Dates for 2025 are Friday 19th and Saturday 20th September. Registration will be on Thursday 18th September in the evening.
The majority of people tend to stay in Fort Augustus where there are a variety of local chalet options, Air BnB and campsite facilities.
For those of you with campervans, overnight parking is possible in the Banavie Car Park (Fort William) and also in the lane down the side of the Canal as it enters Loch Ness.
Overnight parking is NOT allowed in the main Fort Augustus car park.
We have cut off times at checkpoints across the course of 14hrs for the one day event and 8.5hrs each day for the 2 day challenge.
The event is run as a downwind event (which is why everything is based out of the midpoint Fort Augustus so the race management can turn the race around the wind direction requires it).
If a paddler does not arrive by the cut off time they will be asked to retire from the race. Race number, bib and tracker must be disabled. Please ensure you have shore support who can get you back to base as the race are unable to offer transport.
The checkpoints allow race management to keep an eye on the welfare of the paddlers as they travel along the route. In the event that a paddler is displaying signs of excess fatigue, injury or similar, they may be invited to retire in the interests of their safety. If this happens to you, please respect the decision of the race management team.
The Great Glen Paddle Challenge is a unique mixture of flat canal sections interspersed with large, exposed lochs which can resemble the ocean if the wind picks up.
Please ensure you paddle the correct water craft for the water conditions. We would advise one that is suitable for ocean conditions and long distance touring/racing.
Race management do not have capacity to transport people and craft to/from the start and finish lines. We start before you and we finish after you – you don’t want to get up earlier than necessary, nor are you going to want to wait around at the finish either!
Transport to and from start/finish positions should be arranged between paddlers and their on-shore support. We advise everyone has this lined up in advance – if you are struggling for onshore support, please give Kelty and the team at Highland Yak Adventures a call on 07704 987325, or [email protected] . Highland Yaks can provide assistance with shuttles to/from start and finish areas. Please note, places are limited and are on a first come/first served basis.
Solo Challenge: Individual paddlers covering the full distance
– one day
– two day
* Prizes available for 1st Hard board SUP (M/F), 1st Inflatable SUP (M/F)
Other paddle craft welcome, prizes/categories will depend on the composition of entries.
Team Challenge: Teams of 2-5 paddlers completing the course together
– one day
– two day
* Prizes available for 1st team one day, 1st team two day
Relay Option: Teams of minimum 2 paddlers taking turns to cover the distance
– one day
– two day
* Prizes available for 1st team one day, 1st team two day.
Prizegiving takes place on Saturday night after all the paddlers have finished, back in Fort Augustus Village Hall.
We will put on a dinner (extra) and a wee party with a Scottish Twist. Please note, the village hall is not licenced, so please BYOB (bring your own booze). Plenty parking at the back of the hall and dogs would be welcome.
There are many folklore stories surrounding the monster that supposedly lives in Loch Ness – there’s a whole tourist industry surrounding the famous Nessie including a cartoon The Family Ness created in the 1980s.
Just down the Glen at Loch Lochy there have been various ‘sightings’ of the monster Lizzie, you can read more about her here.