Great Glen Way Scottish Walking Holiday | Walking Holiday in Britain | Self Guided Walking Holiday

You start walking on the west coast and finish on the east coast and follow the Great Glen as it cuts through Scotland. It is said that St Columba travelled this way in the first century, bringing Christianity to the Picts of the Highlands. Along the way you are flanked by impressive mountains and you walk alongside Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the mighty Loch Ness. When walking the Great Glen Way you are also following the route of the Caledonian Canal, which allows vessels to pass between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The trail is very well waymarked and follows good paths and forest tracks. There are a couple of fairly long days on The Great Glen Way,  but the actual walking is relatively easy. If you wish to break up the longer days, this can be done with an extra night in Fort Augustus (between South Laggan and Invermoriston) and an extra night between Drumnadrochit and Inverness.

Grade: Easy to Moderate

Meals:
You will normally be staying in a town or village where there is at least one place to buy an evening meal. On the rare occasion that this is not possible, we will book you into an accommodation which provides an evening meal (this is not included in the holiday price). Lunches can usually be bought on route and we can advise you of the days when this is not possible. On these days you can book a packed lunch from your accommodation by letting them know the night before or we can book it for you. These usually cost about £5. Alternatively, most of the towns and villages in which you stay have shops where you can buy items to make up your own packed lunch.

When to Go:
April, May and June are when everything comes to life so it is very green, wild flowers are abundant and blossom abounds. July and August tend to be the warmest months, but it is rarely so warm as to be uncomfortable for walking. September tends to be one of the most pleasant times in the countryside and is quieter as most people with children have finished their holidays. By October the days are getting shorter and the weather is much more changeable.

Getting there:
Fort William can be reached by train and is around 3 hours 50 mins from Glasgow Queen Street Station. You can also fly to Inverness from where there is a regular bus service with City Link to Fort William.

Departure:
You can leave Inverness by train or bus or by air. If you have left your car at the start in Fort William then you can take a coach with City Link back from Inverness and this takes approx. two hours.

Day 1 Arrive Fort William (has railway station)

Day 2 Fort William to Gairlochy.
A stone plinth marks the start of the Great Glen Way walking trail, over the road from the railway station. From here you are led on footpaths close to the shore at the eastern end of the sea loch, Loch Linnhe, round to the start of the Caledonian Canal at Corpach. The route then takes you up the side of Neptune's Staircase, where the canal climbs the hill by a series of locks. A pleasant canal side walk takes you all the way to Gairlochy. ~ 11 miles

Day 3 Gairlochy to Laggan.
As you leave Gairlochy you are at the southern end of Loch Lochy and today's walk follows the western shore of the loch. The walking is on a mixture of lakeside paths and forest trails. At the northern end of Loch Lochy you reach Laggan Locks and your accommodation. ~ 12 miles

Day 4 Laggan to Invermoriston.
A short section of canal towpath soon brings you to the next, and much smalller, Loch Oich. You follow the eastern shore of this very pretty loch, after which there is another section of towpath alongside the Caledonian Canal. Fort Augustus provides a welcome break for lunch or refreshments and another set of locks where ships slowly make their way up or down. Fort Augustus also marks the start of the mighty Loch Ness. The route takes you on forest tracks along the western side to reach your overnight stop in Invermoriston. ~ 18 miles

Day 5 Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit.
A short climb first thing in the morning takes you up into the forest giving lovely views across Loch Ness in both directions. Pleasant forest trails and a section of lane lead you all the way to your next accommodation in the village of Drumnadrochit. ~ 14 miles

Day 6 Drumnadrochit to Inverness.
The final day's walking takes you, once more, high above Loch Ness and then you leave the loch as your route veers away to the west and follows woodland paths, tracks and lanes. A seemingly long day is, however, made up of easy walking and you eventually descend into Inverness. The final section is through parkland alongside the River Ness, to bring you to the end of The Great Glen Way at Inverness Castle. ~ 18 miles

Day 7 Departure.

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