Great Glen Way (8 days, 7 nights)

Arrive in Fort William. Stay overnight.

The Great Glen Way begins (or ends) at the grounds of the Old Fort in Fort William from which the town gets its name.

The first day of walking on the Great Glen Way leads you from the remains of the Old Fort along the historic Caledonian Canal, to the village of Gairlochy. Skirting the shores of Loch Linnhe as you pass through Fort William, the Way joins the Caledonian Canal at Corpach, then following the canal towpath to Gairlochy. This first section of the route is level and smooth, making it a good warm up for later sections.

While travelling along the canal look out for the famous Neptune's Staircase, the longest flight of locks on the canal, as well as viaducts, original buildings and the hand operated swing bridge, remnants of the original construction of the canal, opened in 1822.

Stay overnight in Gairnlochy/ Spean Bridge. Luggage will be transferred.

Beginning in Gairlochy, look out for the Pepperpot Lighthouse which marks where the Caledonian Canal enters Loch Lochy.

The route follows the minor road round the south western end of the loch, dropping down to the lochside on footpaths for a couple of miles before re-joining the road near the settlement of Achnacarry. At the village of Clunes the route leaves the road to follow forest tracks for the rest of the length of the loch.

A short section of minor road takes you to the canal lock gates at South Laggan, where this section ends.

Stay overnight in Laggan. Luggage will be transferred.

Beginning on Laggan Avenue, which follows a short stretch of the Caledonian Canal you will travel the length of Loch Oich on a section of NCN 78 – the national cycle route between Oban and Inverness. Built on dismantled railway, this marks the route of the former Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus line, last used in 1947. A small museum is built on the site of the old Invergarry Station, where you can find more information.

After crossing the A82 trunk road at Aberchalder Swing Bridge, continue along the canal towpath until reaching Fort Augustus.

On reaching Fort Augustus you can find plenty of shops, pubs, restaurants and a post office.

Stay overnight in Fort Augustus. Luggage will be transferred.

Climbing out of Fort Augustus follow the forest track until you come to the information panel about the high route. The High route adds a little over a mile to your walk, and involves a steep climb over about 1 km to get above the tree line. From here on the route rises and falls until a steep descent back down to Invermoriston. The low route is more level, but still has beautiful views of Loch Ness, as well as passing through Acquisition Number 1 – the first site planted by the Forestry Commission in Scotland, where you will walk among enormous examples of Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce, reminiscent of the forests of the Pacific North-west in America from where these trees originated.

Both route options lead you to Invermoriston, where you can find a small village shop (with post office), accommodation and cafes/restaurants.

Stay overnight in Invermoriston. Luggage will be transferred.

ou can again choose to take the high route or the low route on todays trail. Both offer plenty of stunning views and points of interest.

The high route takes users to the highest point on the whole GGW, at 420m, and allows views up Glen Moriston and over Loch Ness. Look out for the dramatic View-Catcher near Invermoriston and the elaborate Fairy Bridge before the climb up to re-join the main route. Half way along the high route there is access to the low route.

The low route follows forest tracks and footpaths in an undulating walk which includes access to accommodation at Altsigh. Look out for the Stone Cave – a shelter built in the 19th Century as shelter for a local washerwoman who used to walk this route to her work at the Invermoriston Arms.

As you enter the Clunebeg estate, the path leads down towards the village of Drumnadrochit. Here you will find a small supermarket, post office, pharmacy and souvenir shops. A selection eateries can also be found. There is also a doctor’s surgery in the village.

Stay overnight in Drumnadrochit. Luggage will be transferred.

A steep climb on a winding path through the woods up to Craig Nay joins with a forest road leading to Abriachan, site of Abriachan Forest Trust, the first community woodland in the UK to be bought from the Forestry Commission. After a section of road walking the route passes back onto forest track, following an old section of Drove Road. This network of tracks throughout Scotland was used in the 18th and 19th centuries to drive livestock from pasturelands all over the Highlands to the cattle markets of lowland Scotland and beyond.

Beyond the forest, the route comes out onto a wide view of the City of Inverness. Following the route down the hill leads through the Ness Islands and along the River Ness to Inverness Castle where the Great Glen Way ends.

Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, is a small city containing a wide selection of shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as a hospital and railway and bus stations with services to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Stay overnight in Inverness . Luggage will be transferred.

Recuperate from your journey before your departure.