Ben Gallagher prepares to row and hike 115km in three days to break down barriers in rowing
From first light in the Highlands of Scotland to sunset in the valleys of Wales, Ben’s efforts will raise money for accessible rowing projects in the UK
On 22 – 24 September 2025, veteran, explorer and para rower Ben Gallagher, Ambassador for Love Rowing, will take on the extraordinary Big Row Hike Row Challenge: Rowing across some of the UK’s largest lakes and lochs and summiting nearby mountain peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales – all in just three days.
The Challenge
Monday 22 September. Total: 49.94km in Scotland.
- Row half of Loch Ness from Fort Augustus
- Hike Meall Fuar-mhonaidh (13.64km / 699m elevation)
- Complete the 36.3km row along the full length of Loch Ness
Tuesday 23 September. Total: 34.22km in England
- Row 18.08km on Lake Windermere
- Run through Ambleside
- Hike the Fairfield Horseshoe (16.14km / 873m elevation)
Wednesday 24 September. Total: 30.8km in Wales.
- Row 6km across Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake)
- Summit Aran Fawddwy (18.8km / 906m elevation)
- Row 6km back across Llyn Tegid before sunset
Support Ben and match his distance with your club!
“I’m super excited.” Ben said on his upcoming challenge. “Watching people getting involved in fundraising for Love Rowing is brilliant – and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to test myself. It’s given me something to focus on throughout the summer.”
Ben’s training has been a mix of disciplines to prepare him for the challenge. “I can row for pretty long periods of time – so although I’ve been clocking up distance on the water, it’s actually the strength I’ve been training in the gym to make sure I’m strong enough to sustain the three days and the distance that I’m covering.”
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Ben has been incorporating trail running into his plan – and unsurprisingly for a World and British Indoor Rowing Champion, has been relying on the indoor rowing machine to get him fighting fit for the Big Row Hike Row.
“Yesterday I did a 14km trail run, followed by a 6km erg session. I’ve been building on my training for the British Rowing Indoor Championships, strength and core. With trail running to build up some stamina and endurance.”
Ben is already on his training plan for BRIC, where last year he won both the PR3 Open 1 minute with 361m rowed, and the PR3 Open 2000m in a time of 6:33.8.
How will Ben be fuelling himself on the three day trip with very little sleep? “I’m going to have to be really strategic, because rowing the long distances makes the opportunity to eat quite slim. I’ll be grazing on the water, but taking the hiking periods to get more food on board. I’ll start recovery early as soon as the day’s challenge is over.
I know I’ll be having a solid breakfast of porridge, fruit, nuts and seeds every day! And high protein foods where I can, with lots of carbs. Pasta, chicken, eggs, that kind of thing.”
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The challenge raises funds for Love Rowing, the charitable foundation of British Rowing, which is dedicated to making rowing more inclusive by delivering accessible rowing programmes for disabled people including supporting wounded, injured, and sick veterans. The charity also expands access to communities who face barriers to sport, such as young people from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds.
What’s next for Ben after the Big Row Hike Row and BRIC? “I’m planning on trialling for the GB Rowing Team Paralympic squad, hopefully working towards the next Paralympic Games in LA in 2028. Everything is stepping stones, and it’s all part of the journey.”
