finish with
Top Tip
Start slower than you want to. Everybody sets off too quickly on day seven because the end is finally in sight. The Thames Path is long and flat and it rewards patience. Run the first 10km at a pace that feels almost lazy and you will have a very different last 10km.
Elevation profile
At the finish
Friends and family are welcome. Every finisher receives a commemorative medal and a finisher T-shirt, and is welcomed with food, drink and a finish-line celebration shared with fellow participants, friends and family.
After seven days, there is no better place to share the moment with the people who supported you through it.
Navigation is handled
You will receive GPX files well before the event, so you can load the routes onto your bike computer or watch before you arrive. Key locations such as feed stations are clearly signposted, and every participant is tracked throughout the event. If you leave the planned route our team can see it, and can contact or assist you.
Download the GPX pack
