Long distance
Great Glen Way
Low-level coast-to-coast walk along the Great Glen, linking Fort William with Inverness via the shores of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness. The terrain is gentle throughout — towpaths, forest tracks and the occasional high-level alternative — and it suits walkers stepping up from short multi-day routes to a full week on the trail.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 127 km/ 79 mi
- Typical days
- 6
- Total ascent
- 2000 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Start → Finish
- Fort William → Inverness
- Best direction
- South to North
- Water sources
- Tap water at every overnight stop — Fort William, Gairlochy, Laggan, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston, Drumnadrochit, Inverness. The route follows the canal towpath with frequent locks and cafes; never more than 8km from a fill point. Loch Ness and Loch Oich are not drinkable raw.
- Mobile signal
- EE/Vodafone strong along the canal corridor — boats and lock-keeper traffic keeps coverage continuous. Brief drops on the forest sections above Loch Ness north shore. Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit are reliable resupply / signal hubs.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Great Glen Way is the easiest of the official long-distance trails and the obvious progression from shorter walks. Mostly low-level forestry and towpath alongside the Caledonian Canal, with some brilliant high-level alternative routes that are worth the extra effort on dry days. Good choice for an early-season walk.
Highlights
- Neptune's Staircase at Banavie
- The high-level alternative above Loch Ness
- Drumnadrochit and Urquhart Castle
- Finish on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness
Mid-route waypoints
Navigation by progression marker rather than total distance.
| km | Waypoint | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 0 km | Fort William (Old Fort)17th-century fort by Loch Linnhe | start |
| 5 km | Neptune's Staircase, BanavieIconic 8-lock flight of the Caledonian Canal | water |
| 17 km | GairlochyQuiet canal-side hamlet at the south end of Loch Lochy | village |
| 38 km | Laggan LocksCanal locks between Loch Lochy and Loch Oich; hostel | water |
| 55 km | Fort AugustusPretty town with canal locks at the south tip of Loch Ness | village |
| 73 km | InvermoristonShop, café and Telford bridge; high/low route choice begins here | village |
| 96 km | DrumnadrochitLoch Ness Centre and Urquhart Castle nearby | village |
| 127 km | Inverness CastleOfficial finish point overlooking the River Ness | finish |
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 5-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Fort William to Gairlochy16km · 150m ascent
Follow the Caledonian Canal towpath from Neptune's Staircase through quiet countryside to Gairlochy.
- Terrain
- Canal towpath, flat and easy throughout.
- Overnight
- Gairlochy has B&Bs. Great Glen Hostel nearby.
- Stats
- Fort William → Gairlochy · 16km · ↑150m
2Gairlochy to Fort Augustus33km · 500m ascent
Forest trails above Loch Lochy then Loch Oich. The longest day but mostly gentle gradients through quiet forest.
- Terrain
- Forest tracks and loch-shore paths. Well-maintained.
- Overnight
- Fort Augustus has hotels, hostels, B&Bs and a campsite.
- Stats
- Gairlochy → Fort Augustus · 33km · ↑500m
3Fort Augustus to Invermoriston12km · 350m ascent
A short day climbing high above Loch Ness through forest with the best views on the route.
- Terrain
- Hill paths through forest, some steep climbs.
- Overnight
- Invermoriston has the Glenmoriston Arms and B&Bs.
- Stats
- Fort Augustus → Invermoriston · 12km · ↑350m
4Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit34km · 600m ascent
The most demanding day with high-level forest and moorland walking. Can be split via Alltsigh hostel.
- Terrain
- Hill paths, forestry tracks. Some exposed sections.
- Overnight
- Loch Ness SYHA at Alltsigh (mid-point). Drumnadrochit has full facilities.
- Stats
- Invermoriston → Drumnadrochit · 34km · ↑600m
5Drumnadrochit to Inverness32km · 400m ascent
Canal towpath and riverside to the Highland capital. The finish at Inverness Castle ends the walk with a sense of arrival.
- Terrain
- Canal towpath, riverside paths, some suburban walking.
- Overnight
- Inverness has everything.
- Stats
- Drumnadrochit → Inverness · 32km · ↑400m
Hills along the route
Munros, Corbetts, Grahams and Donalds within 5km of the route line — extensions or rest-day options.
Transport
To start (Fort William)
Train · ScotRail West Highland Line
Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William
3 daily; ~3h45
Check times & book →Train · Caledonian Sleeper
London Euston to Fort William overnight
Nightly except Saturday
Check times & book →
From finish (Inverness)
Train · ScotRail Highland Main Line
Inverness to Edinburgh Waverley / Glasgow Queen Street
Up to 14 daily; 3h30–4h35
Check times & book →Train · LNER East Coast Main Line
Inverness to London Kings Cross via Edinburgh
1 direct daily plus connections
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
Well-served by B&Bs and small hotels. Several campsites and a handful of wild camping spots. Book ahead in July-August. Wild camping is permitted under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code outside the loch-side camping management zones, which is most of the route. Glamping pods near Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit add variety.
Resupply
Resupply available at Gairlochy, Laggan, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston, Drumnadrochit. Longest resupply gap is ~25km around Invergarry. Carry a packed lunch for the Drumnadrochit-to-Invermoriston high route as there is nothing on the ridge. Cafes at Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit are reliable mid-day stops.
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Great Glen Way + West Highland Way
Connects at Fort William (south end of Great Glen Way)
Walk south to Milngavie via the WHW for a full Lowlands-to-Highlands traverse. About 250km / 156mi end-to-end.
Great Glen Way + East Highland Way
Connects at Fort William
The East Highland Way runs east from Fort William to Aviemore via Glen Nevis and Loch Laggan. Combine to walk a Highland figure-of-eight.
Great Glen Way + Cape Wrath Trail
Cape Wrath Trail starts at Fort William
Walk the Great Glen Way to Inverness then return south to Fort William for the Cape Wrath Trail — the wilder unmarked route to the top of Scotland.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Fort William)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:38
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 03:38
- Civil dusk
- 22:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
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Getting to and from the Great Glen Way
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.
Start: Fort William station
Ben Nevis, Mamores, Aonachs, Knoydart ferry connection
0km from Fort William
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTFinish: Inverness station
Highland capital — Cairngorms east side, Affric, Far North via bus/car
0km from Inverness
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTStock up: Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
tripscot.co.uk