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Great Glen Way | 9 days

9 Days

81 miles | 131 Km

Fort William - Inverness

From 939 £

Personalized quotation

Luggage transfer

24h telephone assistance

Hotel accommodations

Let yourself be carried away by the beauty of Scottish landscapes on the Great Glen Way 9-day route. On this route, you can enjoy the beautiful villages of deepest Scotland, next to the Caledonian Canal that crosses the country from end to end. You will walk through green meadows, along coastal and mountain trails and you will appreciate the incredible landscapes in the Scottish Highlands. In addition, this route is iconic for its unique fauna and vegetation between lakes and forests with an ocean climate. This route starts at Fort William, located on the east bank of Loch Linnhe and ends in the cosmopolitan city of Inverness, whose Scottish Gaelic name means "The Mouth of the River Ness".

Visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle.
Cross the Highlands from one side to another.
Discover the legends around the "Loch Ness Monster"
Marvel at Neptune's Staircase, an impressive engineering work built in the 19th century by Thomas Telford.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Fort William

To start your walking holiday, you can fly to Glasgow or Inverness airports, from where you can take a bus or train to Fort William.

Fort William is the largest town in the Highlands, surrounded by Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, and is renowned for the large number of outdoor activities that can be performed there.

Overnight in Fort William

Myrtle Bank Guest House

Myrtle Bank Guest House offers a garden and terrace, perfect for unwinding after your hikes. Enjoy its cozy rooms with WiFi, traditional decor, and private bathrooms.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 2 - Fort William to Gairlochy 9,6 miles I 15,5 km

Head along the banks of the River Lochy to the ruins of 13th-century Inverlochy Castle at the start of the Great Glen Valley, stretching from Fort William to Inverness.

The road continues through Corpach, where the Caledonian Canal reaches Loch Linnhe and the sea. Tour the Canal and get to know the locks at Neptune's Staircase, an impressive engineering work that raised the canal 19 metres and was built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822.

Spean Bridge: in case of unavailability at Gairlochy you will have your accommodation at Spean Bridge. We will make the necessary arrangements for you to have the appropriate transfers between the locations.

Overnight in Gairlochy

Distant Hills Guest House

Cozy accommodation distinguished by its rustic and homely atmosphere alongside the River Spean.

Enjoy a high-quality homemade breakfast and explore its wonderful bar, where you can sample a wide selection of craft beers.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 3 - Gairlochy to Laggan 9 miles I 12 km

On this tour you will learn about Achnacarry Castle and its surroundings, a terrain between Loch Lochy and Loch Arkaig used during World War II as a training centre for the British Army.

The walk ends in Laggan, a village surrounded by the Monadhliath and Grampian Mountains and close to the River Spey, an excellent fishing spot.

Invergarry: in case of unavailability at Laggan you will have your accommodation at Invergarry. We will make the necessary arrangements for you to have the appropriate transfers between the locations.

Overnight in Laggan

Forest Lodge Guest House

This guest house is located near the Caledonian Canal. Overlooking the garden and hills, the rooms feature an entertainment lounge with a TV, local tourist information, books and games.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 4 - Laggan to Fort Augustus 10,5 miles I 17 km

Head from Laggan Bridge to Loch Oich, the highest point on the Caledonian Canal and home to a variety of fish, amphibians and reptiles.

The road will end at Fort Augustus, located south of Loch Ness, offering beautiful views of the loch, and being an ideal place for walkers and cyclists due to its walking routes, of which the most popular is the Great Glen Way.

Overnight in Fort Augustus

The Bank House

This accommodation is situated in a stunning 20th-century Victorian stone house with views of the Caledonian Canal and the famous Loch Ness.

Within walking distance, you'll find a plethora of restaurants, pubs, and cafes.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 5 - Fort Augustus to Invermoriston 8 miles I 13 km

Cross the River Oich and start on a path with several ascents and descents overlooking Loch Ness, famous not only for Nessie, the monster believed to live at the bottom of its waters, but also for Urquhart Castle and its history of war between the Scottish and the English.

The day will end at Invermoriston, known for the ancient Thomas Telford stone bridge, located above the River Moriston.

Overnight in Invermoriston

Glenmoriston Arms Hotel

Charming rural hotel surrounded by stunning landscapes and tranquility, offering a perfect retreat after your walks.

Enjoy a tasting of their extensive selection of whiskies in the cozy lounge with a wood-burning stove.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 6 - Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit 14,5 miles I 23 km

An abrupt ascent will take you above Loch Ness, you'll tour wooded grounds, and a moorland area before a long descent to Drumnadrochit, a perfect place to explore the Highlands, Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness, which you can cruise with different tour options.

