Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way is a 120 km point-to-point trail in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom, gaining about 1,835 m of elevation over 5 to 7 days. Rated moderate, it runs from Fort William to Inverness along Loch Ness and Thomas Telford's Caledonian Canal, following one of Britain's most dramatic geological faults.

About the Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath that crosses the Scottish Highlands diagonally from southwest to northeast, linking Fort William on Loch Linnhe with Inverness, the Highland capital. Opened in 2002 and designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot, it covers roughly 120 km (78 miles) and is most commonly walked over 5 to 7 days, though strong cyclists complete it in 2 to 3.

The route owes its existence to geology. The Great Glen is a 100 km-long fault line where two sections of the Scottish landmass slid past one another hundreds of millions of years ago, gouging out a near-straight valley that holds a chain of lochs — Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the famous Loch Ness. In the early 19th century the engineer Thomas Telford stitched these lochs together with the Caledonian Canal, completed in 1822, and long stretches of the modern trail follow the canal's towpaths and locks, including the eight-lock flight of Neptune's Staircase near Fort William.

Despite passing through wild Highland scenery, the Great Glen Way is one of Scotland's more accessible long trails. Its highest point reaches only 375 m at Abriachan Forest, and much of the surface is good canal towpath, forest track and quiet lane. Around 30,000 people walk part of the route each year, with about 4,500 completing the full distance. It connects directly to the West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail at Fort William and the John o' Groats Trail at Inverness, making it a natural link in a longer Highland journey.

Route Overview & Stages

The trail is usually broken into five or six daily stages between Fort William and Inverness. The breakdown below reflects a comfortable six-day itinerary; many hikers combine the shorter middle stages to finish in five days.

Total elevation gain across the route is approximately 1,835 m. The first three stages are gentle, following canal towpaths and lochside tracks, while the climbing concentrates in the final three stages as the high-level route rises above Loch Ness through forestry land.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Neptune's Staircase, Banavie — Telford's flight of eight connected locks raises boats 19 m and sits just 3 km into the walk, with Ben Nevis rising behind.
• Caledonian Canal — completed in 1822, this 97 km waterway links the Atlantic and North Sea; the trail shares its towpaths for much of the southern half.
• Loch Lochy — a 16 km freshwater loch flanked by forested hills, walked along its quiet northern shore on Stage 2.
• Loch Oich — the highest loch on the canal system and the summit of the waterway, crossed near the ruins of Invergarry Castle.
• Fort Augustus — a lively village where five locks step the canal down into Loch Ness; a natural midpoint and rest stop.
• Loch Ness — at 37 km long and up to 230 m deep, Britain's largest body of fresh water by volume, shadowed by the trail for two full days.
• Urquhart Castle — the dramatic medieval ruin on Loch Ness's western shore, visible from the high route near Drumnadrochit.
• Abriachan Forest — the trail's roof at 375 m, a community-owned woodland with open moorland views before the long descent to Inverness.

Best Time to Hike the Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way can be walked year-round, but the practical season runs from April to October. May is the single best month: daylight stretches past 16 hours, average highs sit around 14–16 °C, rainfall is at its lowest, and the notorious Highland midge has not yet reached full strength. Spring greenery and flowering gorse along the canal add to the appeal.

June and July bring the longest days and warmest temperatures (highs of 17–19 °C), but they also bring midges, particularly in still, damp conditions near the lochs and forests — carry repellent and a head net. August is busy with summer visitors and can be wet. September into early October offers crisp air, autumn colour and far fewer midges, though daylight shortens quickly and rain becomes more frequent.

Winter walking (November to March) is feasible because the route stays low, but expect short days, mud, exposed high sections above Loch Ness and limited accommodation. As of 2026, Highland weather remains highly changeable in every season, so waterproofs are essential whenever you go. For the best balance of weather, light and comfort, aim for mid-May to mid-June.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The Great Glen Way is well served by accommodation in the towns and villages spaced along it. Hostels and bunkhouses in Fort William, Gairlochy, South Laggan, Fort Augustus and Inverness typically cost €25–€40 per night for a dorm bed. Bed-and-breakfasts and guesthouses run €70–€120 for a double room, often including a cooked breakfast. Booking ahead is strongly advised between June and September, as beds in the smaller villages fill quickly.

