Highlights of the Great Glen Way

Strolling by the Caledonian Canal, Scotland

Castle Urquhart, on the north shore of Loch Ness

The trail with Urquhart Castle far in the distance

Loch on Neptune's Stair Case

Cathedral in Inverness

Strolling by the Caledonian Canal, Scotland

Castle Urquhart, on the north shore of Loch Ness

The trail with Urquhart Castle far in the distance

Loch on Neptune's Stair Case

Cathedral in Inverness

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Duration

5 days

Activities

self guided walk

Accommodation

4 nights in small guesthouses

Meals

4 Breakfasts

Price

$850USD

Overview

Trip Code: WGH

Trip highlights

Walking in the Heart of Scotland
Walk the Caladonia Canal & locks
Explore Urquhart Castle
Explore Loch Ness

Experience the highlights of the Scottish Highlands as you follow the Great Glen Way from Fort Augustus to Inverness. Follow undulating forest tracks along the shores of Loch Ness and walk through a mixture of farmland, exposed high moorlands and woodland as you make your way way to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. Along the route you stay at the charming towns of Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit. Take the time to explore Urquhart castle and you may even spot '"Nessie" in Loch Ness, keep an eye out!

Trip Grading

introductory to moderate

More info about grading system

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Itinerary

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Day 1
Arrive Fort Augustus

Originally known as Kilcumein it was renamed when the fort was built in 1729 after William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Fort Augustus can be a lively little place and between mid-March and the end of October you can take a cruise on a boat called 'The RoyalScot' with sonar and go in search of Nessie. Any sightings please let us know! Accommodation: Our usual accommodation is Thistle Dubh it is a small family run bed & breakfast. However we use a number of guesthouses & bed & breakfast establishments in this busy village.

Meals: Nil

Day 2
Fort Augustus to Invermoriston 13 km/8 miles

After a hearty breakfast, stretch your legs as you climb through a forest of birch and pine, beside a stream and uphill to a forest track. You should get some dramatic views of Loch Ness at intervals through the woods. Walk through the village of Invermoriston with its little bridge built by Thomas Telford. The Invermoriston Hotel is a great place to eat and has several types of malt whisky. They also have great beer from The Skye Brewery. There are nice leafy walks down by the river. Note our route describes the low level option for this leg. Accommodation: Darroch View is a guesthouse that was purpose built in 1995 to provide a family home and bed & breakfast accommodation. Each bedroom is well-furnished and has a spacious ensuite. You can relax in the evening by the open fire in the lounge, while the breakfast room enjoys great views of Sron Na Muic.

Meals: B

Day 3
Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit 14 miles/22km

There is quite a bit of undulation today. For strong walkers in good weather you could ascend Meall Fuar-Mhonaidh from where you may get views from Ben Nevis all the way to Inverness. You can take excursions to Urquhart Castle with commanding views over Lochness, café and an interpretational centre. You end up at Drumnadrochit, an attractive ‘Green Village’, which has a Loch Ness Monster visitor’s centre…or two! Accommodation: Glenkirk Bed & breakfast was once the village church and has been renovated and transformed into a bed & breakfast.

Meals: B

Day 4
Drumnadrochit to Inverness 14 miles/21km

Today would normally be a long day: 18 mile/29km, which maybe too much, especially if you want to explore Inverness. So the tour is shortened by an optional taxi transfer taking you from the town to near to Loch Laide, famous for its very clean water. Descend then to Blackford and the Great Glen once again meeting the Caledonian Canal before reaching Inverness, a beautiful city of past and modern, although mostly Victorian. If the taxi option is taken then this is a 14 mile walk. Accommodation: The Coo's Guesthouse is a family run hotel located in a victoria villa that dates back to the beginning of the 20th Century.

Meals: B

Day 5
End of tour

After breakfast depart from Inverness. Or why not spend a day here visiting the Neo Gothic St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the Castle, the museum and art galleries at this Scotland’s Northern Capital. We would recommend that you visit Fort George, the Clava Stones and the newly rebuilt Culloden centre, which are all nearby, and with the exception of the Clava Stones, on local bus routes.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.
On self guided trips, actual route information provided before departure will be more detailed.

Inclusions

What's included

4 breakfasts
4 nights accommodation in small guesthouses on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities where available
One piece of luggage per person transferred from Inn to Inn, not to exceed 20kg
Information pack including route notes & maps
Taxi transfer to Loch Laide on day 4

What's not included

Lunch, Dinner and drinks
Entrance fees
Travel insurance
Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
Guide - this is a self guided holiday
Excess Luggage

Accommodation

Hotels & guesthouses

The hotels described are our usual accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used. Rooms generally do not have baths, the main reason being that they take up a lot of space. Some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers. Note that for the dates of your tour we may not be able to get you into the accommodation described. We will endeavour to get you into a similar standard of accommodation nearby, but please appreciate that there is limited accommodation in rural England. Also, although we aim to get you into accommodations with ensuite rooms, this is not always possible. At a couple of places on your tour you may be sharing bathrooms, particularly if you are in a single room.

Grading

introductory to moderate

Easy to moderate, walking approx 8 miles/ 13 km to 18miles/ 29km. 3.5-8 hours The route stretches your legs with short steep hills and longer hills on the last day of walking. The last day can be reduced by taking optional taxi transfer (included in the price) to a point about a third along the trail, missing out the steep climb.

Departure dates

Daily from 27 Mar to 17 Oct

Notes

DN1

Please note that minor changes to your 2024 itinerary may apply.

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Priceper person from

$850USD

Options & Supplements*

Single Room SupplementUSD$240
Solo Traveller SupplementUSD$350

*Prices listed are per person

Frequently Asked Questions

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?What is different in this trip compared to the complete Great Glen Way that you offer as well?

This walk starts at Forth Augustus and you follow the route from there to the end in Inverness, so on this itinerary you will follow the second half of the Great Glen Way.

?Where do you advice to add extra days to this walking holiday?

We usually say it is worthwhile to spend extra time in Fort Augustus for Lochness cruises. And/or in Inverness from where you can visit Culloden, Fort George and go on dolphin spotting boat trips.

?Is the Great Glen Way easier than the West Highland Way?

Yes, in general terms the trails of the Great Glen Way are easier and the first couple of days are flatter than the West Highland Way. This gives you a bit of a warm up. The last day is about the same standard as the West Highland Way.

?To reduce the difficulty of the last walking day to Inverness you provide transport, what happens if I want to walk the full length that day?

You can cancel the transfer that we have arranged if you prefer to walk the full length to Inverness. You will just need to inform the pickup service the day before.

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