Scenic score
- Loch Ness Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Loch Ness Marathon vs Edinburgh Marathon Festival
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofLoch Ness Marathon or Edinburgh Marathon Festival — which comes out ahead?
Loch Ness Marathon and Edinburgh Marathon Festival split the available advantages, so the better choice depends on which metric matters most to the runner.
Route comparison snapshot
Loch Ness Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held Favoured
- Elevation profile
- Not held
Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Mapped route
- Not held
- Elevation profile
- Not held
| Metric | Loch Ness Marathon | Edinburgh Marathon Festival |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 80/100 |
| Conditions | 34/100 | 83/100 ✓ |
Conditions
- Loch Ness Marathon
- 34/100
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- 83/100 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Loch Ness Marathon | Edinburgh Marathon Festival |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-27 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-29 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Inverness, Scotland | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Not held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Not held | Not held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Unavailable |
| Elevation character | Net Downhill | Net Downhill |
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Scenery | Mountain, Lakeside, Waterfront, Countryside, Moorland, Forest, Riverside, City | Coastal, Parkland, Waterfront, City, Historic, Countryside |
| Atmosphere | Destination, Scenic Tour, Festival | Big City, Festival, Scenic Tour |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 310 m | Unavailable |
| Total descent | 614 m | Unavailable |
| Net elevation | -304 m | -40 m |
| Cutoff | 7:00:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Unavailable |
Schedule
- Loch Ness Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-27 (legacy event-level date).
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-05-29 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Inverness, Scotland
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Edinburgh, Scotland
Actual distance
- Loch Ness Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Held
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Not held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Not held
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Not held
Course type
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Point To Point
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Unavailable
Elevation character
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Net Downhill
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Net Downhill
Terrain
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Road
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Road
Scenery
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Mountain, Lakeside, Waterfront, Countryside, Moorland, Forest, Riverside, City
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Coastal, Parkland, Waterfront, City, Historic, Countryside
Atmosphere
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Destination, Scenic Tour, Festival
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Big City, Festival, Scenic Tour
Technicality
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Non Technical
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Loch Ness Marathon
- 310 m
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Unavailable
Total descent
- Loch Ness Marathon
- 614 m
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Unavailable
Net elevation
- Loch Ness Marathon
- -304 m
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- -40 m
Cutoff
- Loch Ness Marathon
- 7:00:00
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Open
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival
- Unavailable
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.