Wild camping is permitted across most of Scotland under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and several stages have informal pitches and designated canal-side rest areas. Managed campsites at Fort William, Fort Augustus and Invermoriston charge roughly €10–€18 per person. There are also a handful of canal-side "trailblazer" rest stops with basic facilities. If you camp, plan resupply carefully — shops thin out in the middle stages.

Getting There & Back

Fort William has its own railway station on the scenic West Highland Line, with direct trains from Glasgow Queen Street taking around 3 hours 45 minutes, plus the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from London. Inverness, at the finish, sits on the main line with trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow in about 3.5 hours and from London in roughly 8 hours. The nearest airport to the finish is Inverness Airport (INV), 13 km east of the city, with UK and some European connections. Many walkers start at Fort William and ride the train back from Inverness, or vice versa; the two towns are about 1 hour 50 minutes apart by direct bus.

Permits & Fees

No permit or fee is required to walk the Great Glen Way. It is a public, waymarked right of way, and access rights are protected under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which also governs responsible wild camping. There is no charge to use the trail itself; your only costs are accommodation, food, transport and any optional extras such as the Loch Ness boat cruises or entry to Urquhart Castle.

For official route status, diversions and management updates, consult the trail authority via NatureScot's Scotland's Great Trails, and check rail times before travelling with ScotRail.

Gear & Packing List

Because the Great Glen Way stays low and follows good surfaces, you can travel light — but Highland weather demands a full waterproof layer and warm insulation in every season. A 35–55 litre pack handles a self-sufficient multi-day load with room for camping gear; if you stay in hostels and B&Bs you can size down. Reliable choices include the Abisko Hike 35 for lighter loads, the Atmos AG 50 for a comfortable carry, and the ultralight Arc Haul Ultra 60L for those carrying a tent and stove.

Pack waterproof boots or trail shoes with grip, a head net and repellent for summer midges, trekking poles for the longer final stages, and a dry bag for electronics. For pack-selection advice see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026. If you are self-catering between villages, plan your daily food carefully — our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you carry enough fuel without overpacking.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Great Glen Way whets your appetite for British long-distance walking, the United Kingdom offers a rich choice of follow-on routes — from Roman frontiers to wild coastal cliffs and Scotland's most rugged backcountry. Walkers who enjoy quieter, more remote terrain after the Glen often head straight for the unwaymarked Cape Wrath Trail, which begins at the same Fort William trailhead.

• Hadrian's Wall Path — 135 km along the Roman frontier from coast to coast.
• Pennine Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm) — a classic upland section of Britain's first National Trail.
• Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) — Wainwright's celebrated route across the Lake District.
• South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) — dramatic clifftop walking on England's longest trail.
• Cape Wrath Trail (Morvich → Bendronaig) — Scotland's toughest and most remote long-distance route.

For something further afield with big mountain scenery, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania is a memorable alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Great Glen Way?
May is the best month, offering long daylight, average highs of 14–16 °C, the lowest rainfall of the year and minimal midges. The wider season runs April to October. June and July are warm but midge-heavy, while September brings autumn colour and fewer insects but shorter days and more rain.

How difficult is the Great Glen Way?
It is rated moderate and is one of Scotland's more accessible long trails. The highest point is only 375 m at Abriachan Forest, and much of the route follows flat canal towpaths and forest tracks. The main challenges are total distance, around 1,835 m of cumulative ascent, and exposure on the high-level Loch Ness sections in bad weather.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?
The 120 km route is typically walked over 5 to 7 days, giving daily distances of roughly 17 to 30 km. A six-day itinerary keeps days between 12 and 30 km, with the longest stretch from Drumnadrochit to Inverness. Cyclists complete the whole route in 2 to 3 days using the lower canal-side option.

What accommodation is available along the route?
Towns and villages including Fort William, Gairlochy, South Laggan, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston, Drumnadrochit and Inverness offer hostels (€25–€40), B&Bs and guesthouses (€70–€120) and campsites (€10–€18). Wild camping is legal under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Book ahead in the smaller villages between June and September, when beds fill quickly.

Do I need a permit to walk the Great Glen Way?
No. The Great Glen Way is a free, public, waymarked right of way with no permit, registration or entry fee. Access rights are guaranteed under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which also allows responsible wild camping. Your only costs are accommodation, food, transport and optional extras such as Loch Ness cruises or Urquhart Castle entry.