Great Glen Way

OVERVIEW

The Great Glen Way runs for 74 miles between Fort William and Inverness, and largely follows the route of the Caledonian Canal - following the path of a geological fault that provides an easy route between the sea loch of Loch Linnhe, and the Moray Firth.

This provides a sort-of coast to coast route through Scotland - and is often done in combination with the West Highland Way to get a long route through the Highlands of Scotland.

A lot of the walking is done by the side of either a loch or by the canal, and so it is generally easy walking - although between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit at Loch Ness there is the option of a higher route, rather than staying alongside the loch.

PRACTICALITIES

Fort William is a popular base used by walkers and has train and CityLink bus connections to Glasgow.

The CityLink buses also run between Fort William and Inverness, and this can be used to split  up the walk. At Gairlochy it is easier to head across to Spean Bridge, however.

Inverness has train services - and both the trains to Inverness and to Fort William are very pretty routes across the Scottish Highlands.

USEFUL LINKS

Guidebook: Walking the Great Glen Way
LDWA Page: Great Glen Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths

Walk Highlands Page: Great Glen Way (Walkhighlands)

STAGES

Fort William to Spean Bridge (★★★★★) 

I walked this in reverse - but from Fort William you head out along a cycle path, but then cut off through woods along the edge of Loch Linnhe. Then you head over a bridge by the railway, and follow the road round until you can drop back to the edge of Loch Linnhe. Then you continue to follow the edge of the loch until you meet up with the Caledonian Canal.

Then you head up the Caledonian Canal, up past Neptune's Staircase - and then run between the mountains of Ben Nevis and Druim Fada - before then alter passing Beinn Bhan (on the far side of the canal). 

I used the B8004 to get between Gairlochy and the Commando Memorial (a mostly single track road), and then there is a pavement on the A82 through to Spean Bridge - where the train runs towards Fort William or Glasgow.

This section totaled 14.3 miles (of which 10.6 miles were on the Great Glen Way) - and has minimal ascent.

Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus

No current plans to walk...

Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit 

No current plans to walk...

Drumnadrochit to Inverness

No current plans to walk...