Overview
Spend eight or nine days (depending on walking options) sauntering along the shores of the Caledonian Canal, with its adjoining lochs and locks, on a 118km trail leading from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east through the Great Glen Way and eponymous valley. Staying in small and mostly locally-owned 3-star hotels or B&Bs along the way, with your luggage transported daily for you, take the low road through the Highlands and be invigorated by fresh air coming in off the waters of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness along the way.
- 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
Arrive in the town of Fort William, gateway to the Highlands. It is easily reachable from Glasgow by public transport via a scenic route (3h by bus, 4h 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. Take in the iconic Neptune’s Staircase along this section, built in 1803 by Thomas Telford, it is the longest staircase lock in Britain. The trail then changes course and joins the canal as it heads towards the Great Glen. As there is limited accommodation in Gairlochy, your accommodation is likely to be in Spean Bridge, a further 4.5km from Gairlochy. A pick-up service is provided by your accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 4-5h ↑40m
- Accommodation: Coire Glas Guest House or similar in Gairlochy
Day 3: Gairlochy to Invergarry | 27.5km
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. Past Laggan Locks, take the Invergarry Link to your overnight accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 27.5km, 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 | 22km
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: 22km, 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 (3-4h) 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
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned 3-star hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses, with double or twin rooms. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click here to view our default hotels for this trip
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal 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. Breakfasts are included each day. Evening meals and packed lunches for the onward journey are available throughout, however, please note that they are not included in the holiday package.
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 1 April till 30 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).
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. You can also take the Caledonian Sleeper train between London and Fort William/Inverness.
- Inverness: The main routes out of Inverness are by bus and train to Glasgow and 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&Bs, small hotels and guesthouses
- Full breakfast each morning
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days – 1 piece per person up to 20kg
- 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 room of their own
- 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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