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Holidays

Self-Guided Walking: The Great Glen Way

Scotland
Walk & Trek
Self-Guided
LEISURELY LEISURELY

A magnificent Scottish coast to coast walk, stretching from Fort William in the west, along the shores of Loch Ness, to Inverness in the east

Trip Code: MGG8
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Self-Guided Walking: The Great Glen Way

Highlights
  • Enjoy panoramic Highlands scenery without the climbing on this classic self-guided walking holiday
  • Walk from the west coast to the east coast of Scotland, all 73 miles of it on foot, along the route of the Victorian Caledonian canal
  • Walk the shores of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the most majestic and mysterious of them all, Loch Ness
  • Add an additional rest day at Drumnadroichit, cruise Loch Ness and explore medieval Scottish life at Castle Urquhart
  • Extensive route notes, recommendations for local meals, daily luggage transfers and B&B in local guesthouses included in the holiday price

At a Glance
  • Self-guided
  • 7 days walking
  • Average of 16 km per day walking
  • Packed lunches available on request
  • Recommendations for excellent local meals
  • Join In Fort William / Ends in Inverness

Accommodation & Meals
  • 8 Breakfasts
  • 8 nights Guesthouse
Overview

Opened in 2002 and one of Scotland’s Great Trails, the Great Glen Way follows the route of the Caledonian Canal 73 miles coast to coast from Loch Linnhe in the west, alongside Loch Ness, to Inverness in the east. This moderately paced self-guided walking holiday offers the opportunity to savour the best of Scottish Highland’s scenery without much climbing involved.

Expect stunning scenery every day plus beautiful low-level hills bursting with heather and some fascinating highlights. These include views of Scotland’s highest mountain Ben Nevis, which looms over Fort William and Neptune’s Staircase, a series of Victorian locks near the strait of the Caledonian Canal. You’ll encounter several beautiful highland lochs, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and, the most famous of them all, the mighty Loch Ness which contains more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined in its mysterious depths. On its banks at Drumnadrochit or the ‘Drum’ as it’s known, sits the castle of Urquhart, an iconic romantic ruin jutting out into the loch – you can take a rest day here and enjoy a cruise on Loch Ness and an exploration of the castle which will give you an insight into medieval Scotland.

The trip includes all accommodation, breakfast and full luggage support meaning you can travel light and concentrate on the panoramic Highland scenery and its fascinating history.

We offer a range of itineraries depending on your preferred daily walking distance ranging between 5 days walking and 7 days walking.

Is this holiday for you?

The Great Glen Way is a very appealing walk on good terrain. It is easier than the West Highland Way as it is less strenuous, but it still requires good planning and preparation. No problem for regular walkers!

Terrain: The route generally follows the Caledonian Canal, loch shores, and well made forest trails on the lower slopes.

What’s it like unde …

The Great Glen Way is a very appealing walk on good terrain. It is easier than the West Highland Way as it is less strenuous, but it still requires good planning and preparation. No problem for regular walkers!

Terrain: The route generally follows the Caledonian Canal, loch shores, and well made forest trails on the lower slopes.

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained canal towpaths and forest tracks. Shorter sections can be rougher or muddy, so good footwear is essential.

How Much Up & Down? Amazingly little considering the size of the surrounding mountains! Some short steep ascents and a longer climb of 300m to Blackfold on the final day.

Signposting: Generally good, but use you map and guidebook as well.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward. You may encounter hill fog on the moorland around Blackfold, but the route is well defined.

Weather: You may be lucky enough to encounter warm, dry weather over the whole route and enjoy dry paths and tremendous views, but you must be prepared because the weather can change quickly. Good clothing and waterproofs essential!

Why KE?

We operate this trip in collaboration with our sister company Mickledore Travel, which is also based in Keswick in the Lake District. Mickledore have a long tradition of operating self-guided walking holidays along some of the finest trails in England, Scotland and Wales. Route notes, maps, luggage transfers and bed & breakfast accommodation in the best B&Bs, guesthouses and inns along the way are all included. Recommendations are also made for the best places to find delicious local meals at each night stop.

Mickledore have a near perfect customer satisfaction score (99%), and we have no doubt that you will find their knowledgeable and friendly team able to answer even the most detailed of questions.

Different durations of this holiday are available on request.

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