Loch Ness Marathon voted one of the most beautiful routes in the world according to study
Loch Ness Marathon has been voted as one of the most beautiful marathons in the world.
The global study placed the Highland challenge at number three in the rankings, after the Great Wall Marathon in China taking second and Big Sur International Marathon in the USA taking first place.
Using eye-tracking technology, SportsShoes.com presented 300 participants from around the globe with images of some of the most popular marathons and analysed their eye movements to rank which marathons are truly the most eye-catching.
The US and the UK lead the top 20 ranking with five marathons in total each.
In the UK, the data shows that the city marathons especially stand out visually, such as the races in Edinburgh (12th), London (16th) and Brighton (20th).
Some other notable marathons include the Angkor Wat International Marathon in Cambodia (5th), which starts and finishes at the iconic Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site, and gives runners a truly historic race experience.
The Petra Desert Marathon in Jordan (8th) and the Big Five Marathon in South Africa (8th) also stand out, each giving runners the chance to take in spectacular scenery alongside sightings of local wildlife.
Ben Mounsey, running expert at SportsShoes.com commented: “It’s interesting to see the variety of marathons highlighted in this ranking, from major global cities like London, San Francisco, and Barcelona to remote natural landscapes such as The Big Five Marathon or Petra.
“It shows that you don’t have to choose between architectural landmarks and breathtaking scenery; some of the most beautiful races offer both.
“We hope our findings will inspire runners when planning their next marathon adventure. Whatever the setting, a good pair of running shoes and plenty of water can make all the difference to how much you enjoy the day and how well you perform.”