Great Glen Way - Medium
Duration: 8 days
Trails: T2 trails
Distance: More than 20 km per day
Ascent per day: 250 - 500 m ascent per day
> Accommodation in Fort William and Inverness included
> Walk along 3 of the most famous lakes in Scotland, including Loch Ness
> Complete the Great Glen Way in 6 stages
The Great Glen Way is a long-distance route that starts in Fort William and ends in Inverness and follows the major natural faultline of the Great Glen which divides Scotland from coast to coast. This extraordinary trail is 79 miles/127 km long and offers its visitors breathtaking landscapes including lochs, hills, and forests. If you are looking for a gentle walk in Scotland, the Great Highland Way is an excellent option.
The Great Glen Way starts at the foot of the impressive Ben Nevis and takes you along the coasts of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and the forests above Loch Ness. This route will also guide you through some historical milestones of this turbulent region, past castles, forts, and scenes of some of Scotland’s bloodiest battles. Despite running at lower levels, you can also choose to follow the higher-level option of the Great Glen Way between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit. This higher section offers more dramatic views for a little more effort.
On this 8-day trek, you will complete all the stages on the Great Glen Way, from Fort William to Inverness. We will arrange the accommodation and luggage transfer for you, and we will provide you with a detailed itinerary for your adventure. This trek also includes accommodation in Fort William and Inverness before and after the trek.
> Walk along 3 of the most famous lakes in Scotland, including Loch Ness
> Complete the Great Glen Way in 6 stages
The Great Glen Way is a long-distance route that starts in Fort William and ends in Inverness and follows the major natural faultline of the Great Glen which divides Scotland from coast to coast. This extraordinary trail is 79 miles/127 km long and offers its visitors breathtaking landscapes including lochs, hills, and forests. If you are looking for a gentle walk in Scotland, the Great Highland Way is an excellent option.
The Great Glen Way starts at the foot of the impressive Ben Nevis and takes you along the coasts of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and the forests above Loch Ness. This route will also guide you through some historical milestones of this turbulent region, past castles, forts, and scenes of some of Scotland’s bloodiest battles. Despite running at lower levels, you can also choose to follow the higher-level option of the Great Glen Way between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit. This higher section offers more dramatic views for a little more effort.
On this 8-day trek, you will complete all the stages on the Great Glen Way, from Fort William to Inverness. We will arrange the accommodation and luggage transfer for you, and we will provide you with a detailed itinerary for your adventure. This trek also includes accommodation in Fort William and Inverness before and after the trek.
Itinerary
Day
1
Arrival in Fort William
Today, you will arrive in Fort William. In Fort William, you will spend the night at a hotel preparing for your Great Glen Way adventure.
Bank Street Lodge (Fort William)
Day
2
Fort William - Spean Bridge
Duration: 05:50 h
Distance: 22.4 km
Ascent: 160 m
Descent: 100 m
Today, your Great Glen Way adventure begins at The Old Fort in Fort William. The first part of the journey is relatively flat and easy. From Fort William, you will walk along the shores of Loch Linnhe and past the Caledonian Canal at Corpach. Via Neptune’s Staircase, you will follow the canal to Gairlochy.
Inverour Guest House (Spean Bridge)
Day
3
Spean Bridge - Laggan Locks
Duration: 07:04 h
Distance: 26.7 km
Ascent: 250 m
Descent: 260 m
Today you will walk along Loch Lochy, one of the 3 major Lochs in the Great Glen. The trail today guides you through small roads and forest tracks. At first, from the Pepperpot Lighthouse, the road follows the southwestern end of the loch. you will walk by the shore for a couple of miles and then you will join the trail near the settlement of Achnacarry. In Clunes, the path leaves the road and follows forest tracks up until the end of the loch. One last short trek takes you to the canal lock gates at South Laggan, where this stage of the Great Glen Way ends.
Great Glen Hostel (Laggan Locks)
Day
4
Laggan Locks - Fort Augustus
Duration: 04:15 h
Distance: 16.4 km
Ascent: 90 m
Descent: 110 m
Today you will walk along the smallest of the Great Glen's lochs, Loch Oich. Today's stage begins on Laggan Avenue, from which you will follow the Caledonian Canal for a short stretch. You will then trek the length of Loch Oich on a section of NCN 78, which is the national cycle route between Oban and Inverness. During your trek, look out for the remains of Invergarry Castle on the opposite shore. Cross the A82 trunk road at Aberchalder Swing Bridge and continue trekking along the canal towpath to Fort Augustus.
Loch Ness Guest House (Fort Augustus)
Day
5
Fort Augustus - Invermoriston
Duration: 04:20 h
Distance: 12.9 km
Ascent: 270 m
Descent: 190 m
After Fort Augustus, the Great Glen Way trail starts to ascend and you have to make a choice: you can either follow the low route through the forest or make a steep climb to reach the high route, which climbs above the tree line and offers great views of the Great Glen.
Leave Fort Augustus and follow the forest trail to the information panel about the high route. On the high route, you will first have to make a steep ascent to get above the tree line. This ascent covers approximately 1 kilometer. The high route follows a series of ups and downs until the last, steep descent to Invermoriston. The low route, on the contrary, is more level and also offers nice views of Loch Ness. Both routes take you to Invermoriston, where you can find a small village shop, accommodation, cafes, and restaurants.
Craik Na Dav B&B (Invermoriston)
Day
6
Invermoriston - Drumnadrochit
Duration: 07:40 h
Distance: 22.3 km
Ascent: 500 m
Descent: 590 m
Today you will also have to choose the route you will follow. After leaving Invermoriston you will come to another information panel explaining the 2 options. The high route will take you to the highest point of the GGW, at 420m, where you will enjoy breathtaking views of Glen Moriston and Loch Ness. If you change your mind or if you want to experience both options, halfway along the high route there is a shortcut to the low route.
The low route follows an undulating path along the forest. Look out for the Stone Cave, built in the 19th Century as a shelter for a local washerwoman who used to walk this route to the Invermoriston Arms. After a significant climb out of Altsigh the route joins a smaller footpath that takes you to the road at Grotaig. Follow the road down towards Drumnadrochit.
Loch Ness Inn (Drumnadrochit)
Day
7
Drumnadrochit - Inverness
Duration: 08:10 h
Distance: 29.7 km
Ascent: 470 m
Descent: 500 m
This is the longest stretch of the Great Glen Way. Today, you will begin with a 1-mile walk along the busy A82 road. You will then follow a winding path through the forest up to Craig Nay and then you will follow the trail to Abriachan. Continue trekking along the road and then onto a forest track. Beyond the forest, you will enjoy a great view of the city of Inverness. Follow the trail downhill through the Ness Islands and along the River Ness to Inverness Castle, the ending point of the Great Glen Way.
The Waverley Guest House (Inverness)
Day
8
Departure
After breakfast, our package and your Great Glen Way adventure come to an end. Have a safe journey back!
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