Great Glen Way
Encyclopedia
The Great Glen Way is a long distance footpath in Scotland
. It follows the Great Glen
, running from Fort William in the west to Inverness
in the east, covering 73 miles (117 kilometres). It was opened in 2002 and is one of Scotland's four long distance routes
. The Great Glen Way is generally walked from west to east to follow the direction of the prevailing wind. It can be walked in 5-6 days.
to Corpach
, and the Caledonian Canal
. The eight locks of Neptune's Staircase takes the canal to 19.2m above sea level. The route passes various canal features until Loch Lochy
when forest tracks take it along the western shore before rejoining the canal at Laggan Locks. A detour to bag a couple of Munro
s is an option here, but it is likely to take the best part of the day.
From Laggan Locks the route follows the towpath through Laggan Avenue to the Laggan Swing Bridge. Crossing the A82
it then joins the eastern shores of Loch Oich
by way of a dismantled railway. Then back to the canal towpath for the next section into Fort Augustus.
From Fort Augustus
the route climbs away from the canal and the lochs up into the forest. There are views from the high level forest track which eventually drops into Invermoriston
and out by a steep climb. High level forest track leads into the village of Grotaig then out of the village until a path heads off through Clunebeg Wood to the banks of the River Coiltie and Borlum Bridge. Then into Nessie country, the home of the legend Drumnadrochit
. The Great Glen Way ascends a forest track giving good views traversing through the forest. Leaving the road at Blackfold, the waymarking indicates forest track at Craig Leach Forest which eventually emerges at a reservoir.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It follows the Great Glen
Great Glen
The Great Glen , also known as Glen Albyn or Glen More is a series of glens in Scotland running 100 kilometres from Inverness on the Moray Firth, to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe.The Great Glen follows a large geological fault known as the Great Glen Fault...
, running from Fort William in the west to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
in the east, covering 73 miles (117 kilometres). It was opened in 2002 and is one of Scotland's four long distance routes
Long Distance Routes
Long Distance Route is an official term for maintained long-distance footpaths in Scotland that require several days to walk...
. The Great Glen Way is generally walked from west to east to follow the direction of the prevailing wind. It can be walked in 5-6 days.
Route description
Beginning at the Old Fort in Fort William the Great Glen Way skirts the shores of Loch LinnheLoch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
to Corpach
Corpach
Corpach is a large village north of Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands. The canal lock at Corpach Basin on Loch Linnhe, east of the narrows leading to Loch Eil, is the western sea entrance of the Caledonian Canal...
, and the Caledonian Canal
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
. The eight locks of Neptune's Staircase takes the canal to 19.2m above sea level. The route passes various canal features until Loch Lochy
Loch Lochy
Loch Lochy is a large freshwater loch in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. With a mean depth of , it is the third deepest loch of Scotland.-Geography:...
when forest tracks take it along the western shore before rejoining the canal at Laggan Locks. A detour to bag a couple of Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
s is an option here, but it is likely to take the best part of the day.
From Laggan Locks the route follows the towpath through Laggan Avenue to the Laggan Swing Bridge. Crossing the A82
A82 road
The A82 is a trunk road in Scotland. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands, running from Glasgow to Inverness, going by Loch Lomond, Glen Coe and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other...
it then joins the eastern shores of Loch Oich
Loch Oich
Loch Oich is a freshwater loch in the Highlands of Scotland which forms part of the Caledonian Canal, of which it is the highest point. This narrow loch lies between Loch Ness and Loch Lochy in the Great Glen...
by way of a dismantled railway. Then back to the canal towpath for the next section into Fort Augustus.
From Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus is a settlement in the Scottish Highlands, at the south west end of Loch Ness. The village has a population of around 646 ; its economy is heavily reliant on tourism....
the route climbs away from the canal and the lochs up into the forest. There are views from the high level forest track which eventually drops into Invermoriston
Invermoriston
Invermoriston is a small village 7 miles north of Fort Augustus, Highland, Scotland. The village is on the A82 road, at a junction with the A887. The village's most visited attraction is the Thomas Telford bridge, built in 1813, which crosses the spectacular River Moriston falls...
and out by a steep climb. High level forest track leads into the village of Grotaig then out of the village until a path heads off through Clunebeg Wood to the banks of the River Coiltie and Borlum Bridge. Then into Nessie country, the home of the legend Drumnadrochit
Drumnadrochit
Drumnadrochit is a village inthe Highland local government council area of Scotland, lying on the west shore of Loch Ness, at the foot of Glen Urquhart.-History:...
. The Great Glen Way ascends a forest track giving good views traversing through the forest. Leaving the road at Blackfold, the waymarking indicates forest track at Craig Leach Forest which eventually emerges at a reservoir.
External links
- Official website
- A personal account of walking and camping the Great Glen Way, including the Munros Meall na TeangaMeall na TeangaMeall na Teanga is a Scottish mountain located in the Highland council area. 11 kilometres north of Spean Bridge.- Overview :Meall na Teanga is situated on the northern side of Loch Lochy and is closely associated with the adjacent Munro of Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh which lies two kilometres to the...
and Sròn a' Choire GhairbhSròn a' Choire GhairbhSròn a’ Choire Ghairbh is a Scottish mountain situated on the northern side of Loch Lochy, 13 kilometres north of Spean Bridge in the Highland Council area.-Overview:... - Step-by-step guide to the route on Walkhighlands
- A useful unofficial site
- General Great Glen Way Information
- Great Glen Way page on 'Undiscovered Scotland' website