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This is the new and spectacular walking trek from Fort William, the popular centre nestling under the massive Ben Nevis, to Inverness. The Great Glen Way takes you from the beginning of the Caledonian Canal past Neptune's Staircase and past Lochs Lochy, Oich and Ness. The trek terrain varies from towpath flat walking by the canal, to forest walks and woodland paths by the lochs, as well as some tarmac walking on a very quiet peaceful road. You can have extra days in both cities: in Fort William for distillery tours, climbing Ben Nevis or taking the Jacobite steam train to the fishing port of Mallaig and back, along the famous and spectacular West Highland Line. An extra day in lovely Inverness will give you an opportunity to visit Culloden Battlefield and Cawdor Castle.

Options: There are a number of options depending on time available, preferred walking distances and a possible cruise on Loch Ness to the other side of the loch and walking from there. Daily baggage transfers are included in all options so you can enjoy the walk carrying only a light daypack.
Accommodation: We use Hotels, Guesthouses and very good Bed & Breakfasts, with en suite bathrooms (or private facilities). You can enjoy the privacy of your room or the company and atmosphere in the hotel bars after an enjoyable day's trekking. It is essential to book well in advance, particularly for May and June.

Availability: From May to September, starting on any day of your choice.

Hotel/Inn option. In this option you will stay in Hotels/Inn on every day. Only available on the 6 & 7 day treks. Supplement £70 per person on 6 nights trek & £85 per person on 7 nights trek.
Stay in a Castle. This year we can offer up to 2 nights overnight in Glengarry Castle Hotel, overlooking Loch Oich, a real highlight and a very popular option. The trek locations available for an overnight stay in Glengarry Castle are South Laggan (recommended) and Fort Augustus.
Glengarry Castle Hotel, Invergarry. A gem of a Castle Hotel in extensive grounds, run by the MacCallum family for 40 years. 60 acres of woodland overlooking Loch Oich. Fishing available. Some rooms with 4 Poster beds available. Four Star status, very good value for money.
Castle supplement: £70 per night/per person. The extra cost includes evening meal and packed lunch, standard room, taxi transfers to and from Glengarry Castle. All subject to availability.



Option A - 8 day trek, including cruise across Loch Ness
Grading: Moderate, with some Easy stages. 7 to 12 miles and less than 650 feet of ascent per day (11 to 19 km and less than 200 metres).

What's Included: 8 nights Bed & Breakfast. Daily baggage transfers (door to door), cruise across Loch Ness, map & detailed route notes, taxi transfer on day 7.

Cost in 2004: £365 per person, based on two persons sharing accommodation. If you are travelling alone, you need to add a single room supplement of £95. Click here for extra info about lunches, evening meals and transport.

Day to day itinerary




Option B - 7 day trek, no cruise across Loch Ness
Grading: Higher mileages, strenuous in parts. 7 to 18 miles and less than 980 feet of ascent per day (11 to 30 km and less than 300 metres).

What's Included: 7 nights Bed & Breakfast. Daily baggage transfers (door to door), maps & detailed route notes.

Cost in 2004: £315 per person, based on two persons sharing accommodation. If you are travelling alone, you need to add a single room supplement of £90. Click here for extra info about lunches, evening meals and transport.

Day to day itinerary




Option C - 6 day trek, no cruise across Loch Ness
Grading: Strenuous, with some easy stages. 11 to 18 miles and less than 980 feet of ascent per day (17 to 20 km and less than 300 metres).

What's Included: 6 nights Bed & Breakfast. Daily baggage transfers (door to door), maps & detailed route notes.

Cost in 2004: £295 per person, based on two persons sharing accommodation. If you are travelling alone, you need to add a single room supplement of £80. Click here for extra info about lunches, evening meals and transport.

Day to day itinerary


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ITINERARY (option A)
Day 1: Fort William
Arrive Glasgow, optional airport/station welcome and transfer to the station for your train to Fort William. Allow one hour from airport to station. Journey time 3 hours 45 min.
Day 2: Fort William-Gairlochy/Spean Bridge 10.8 m/17.5 km
Walk out of the town, via Corpach, the start of the Caledonian Canal and Neptune’s Staircase, an impressive series of locks, follow canal towpath to Gairlochy. Level walking all the way, lovely views as you enter Gairlochy. Optional extra day for pony trekking.

Day 3: Gairlochy-South Laggan 11.5 m/18.5 km
You join a minor road for a while with an opportunity to visit a museum to immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this area, then a forest track, which follows the shores of lovely Loch Lochy.
Level walking all the way. Optional extra day for watersports on Loch Oich.

Day 4: South Laggan-Fort Augustus 11 m/17.5 km
You trek alongside Loch Oich, a gem of a walk today, through mixed woodland on the banks of the loch, away from it all, quiet peaceful. Back on to the Caledonian Canal and onwards to Fort Augustus, one of the prettiest villages in the Great Glen.

Day 5: Fort Augustus-Invermoriston 7 m/11 km
You cross to the north side of the Great Glen and follow a forest track route, which climbs up with great views, then down again to Invermoriston, a small village. Height gain 150m

Day 6: Invermoriston-Drumnadrochit 12 m/19 km
More great views of Loch Ness as you climb again out of the village and follow forest track, with the mountain and loch views all the way. Drumnadrochit is the centre of the Loch Ness monster story and also the site of Urquhart Castle. Height gain 200m. Optional extra day for pony trekking.

Day 7: Drumnadrochit-Foyers-Dores 11 m/17.5 km
You are picked up at your accommodation and taken down to the pier for your personal charter cruise across the loch. The captain is a member of the loch ness Monster Survey team, so he will have interesting tales to tell! You are dropped off at Foyers Pier from where you walk up through woodland to see the famous Falls of Foyers, before continuing on through woodland and forest track to Dores, on the banks of Loch ness, great views of Loch Ness on this section. Much better route than the other side of the loch, more variety and interest.