Overnight in Drumnadrochit

Kilmore Farmhouse

This accommodation provides walkers and tourists with an ideal location to explore the surroundings of Loch Ness and enjoy the traditional pubs and restaurants located within a short distance.

It features a guest lounge where visitors can indulge in a delightful homemade breakfast with local produce.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 7 - Loch Laide to Drumnadrochit 20 miles I 32 km

You will have a transfer to Loch Laide, where you will start at 277 metres high, then with a descending walk along forest trails and beautiful forests to the shores of Loch Ness.

You'll continue on the A82 road until reaching Drumnadrochit.

Overnight in Drumandrochit

Kilmore Farmhouse

Day 8 - Drumadrochit to Inverness 7,5 miles I 12 km

Your last day on the Great Glen Way begins with a transfer to Loch Laide to start a walk that will take you through Blackford, home to the Tullibardine Distillery and the old Blackford Church.

You will continue in the middle of the forest and resume along a stretch of the Caledonian Canal on the way to Inverness.

In Inverness, you can explore the beautiful city centre, get to know its castle, Victorian market and St. Andrew's Cathedral.

Overnight in Inverness

Strathness House

This family-run house offers a cozy and quiet atmosphere with views of the River Ness and Inverness Castle.

The rooms feature a traditional style and come equipped with a TV, as well as a coffee and tea making set.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 9 - Inverness

After having your breakfast, you can head to Inverness Airport, which is 15 minutes from the city centre.

If you're heading to Glasgow Airport, you can take a bus or take an amazing train ride.

End of our services.

Itinerary map

Services

Included

Accommodation in en suite rooms in charming hotels
Daily Breakfasts
Luggage transfers between accommodations
Information dossier with maps and routes
24-hour telephone support
Sustainable travel, we compensate the CO₂ emissions of your trip
Taxes

Extras

Travel insurance
Cancellation insurance
Additional nights

Accomodation

<h4>General information</h4>
The accommodations with which we collaborate have a private bathroom and all the necessary services to ensure the best comfort available.
Our team checks in situ the quality of all the accommodations offered, so that you have an unforgettable experience during your trip.
The accommodation that we will book for your trip will be selected taking into account our commitment to you: guaranteeing comfort, calm and enjoyment throughout your trip. 
 
We work with quality hotels and country cottages with limited capacity, so we invite you to confirm your reservation as soon as possible. 
 
The name of each accommodation will be provided to you a few weeks before your trip begins.
<h4>Room types</h4>
It is possible to book this journey in single, double or triple rooms. 
 
All rooms have private bathrooms.

Travel & transfers

To get to the start of your route, my recommendation is to fly into Glasgow Airport, as it is the closest airport.

From there you can take the "500 Airport Express" bus to the "Buchanan Stance 46" stop. This bus runs every 10 minutes and is operated by "First Bus".

From Glasgow,you can take the 915 or 916 bus (from Buchanan Bus Station) to “Fort William”. This is operated by “Citylink”.

If you can't find suitable flights to Glasgow, another option would be to fly to Edinburgh, although from Edinburgh, you will need to take a bus to Glasgow (Megabus AIR).

At the end of your journey in Inverness, you can return by "Flixbus" to Glasgow (via Perth) or "Megabus".

FAQs

Is luggage transfer included? What are the luggage requirements?

Absolutely! Each traveller has included 1 piece of luggage that we will transfer between your accommodations. It's important that this piece of luggage meets the following criterias:

Maximum weight of 45 lbs (20 kg).
Must be only 1 piece of luggage without any attachments or accessories.
Should not contain valuables, fragile items, food or medications.
Must be correctly identified (booking reference of your trip and the full name of the trip holder).

The approximate luggage delivery time will be at 4:00 PM.

How far in advance should I book my trip?

We recommend that you book as soon as you are sure about your dates, as accommodation can fill up very quickly in this area.

What equipment do I need to bring?

Once you make your reservation we will send you all the detailed information about the specific equipment you need for this route, considering recommendations for shoes, boots, clothes and a day-to day backpack.

What should my physical preparation be?

The Great Glen Way has a low-medium degree of difficulty, so if you're walking and doing physical activity on a regular basis, you'll be able to walk this route smoothly and easily.

What if I'm not able to finish one of the stages?

You can call us to arrange a private transfer for you. If you prefer, you can also use public transport or local taxis to get to your next accommodation.