Etape Loch Ness: route, climb and how to prepare
- Distance
- 105 km
- Climbing
- 1,019 m
- Highest point
- 388 m
- Categorised climbs
- 6 · up to 15 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
4–388 m · 6 categorised climbsEtape Loch Ness is a 66-mile (106 km) loop around Loch Ness on fully closed roads, starting and finishing in Inverness, with 900 m of climbing. The next edition is on Sunday 25 April 2027. It calls itself the UK's largest closed-road sportive.
Etape Loch Ness at a glance
- Where
- Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Official website
- caledoniangroupevents.co.uk ↗
- Next edition
- 25 April 2027
- Route
- Etape Loch Ness: 106 km, 900 m climbing
- Terrain
- Rolling to flat
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Etape Loch Ness, 105 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
Etape Loch Ness is one route.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Etape Loch Ness (66 miles) | 106 km | 900 m |
What the course asks of you
The route runs down one side of the loch and back along the other, on Highland roads that roll along the water. The main climb comes after the far end of the loch, onto the high ground on its south-eastern side, followed by a long, fast run back to Inverness.
Scottish April weather can bring cold, rain and wind in the same morning: pack for all of it, and pace the main climb evenly so the run home is fast.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train steady power: efforts of 10 to 20 minutes just below your threshold teach you the pace you can hold over the rolling roads of Etape Loch Ness.
- Build the long ride towards 106 km, at a pace you could keep all day.
- Ride part of your training in a group: on rolling roads, staying in a wheel saves more energy than any other choice.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Pushing every rise of Etape Loch Ness: on rolling roads, keep the effort steady and let the speed vary.
- Following the fastest wheels in the first kilometres, when everything feels easy.
- Drinking only when thirsty: a long rolling day dehydrates you before you notice.
Prepare Etape Loch Ness with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing Etape Loch Ness, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 25 April 2027: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is Etape Loch Ness 2027?
On Sunday, 25 April 2027, according to the organiser.
How long is Etape Loch Ness?
Etape Loch Ness: 106 km with 900 m of climbing. The 2027 route as the organiser describes it: a 360° loop of Loch Ness from Inverness.
How many riders take part?
More than 6,500 riders, according to the organiser.
Can I ride the course of Etape Loch Ness in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.