Day 8: Dores-Inverness 10 m/16 km
An easy walk into Inverness, a delightful walk through mixed woodland on lovely paths alongside Loch ness then the River Ness, finishing at Ness Islands in the city itself. Time to explore Inverness, or take an optional bus trip to Culloden Battlefield.

Day 9: Return by train to Glasgow
Arriving in time to see a little of Glasgow, the friendly city.



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ITINERARY (option B)
Day 1: Fort William
Arrive Glasgow, optional airport /station welcome and transfer to the station for your train to Fort William. Allow one hour from airport to station. Journey time 3 hours 45 min.
Day 2: Fort William-Gairlochy/Spean Bridge 10.8 m/17.5 km
Walk out of the town, via Corpach, the start of the Caledonian Canal and Neptune’s Staircase, an impressive series of locks, follow canal towpath to Gairlochy. Level walking all the way, lovely views as you enter Gairlochy. Optional extra day for pony trekking.

Day 3: Gairlochy-South Laggan 11.5 m/18.5 km
You join a minor road for a while with an opportunity to visit a museum to immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this area, then a forest track, which follows the shores of lovely Loch Lochy.
Level walking all the way. Optional extra day for watersports on Loch Oich.

Day 4: South Laggan-Fort Augustus 11 m/17.5 km
You trek alongside Loch Oich, a gem of a walk today, through mixed woodland on the banks of the loch, away from it all, quiet peaceful. Back on to the Caledonian Canal and onwards to Fort Augustus, one of the prettiest villages in the Great Glen. Optional evening cruises on Loch Ness to view Urquhart Castle from the loch.

Day 5: Fort Augustus-Invermoriston 7 m/11 km
You cross to the north side of the Great Glen and follow a forest track route, which climbs up with great views, then down again to Invermoriston, a small village. Height gain 150m.

Day 6: Invermoriston-Drumnadrochit 12 m/19 km
More great views of Loch Ness as you climb again out of the village and follow forest track, with the mountain and loch views all the way. Drumnadrochit is the centre of the Loch Ness monster story and also the site of Urquhart Castle. Height gain 200 m. Optional extra day for pony trekking.

Day 7: Drumnadrochit-Inverness 18 m/30 km
A long climb out of the village before you reach the highest point of the Way, with stunning views all round, as you approach Inverness. You finish the walk at Inverness Castle. Height gain 300m.

Day 8: Return by train to Glasgow
Arriving in time to see a little of Glasgow, the friendly city.



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ITINERARY (option C)
Day 1: Fort William
Arrive Glasgow, optional airport /station welcome and transfer to the station for your train to Fort William. Allow one hour from airport to station. Journey time 3 hours 45 min.
Day 2: Fort William-Gairlochy/Spean Bridge 10.8 m/17.5 km
Walk out of the town, via Corpach, the start of the Caledonian Canal and Neptune’s Staircase, an impressive series of locks, follow canal towpath to Gairlochy. Level walking all the way, lovely views as you enter Gairlochy. Optional extra day for pony trekking.

Day 3: Gairlochy-South Laggan 11.5 m/18.5 km
You join a minor road for a while with an opportunity to visit a museum to immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this area, then a forest track, which follows the shores of lovely Loch Lochy.
Level walking all the way. Optional extra day for watersports on Loch Oich.

Day 4: South Laggan-Fort Augustus-Invermoriston 18 m/28.5 km
You trek alongside Loch Oich, a gem of a walk today, through mixed woodland on the banks of the loch, away from it all, quiet peaceful. Back on to the Caledonian Canal and onwards to Fort Augustus, one of the prettiest villages in the Great Glen. Late lunch here, then you cross to the north side of the Great Glen and follow a forest track route, which climbs up with great views. Then down again to Invermoriston, a small village. Height gain 150m.

Day 5: Invermoriston-Drumnadrochit 12 m/19 km
More great views of Loch Ness as you climb again out of the village and follow forest track, with the mountain and loch views all the way. Drumnadrochit is the centre of the Loch Ness monster story and also the site of Urquhart Castle. Height gain 200 m. Optional extra day for pony trekking.

Day 6: Drumnadrochit-Inverness 18m/30km
A long climb out of the village before you reach the highest point of the Way, with stunning views all round, as you approach Inverness. You finish the walk at Inverness Castle. Height gain 300m.

Day 7: Return by train to Glasgow
Arriving in time to see a little of Glasgow, the friendly city.




Extra Info
Packed lunches and evening meals: Packed lunches are available at most accommodations and if not there are shops nearby. They can be ordered in advance on booking and paid for on arrival. Average cost is £4.00

Evening meals are available near all the accommodations except Gairlochy and South Laggan, where there is nothing really convenient nearby. These will be ordered in advance and can be paid for on arrival, cost £12 per person at each place.

Glasgow Airport Transfer: We can meet and greet you on arrival at Glasgow Airport (not Glasgow Prestwick), and transfer you to Queen Street Station for the train to Fort William.
The costs are £15 per person for party of two, £8 per person for party of 3-5 and £30 for solo person.

A taxi will cost around £14 and the airport bus around £5/person, both to Queen Street.

Rail Transport:

Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh: approx. £30
Fort William-Glasgow: approx. £18
Fort William-Edinburgh: approx. £28
We recommend rail transport but buses are available, cost roughly half the rail fare.
Tour info pack: Your tour info pack, containing the accommodation itinerary, route details etc. will be available on arrival at Glasgow, or at the guesthouse in Fort William, on arrival there.