Version A:
Day 1. Arrive in Fort William, the capital of the Western Highlands. The town is a popular base for walkers and climbers as it sits at the foot of Ben Nevis (1344m), the highest mountain in Scotland. Depending on your time of arrival, you could visit the West Highland Museum, or take a boat trip to Seal Island in Loch Linnhe.
Day 2. Soon after leaving the town centre, the path turns west along the shore of Loch Eil to the Caledonian Canal's sea locks at Corpach. Here you turn north-east, soon passing 'Neptune's Staircase', the series of locks which lift the canal 80 feet above sea-level. After continuing along the canal path through Cameron country, you can take a small diversion to visit the ruins of Torcastle overlooking the River Lochy. This section of the Great Glen Way ends at the tiny village of Gairlochy* (10 miles).
Day 3. After re-joining the Great Glen Way at Gairlochy, the path follows the west shore of Loch Lochy, where it is possible take a small diversion to visit the Clan Cameron Museum at Achnacarry. The Way continues along the north west shore of Loch Lochy until you reach the small settlement of South Laggan (12 miles).
Day 4. From South Laggan, you follow the canal path the short distance to Laggan Swing Bridge. The path then follows the wooded shoreline of Loch Oich, the narrowest and possibly most attractive of all the Great Glen lochs. On reaching the north end of Loch Oich, the path stays close to the banks of the canal and River Oich down to Fort Augustus at the south end of Loch Ness (11 miles). Fort Augustus is a small but busy village, as is best known for it's Benedictine Abbey. You can also take a cruise on Loch Ness from Fort Augustus.
Day 5. The day starts with a climb out of Fort Augustus, which soon gives good views back down to the Benedictine Abbey and Loch Ness. The path continues through semi-natural woodland above Loch Ness before dropping down to the small village of Invermoriston (8 miles).
Day 6. After a steep climb out of Invermoriston, the path continues in the forests above Loch Ness, giving wonderful views across and down the famous loch. The path then joins a very quiet road before the final descent to Drumnadrochit (14 miles). The village is famous for it's close proximity to 13th Century Castle Urquhart, and it's more recent Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centres.
Day 7. The morning starts with a steady climb onto the open moorland above Drumnadrochit. The path then turns away from Loch Ness, passing through farmland and forest as it takes you north towards the Beauly Firth. After descending to cross the Caledonian Canal at Tomnahourich, the final mile takes you by the banks of the River Ness to the centre of Inverness, capital of the Highlands (19 miles). If you prefer, you can finish the walk by following the Caledonian Canal to the sea lock at Clachnaharry, and then enjoy a real ale at the local pub.
Version B: This is the same as Version A, except that you miss out the overnight stop in Fort Augustus. This means you walk the 19 miles from South Laggan to Invermoriston in one day.
NOTES:
*Due to the limited accommodation in Gairlochy, we may book you accommodation in the nearby village of Spean Bridge. This adds 3 miles to the day's walk but also gives you the option to visit the memorial to the many thousands of WW2 Commandos who trained in the Lochaber hills.
Prices are based on two people sharing (in carefully selected B&B's and guest houses along the route). We will book ensuite rooms where possible (usually on all the nights). If you prefer to stay in hotels, these can usually be booked in most of the villages for a supplement which depends on the rooms available.
Baggage transfer Due to space constraints, note that only one piece of luggage per person can be transferred. (18kg maximum)
Extra nights It is possible to have extra nights in any of the villages; an extra night in Fort William is essential if you wish to climb Ben Nevis. Fort Augustus, Drumnadrochit and Inverness are also good places for extra nights as there are a variety of attractions in each place. Extra nights cost from £40 per person per night.
Travel information:
Start: Fort William is 90 miles north of Glasgow and can be reached by bus (3 hours, about £25) or train (4 hours, about £25-40 depending on how far in advance you book the ticket).
Finish: From Inverness, there are frequent buses and trains south to Edinburgh and Glasgow (journey takes about 4 hours, costs about £20-35). Alternatively, it is possible to fly south from Inverness airport (daily flights to Glasgow, Edinburgh, London Gatwick and Luton). From Luton there are Easyjet connections to many European cities including Amsterdam, Geneva and Zurich.
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