Gravel Cycling
Great Glen Gravel Route
Fort William to Inverness through the Great Glen on towpath and forest track
Quick facts
- Distance
- Not published
- Ascent
- Not published
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- Linear · Multi-day
- Archetype
- Highland Epic
- Region
- Great Glen
- Start point
- Fort William
- Grid ref
- NN 105 742
- Parking
- PH33 6RY
- Midges
- High
- Dogs
- On lead only
Surface breakdown
- Forest track45%
- Tarmac single-track30%
- Estate road15%
- Double-track10%
About this route
The Great Glen runs from the sea at Fort William to Inverness, and the Great Glen Way walking route — 120 km — follows it on canal towpath, old railway trackbed, forest track and minor road. A gravel ride through the glen naturally follows the same corridor: level towpath past Neptune's Staircase to Gairlochy, the length of Loch Lochy to South Laggan, the old railway trackbed along Loch Oich (part of National Cycle Route 78) to Fort Augustus, then forest tracks above the north side of Loch Ness through Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit to Abriachan and down into Inverness.
This page has not been traced from a GPS file, so it publishes no total distance or ascent. After Fort Augustus the Way undulates, and its high routes above Loch Ness climb steeply — the highest point, above Abriachan, is 434 m. Check the Great Glen Way's own guidance on which sections suit bikes, and give way to walkers.
Highlights
- Neptune's Staircase near Fort William — the longest flight of locks on the Caledonian Canal
- The old railway trackbed along Loch Oich, now part of National Cycle Route 78
- Forest tracks above Loch Ness between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit
- The final drop through the Ness Islands into Inverness
Day-by-day stages
Day 1
Fort William to Fort Augustus
Fort William → Fort Augustus
Canal towpath past Neptune's Staircase to Gairlochy, the length of Loch Lochy on minor road and forest track to South Laggan, then the old railway trackbed along Loch Oich and the towpath to Fort Augustus.
Overnight: Fort Augustus has plenty of accommodation, shops, pubs and a post office.
Day 2
Fort Augustus to Inverness
Fort Augustus → Inverness
Forest tracks above the north side of Loch Ness to Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit, a stretch beside the A82, then woods and forest road to Abriachan and the descent through the Ness Islands to Inverness.
Overnight: Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit have accommodation if you split the day; Inverness has everything.
Key waypoints
- 1. Fort William
- 2. Neptune's Staircase
- 3. Gairlochy
- 4. South Laggan
- 5. Fort Augustus
- 6. Invermoriston
- 7. Drumnadrochit
- 8. Abriachan
- 9. Inverness
Route notes
Follow the Great Glen Way corridor — the stages below are the walking route's own, from our Great Glen Way guide, and are not a cycling-specific trace. A permanent diversion around the Coire Glas hydro scheme on Loch Lochy (in place until around 2030, per the operator) adds a built zigzag path. South Laggan accommodation is strung along the A82, which has no footpath and a 60 mph limit, and the Drumnadrochit–Inverness stage starts with about a mile beside the busy A82. Give way to walkers on towpaths and narrow paths.
Seasonal conditions
May and September usually give the best balance of daylight and fewer midges; June to August midges can be bad in still, damp weather along the lochs. The canal towpath can be muddy in winter, and the high routes above Loch Ness are more exposed than the low ones.
Key hazards
- Canal locks — keep well back from the edges, especially with a loaded bike
- A82 sections near South Laggan and Drumnadrochit — fast traffic, no footpath at South Laggan
- Steep climbs and descents on the high routes above Loch Ness
Water sources on route
- Villages along the way — Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit have shops
Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.
OS map sheets
Nearest hill
Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis)
1344.53m · glen-coe-lochaber
View hill
Nearest bothy
Invermallie
5km walk-in · glen-coe-lochaber
View bothy
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:27
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:47
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Common questions
- How long is the Great Glen gravel route?
- This page does not publish a cycling distance, because the line has not been traced. The Great Glen Way walking route it follows is 120 km from Fort William to Inverness.
- Can I get back from Inverness to Fort William by train?
- Not directly — there is no train between Inverness and Fort William. The usual public-transport link is a Scottish Citylink coach; check bike carriage with the operator before you rely on it.
- Are there sections on the A82?
- Yes, short ones. South Laggan accommodation is reached along the A82, which has no footpath and a 60 mph limit, and the Drumnadrochit–Inverness stage starts with about a mile beside the busy A82. Ride single file and use lights.
- Where can I resupply?
- Fort William and Inverness have everything. Gairlochy has no shops. Fort Augustus has shops, pubs and a post office, Invermoriston a small village shop with post office, and Drumnadrochit a small supermarket. Carry food for the final stretch from Drumnadrochit to Inverness.
After the ride
Resupply, eat, drink — on the SCOT network.
Base yourself: Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
0km from the route start
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTPost-ride dram: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
3km from the route start
tastescot.co.uk
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