The Great Glen Way is a 127 km waymarked trail from Fort William to Inverness, following the geological fault that created Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness. Most walkers complete it in 5 to 8 days with around 3,200 m of total ascent across low-level terrain — the highest point is just 360 m near Invermoriston, making it Scotland's most accessible multi-day route for fit beginners.
What Is the Great Glen Way and Who Is It For?
The Great Glen Way opened in 2002 as Scotland's fourth Long Distance Route, tracing the 100-million-year-old Great Glen fault diagonally across the Highlands from the Atlantic to the North Sea. Fully waymarked with red-and-white markers and serviced by towns every 15–25 km, it is realistic for anyone who has built three to four weeks of general walking fitness beforehand. Unlike the Cairngorm plateau or the Munros to the south, the Great Glen Way never demands navigation skills beyond reading the waymarkers or consulting a 1:50,000 OS map. If you have already walked the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way starts exactly where that route ends — at the roundabout in Fort William town centre — making the two routes a natural 30-day Highland combination.
The 6 Official Stages: Distance, Ascent and Character
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort William to Gairlochy | 21 km | 200 m | Canal towpath, Neptune's Staircase locks |
| 2 | Gairlochy to South Laggan | 24 km | 280 m | Loch Lochy shore, forest tracks |
| 3 | South Laggan to Fort Augustus | 16 km | 150 m | Loch Oich, canal towpath finish |
| 4 | Fort Augustus to Invermoriston | 16 km | 360 m | First ridge section, hillside forest views |
| 5 | Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit | 25 km | 620 m | Hardest day; open ridge, panoramic Loch Ness views |
| 6 | Drumnadrochit to Inverness | 25 km | 440 m | Rolling farmland, city finish |
Stage 5 — Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit — is the route's standout day, climbing 620 m through Forestry Commission plantations before breaking onto exposed ridgeline. On a clear morning, the full 36 km length of Loch Ness is visible from the ridge, with Castle Urquhart sitting on its promontory directly below. Arrive early to catch the mist lifting off the loch before midday.
When to Walk: Best Months and Midge Season
May to September is the optimal window, with June and early September offering the best combination of long daylight hours and manageable midges. July and August bring Scotland's notorious Highland midges — tiny biting insects that swarm at dawn and dusk near the canal sections and loch shores. Carry a 50% DEET repellent and a head net if you walk between mid-July and mid-August; Smidge and Lifesystems Expedition DEET are the most effective local brands. October walking is possible but Stage 5's exposed ridge becomes serious in early autumn storms, and most accommodation closes after mid-October.
Accommodation and Wild Camping on the Route
Wild camping is legal throughout Scotland under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, provided you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and move on after two to three nights. Paid accommodation is available at each stage end: bunkhouses at £25–£35 per person and B&Bs at £60–£90 per room. Pre-book for July and August — Gairlochy and South Laggan have only two to three options each and fill weeks in advance. Fort Augustus is the best mid-route resupply: Co-op supermarket, pharmacy, and several canal-side restaurants serving hot food until 9 p.m. in summer.
Essential Gear for the Great Glen Way
Scottish weather delivers rain regardless of season. The Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Rain Shell (295 g) packs to the size of a fist and handles the lateral gusts that funnel through the Glen on the ridge stages. For footwear, most experienced walkers prefer waterproof trail runners to heavy leather boots on the mix of hard towpath, muddy forest track and rocky ridgeline. The HOKA Speedgoat 5 GTX handles all three surfaces without the two-week break-in period that new leather boots demand.
Trekking poles reduce cumulative knee load on Stage 5's 600 m descent into Drumnadrochit — a significant stress multiplied across a week of walking. The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles fold to 34 cm and weigh 240 g per pair, meaning you can clip them to your pack on the flat canal sections without the weight penalty of fixed-length poles. Campers should pair any tent with the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT (R-value 4.5) — Scottish summer ground stays cold even in June and an R-value below 3 will wake you at 3 a.m.
For the broader picture on Highland routes, see our Scottish Highlands hiking guide covering Ben Nevis, Glencoe and the best wild camping spots in 2026.
Getting to Fort William and Home from Inverness
Fort William is served by the Caledonian Sleeper train from London Euston (12.5 hours; £50–£130 for a sleeper berth) and ScotRail from Glasgow Queen Street (2 hours; £20–£45). Inverness is a major hub with direct trains to Edinburgh (3.5 hours) and flights to London Heathrow, Manchester and Amsterdam. Scottish Citylink coaches connect Inverness to Fort William in 2 hours for around £12 as of 2026. For current timetables, see the official Highland Council Great Glen Way page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to walk the Great Glen Way?
Most walkers complete the Great Glen Way in 5 to 8 days, covering 16–25 km per day. The standard 6-stage schedule assumes roughly 7 days. Fit hikers with light packs have finished in 4 days; those enjoying distilleries and visitor centres typically take 7–8 days.
Is the Great Glen Way harder than the West Highland Way?
The Great Glen Way is easier overall — around 3,200 m of total ascent versus 4,800 m on the WHW, with fewer steep climbs. The only genuinely demanding day is Stage 5 (Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit, 620 m ascent). The remaining stages are mostly flat canal and loch-side walking that experienced day walkers handle comfortably.
Do you need a permit to walk the Great Glen Way?
No permit is required. The route uses public rights of way and access land covered by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which allows access to virtually all Scottish land for recreational purposes. Wild camping is free and legal along the entire route provided you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
What direction should you walk the Great Glen Way?
The conventional direction is south to north — Fort William to Inverness — which puts the prevailing southwesterly wind at your back for most stages. Both directions are feasible, but walking northward means the dramatic Loch Ness reveal on Stage 5 comes as a surprise reward after the hardest climb of the trip.
Can you see Loch Ness from the Great Glen Way?
Yes — repeatedly. Loch Ness is visible from loch-side sections of Stages 4, 5 and 6. The best elevated view is from the ridge above Invermoriston on Stage 5, stretching south past Castle Urquhart on a clear day. Morning mist on the loch is at its most dramatic in May and September.