An introduction to the Great Glen Way
The Great Glen is one of Scotland's most remarkable features – a ruler-straight valley along an ancient Highland fault line. The glen is threaded by the scenic Caledonian Canal, linking Loch Lochy and Loch Oich with Loch Ness, and offers walkers the chance to enjoy a low-level route from coast to coast, between Fort William and Inverness. Here is a very quick introduction to this ideal first-time long-distance trail.
The Great Glen Way
Fort William to Inverness Two-way trail guide
£16.95
Guidebook to walking the Great Glen Way, a 79 mile National Trail along the Caledonia Canal from Fort William to Inverness. Easily walked within a week in all seasons, the Great Glen Way is an ideal introduction to long-distance walking in Scotland. The route is described in both directions, and a separate OS 1:25K mapping booklet is included.
More information| What? | The Great Glen Way in Scotland |
| Start point? | Fort William |
| End point? | Inverness |
| Why walk this route? | Who doesn't want to walk along a geological fault line? If that's not enough to persuade you, then the fact that this walk can be done in a week off is fairly compelling if you do not have the luxury of several weeks to dedicate to walking. The main route is also easy and low-level, but you can choose higher-level options. |
| How long is the route? | 79 miles (124km) |
| How long to complete? | The route can be easily walked within a week (or between 5 and 7 days) and is suitable as a first long-distance trail. |
| How hard is the route? | Shorter and less arduous than the more popular West Highland Way, it's ideal for first-time long-distance walkers. |
| How fit do I need to be? | Suitable for any reasonably fit walker. |
| How many stages are there? | There are six stages, with three stages having alternative high-level/low-level stages. |
| What accommodation is available? | There are plenty of options for both accommodation and meals on this trail, but they can be grouped around the more popular touristed areas, so you will need to plan your meals and overnights carefully. A useful facilities is listing which is available free from tourist information offices or the Great Glen Way rangers. It can also be downloaded from the Great Glen Way website. |
| What time of year? | The Great Glen Way can be walked in all seasons but be mindful of midges and crowds in summer and snow and closed facilities in winter. |
| Route highlights? | Paddy Dillon calls the Great Glen Way "the most remarkable valley in the whole of Britain" so choosing a best bit is tough. But Loch Ness is wonderful - looking for glimpses of "Nessie" and wondering at the sheer volume of water - enough to submerge the entire population of the world! |
You'll find more information on The Great Glen Way website.
The National Trails
19 Long-Distance Routes through England, Scotland and Wales
£18.95
This inspirational guidebook details the UK's 19 National Trails, offering stage by stage overviews for each route including the popular South West Coast Path, Hadrian's Wall Path, Pennine Way, West Highland Way, Cotswold Way, Offa's Dyke Path, South Downs Way, Southern Upland Way and many others.
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