Great Glen Way 5-Day Gentle Tour (Hillwalk Tours)

The Great Glen Way & Loch Ness, which was opened in 2002, is one of Scotland’s official Great Trails. It follows the geological fault of the Great Glen for 127km (79 miles) from coast to coast across the Scottish Highlands, from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east. The Great Glen Way & Loch Ness is generally walked in that direction to follow the direction of the prevailing wind.

This route is home to some of Scotland’s most spectacular and atmospheric scenery as it runs along the complete length of the lakes Loch Linnhe and Loch Oich and through the forests above the deep and mysterious Loch Ness, the largest lake by volume in the UK (keep an eye out for the famous ‘Loch Ness Monster’!).

Much of the trail is on lower ground and follows the towpaths of the Caledonian Canal, which was built in the early nineteenth century. Just outside of Fort William, you will pass ‘Neptune’s Staircase’, a ‘staircase lock’ comprising of eight connected locks, the longest staircase lock in the UK. There are another 21 locks along the length of the canal before it reaches the east coast near Inverness.

And for those who are fans of history, you will have the opportunity to learn about the Jacobites and their fight to restore of the House of Stuart to the British throne and visit Urquhart Castle, which has a bloody history from 1200s – 1600s, and remains an excellent example of a medieval stronghold.