By Way Of The Glen 2026

By Way Of The Glen is a 170-mile ultramarathon across Scotland, running from Glasgow to Inverness on two long-distance trails: the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way. Runners start at Milngavie Train Station at 4:00pm, with a 28-hour deadline to finish the 94-mile West Highland Way before continuing north. This point-to-point mountain and trail race involves approximately 24,000 feet of climbing. The challenge lies not only in the distance but also in consistently moving well over varied terrain, including rough ground, canal paths, forest tracks, lochside sections, and road links. Following the West Highland Way, a short road section links to the Great Glen Way at Neptune's Staircase, the eight canal locks near Fort William. The route then covers 72 miles of the Great Glen Way toward Inverness, utilizing a trail that normally runs from Fort William to Inverness and is designated one of Scotland's Great Trails. This segment follows the Caledonian Canal, passes Loch Lochy, uses forest tracks alongside Loch Lochy and Loch Ness, goes through Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit, and concludes in the suburbs of Inverness. The course is marked with waymarks and arrows, yet the terrain demands strong navigation skills, patience, and the capacity to sustain effort through a prolonged night and day.