- Distance 74.6 mi 120 km
- Duration 3–6 days
- Ascent 1,300 m 4,250 ft
- Descent 1,200 m 3,950 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
What is the Great Glen Way?
It starts in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, and finishes at Inverness Castle. The Great Glen Way is 75 miles (120 km) from Fort William to Inverness, one of Scotland's Great Trails, along the country's greatest geological fault and sections of the Caledonian Canal.
Neptune's Staircase is the flight of locks near the start, with the view back to the mountain. Loch Lochy and Loch Oich come next, then Loch Ness. The high route above the loch has the views, and the View-Catcher. The finish runs by the Ness Islands and the River Ness to the castle.
The trail body says to keep an eye out for osprey, golden eagle, red kite, pine marten and deer.
Great Glen Way route map
The full Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness. Tap any day to open that itinerary in the planner and see overnight stops along the way. The panel below the map shows the elevation profile.
How hard is the Great Glen Way?
It suits all levels of walker, in the trail body's words, and for the most part the route is low-level, with some challenging sections. The canal out of Fort William is the easy towpath. After Fort Augustus the path undulates, and the high route above Loch Ness has a few very steep bits.
A holiday guide asks for a moderate level of fitness. The same page says it is not ideal for complete beginners, and that beginners who have trained can do it. Our plans run from 3 to 6 walking days, and 6 is the one for a first full walk. The trail body says 4 to 7 days.
On the 6-day, the climb out of Fort Augustus is its own morning. The long official stage is Drumnadrochit to Inverness, 18.8 miles (30.2 km) on the low route. The high route reaches 434 m in the Abriachan woods, the highest point on the Way. The path is waymarked and has no mileage markers. On the high route, take a map and a compass, and do not rely on a phone.
Great Glen Way itineraries and official sections
Pick a day count and the 3–6 day splits show where you would sleep each night, or read the route as the official town-to-town sections.
When is the best time to walk it?
- January, winter
- February, winter
- March, winter
- April, best
- May, best
- June, fair
- July, fair
- August, fair
- September, good
- October, good
- November, winter
- December, winter
Best months: April and May
The trail body does not name a best month. April and May are the pick here: they fall before the worst of the midges, inside a walking window that runs from April to October.
June, July and August stay in that window. A holiday guide puts more walkers there, and the trail body puts the worst midges there. The same guide calls September and October quieter. September is still a midge month. Bags run from about mid-March to late October. Book Spean Bridge and South Laggan before the villages with more beds.
On the northern Scotland record, June has about 14 rain days and January about 20. Carry waterproofs in any month. The trail body says Scotland can have all four seasons in one day, and exposed ground can be cold even in summer.
Rain days each month:
- January, 20 rain days
- February, 18 rain days
- March, 18 rain days
- April, 15 rain days
- May, 15 rain days
- June, 14 rain days
- July, 16 rain days
- August, 16 rain days
- September, 16 rain days
- October, 20 rain days
- November, 20 rain days
- December, 20 rain days
Driest: June — still 14 rain days.
Northern Scotland averages, 1991 to 2020. The glen from Fort William to Inverness sits in this district. This is the record, not a forecast.
How do I get there and back?
Fort William, the start of these plans, is reached by bus and train from Glasgow. There is no direct train on to Inverness. Scottish Citylink runs between the two and covers the villages in the glen. Times are on Traveline Scotland. Check a Sunday finish, and the last bus out of a village, before you travel.
Inverness is reached by bus from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and by train from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The Way ends at Inverness Castle, and the city has the railway and the bus stations for those services. The trail site names airports at Inverness, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick.
Frequently asked questions
The walk
How long does the Great Glen Way take?
The trail body says 4 to 7 days. Our plans run from 3 to 6 walking days, and 6 follows the six official stages. Three days is a fast full walk, quicker than that range. A longer holiday that taxis back to the same bed is not a night on these plans.
Which direction should I walk?
Fort William to Inverness. The prevailing wind is behind you, and the canal towpath comes first. The trail site allows either end as the start. Toward Fort William, the climbs out of Drumnadrochit, Invermoriston, and Fort Augustus become descents, and the walk from Inverness is the first day. Our plans run either way. One bag service carries Fort William to Inverness only, so a bag the other way is not a promise until you check.
When are the midges worst?
June to September. They can start at the end of May and last until the first frost, normally the end of September.
How long is the walk into Inverness?
The trail body lists 18.8 miles (30.2 km) on the low route and 19.6 miles (31.5 km) on the high route, from Drumnadrochit. It is the longest gap between major settlements, and these plans walk it in one day. The first mile is pavement beside the A82, mostly at 60 mph. Abriachan has only a few beds. A taxi back to the same bed is not a night further along the Way.
Getting set
Do I need to book accommodation in advance?
Yes. Book the bed first. Spean Bridge and South Laggan have the fewest beds, so book those before Fort Augustus, Drumnadrochit, Fort William, and Inverness. Gairlochy, on the line before Spean Bridge, has few beds and no shop.
Can I get my bag transferred?
Yes, once the bed is booked. A bag a day is usually £10–25, from about mid-March to late October. One service runs Fort William to Inverness only, so a bag the other way is not a promise until you check. Prices and the season change, so check when you book.
This site & app
Is this the official Great Glen Way website?
No. This site helps you plan days, stays, and a GPX. For trail notices, diversions, and official advice, use the Great Glen Way site. Great Glen Way routes
Do I need an account?
No. A Great Glen Way plan opens without an account. Add an email only when you want an edit link on another phone. Downloading a GPX does not need email.
Can I download a GPX of the Great Glen Way?
Yes. Open a plan and export the whole trip, or one file per day, for your phone. Each section page also has a GPX of that stretch.
Plan your Great Glen Way
Choose your dates and pace, adjust overnight stops on the map, then export GPX files built around your route.
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