Overview
The Great Glen Way is a 120km walk that follows Scotland’s famous Great Glen valley from Fort William to Inverness, passing by the beautiful Loch Ness. The Great Glen Way provides a wonderfully scenic route as it follows the Caledonian Canal’s general course. The recently opened ‘high route’ offers fantastic views of the Highlands and down to the lochs which dominate this part of Scotland.
Our standard Great Glen Way itinerary takes 9 days (8 nights) to complete the whole trail with an average of 20km of walking per day. You can optionally split the 30.5km walk on Day 7 by adding an extra night. On request, we can design a custom shorter version of the itinerary, either more demanding or more leisurely. Extra nights are also possible to book in most places along the route.
The route is very well signposted, with well-maintained paths and tracks throughout. Accommodation, services and refreshments are also conveniently located from start to finish, providing opportunities for a comfortable and relaxing end to a tough day’s walking.
- Loch Ness
- Caledonian Canal
- Fort William
- Inverness
- Inverness Castle
- Loch Oich
- Scottish Highlands
- Invergarry Castle
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Fort William
Today you arrive in the town of Fort William, the gateway to the Highlands. It is easily reachable from Glasgow by public transport via a scenic route (3 hours by bus, 4 hours by train).
- Accommodation: Guisachan Guest House or similar in Fort William
Day 2: Fort William to Gairlochy | 17km
The walk starts by the banks of Loch Linnhe and follows the shoreline to the Caledonian Canal locks. The trail then changes course and joins the canal as it heads towards the Great Glen. At Gairlochy, your accommodation is likely to be in Spean Bridge a further 4.5km walk from Gairlochy. A pick-up service is provided if required.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 4-5h ↑40m
- Accommodation: Coire Glas Guest House or similar in Gairlochy
Day 3: Gairlochy to Invergarry | 25.5km
From Gairlochy, the trail soon leaves the canal and meets Loch Lochy, where you are never too far from its shores. The path makes its way through woodland as it undulates across the hillside towards Laggan Locks. At the locks, the trail continues towards Fort Augustus along Loch Oich; however, it is possible to hike the Invergarry Link to your overnight accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 25.5km, 6-7h ↑480m
- Accommodation: Forest Lodge Guesthouse or similar in Invergarry
Day 4: Invergarry to Fort Augustus | 18km
The path climbs north out of Invergarry through some woodland, before descending to the north banks of Loch Oich, where it once again joins the Caledonian Canal for the walk into Fort Augustus. This stage of the trail offers some fantastic distant views of the surrounding mountains.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 3-4h ↑100m
- Accommodation: Lorien House B&B or similar in Fort Augustus
Day 5: Fort Augustus to Invermoriston | 12km
The trail initially climbs out of Fort Augustus through a forested area onto the open hillside high above the lochs and canals below (note there is a low route option). The trail continues at a high level for much of this stage, descending only to reach the village of Invermoriston.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 4-5 h,↑560 m
- Accommodation: Craik Na Dav B&B or similar in Invermoriston
Day 6: Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit | 22.5km
Again, the trail quickly climbs out of Invermoriston, eventually providing fantastic views of Loch Ness and the surrounding mountains. As on the previous stage, there is a high and low-level option during this stage.
- Walking for the day: 22.5km, 7-8h, ↑710m
- Accommodation: Kilmore Farmhouse B&B or similar in Drumnadrochit
Day 7: Drumnadrochit to Inverness OR Blackfold to Drumnadrochit | 30.5km or 17.5km
Option 1: The trail leaves Drumnadrochit by following the main road for a short distance before heading onto a wooded hillside. This is the Great Glen Way’s final significant climb, with a gradual descent towards Inverness, but not before more excellent views across the Highlands. The walk to Inverness Castle follows the latter section of the Caledonian Canal into the city centre. Overnight in Inverness.
- Walking for the day: 30.5km, 8-9h ↑500m
- Accommodation: Premier Inn River Ness or similar in Inverness
Option 2: You can split the above long walk by adding a walk from Blackfold and a second night in Drumnadrochit on Day 7, and then walk from Blackfold to Inverness on the next day (there is no accommodation in Blackfold):
Morning transfer from Drumnadrochit to Blackfold. Walk from Blackfold to Drumnadrochit and overnight there.
- Walking for the day: 17.5km, 4-5h
- Accommodation: Kilmore Farmhouse B&B or similar in Drumnadrochit
(Day 8): Optional extra day (if you choose Option 2 for Day 7): Blackfold to Inverness | 13km
Morning transfer from Drumnadrochit to Blackfold. Walk Blackfold to Inverness with an overnight in Inverness.
- Walking for the day:13km, 4h
- Accommodation: Premier Inn River Ness or similar in Inverness
Day 8 (9): Departure
Departure by bus or train to Glasgow (3-4 hours) or Edinburgh. Inverness Airport is also an option, especially for domestic flights. Additional nights at the end of the walk can be arranged to explore the highlands at your leisure.
What to expect
Accommodation
Nice 3-star hotels and B&Bs, all offering comfortable en-suite double or twin rooms. All places have been carefully hand-picked by us, and their quality is regularly monitored. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click here to view our default hotels for this trip
*Note that hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel from the ones pictured above is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Each hotel and B&B has been hand-picked to ensure you enjoy the most welcoming, comfortable and value-for-money experience on this Great Glen Way route. A warm welcome awaits all walkers and hikers, with hotel owners keen to hear stories of the day’s adventures. Evening meals and packed lunches for the onward journey are available throughout, however, please note that they are NOT included in the holiday package. Breakfasts are included each day.
Difficulty and terrain
Although daily elevation gains are not very big, you should be prepared to walk on average 19-22km or 5-7h per day. Some days will be more challenging than others and the terrain will be varied with some rough and rugged footpaths. The longest walk on Day 7 (30.5km) can be split into two by adding an extra day (read more about difficulty grades). The route is well signposted throughout; however, walkers must be vigilant as there are paths and junctions along the way that deviates from the main route. Your package includes a detailed map of the full route. We highly recommend that at least one member of your party is a competent map and compass reader. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available to commence every day from 1st April till 30th September. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens). Some funny but useful travel advice about Scotland is available here 😊
Click to view travel options and route planner
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Glasgow.
By train or bus
- Glasgow: There are excellent air, train and bus services, allowing easy access anywhere in the UK and overseas.
- Fort William: The main routes to Fort William are by bus and train to Glasgow. The journey, whether by rail or coach, is an absolutely glorious trip with stunning scenery throughout.
- Inverness: The main routes out of Inverness are by bus and train to Glasgow & Edinburgh, while you can also fly from Inverness Airport.
- A great website useful specifically for public transport planning within Scotland is Traveline Scotland.
Inclusions
Included
- Pre-booked accommodation as per the itinerary on 7 nights in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses
- Full breakfast each morning
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (your accommodation list, GPS map of the route, baggage transfer information, itineraries, route information of cafes, restaurants, local bus timetables, etc.)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- Single room supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights along the route or in Glasgow
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