Great Glen Way
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Great Glen Way | |
|---|---|
 Loch Linnhe viewed from Fort William lies on the trail |
|
| Length | 73 miles (117 km) |
| Location | Scotland |
| Trailheads | Fort William Inverness |
| Use | Hiking |
The Great Glen Way is a long distance footpath in Scotland. It follows the Great Glen, running from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east, covering 73 miles (117 kilometres). It was opened in 2002 and is one of Scotland's four long distance routes. The Great Glen Way is generally walked from west to east to follow the direction of the prevailing wind.
[edit] Route description
Beginning at the Old Fort in Fort William the Great Glen Way skirts the shores of Loch Linnhe to Corpach, and the Caledonian Canal. The eight locks of Neptune's Staircase takes the canal to 19.2m above sea level. The route passes various canal features until Loch Lochy when forest tracks take it along the western shore before rejoining the canal at Laggan Locks. A detour to bag a couple of Munros is an option here, but it is likely to take the best part of the day.
From Laggan Locks the route follows the towpath through Laggan Avenue to the Laggan Swing Bridge. Crossing the A82 it then joins the eastern shores of Loch Oich by way of a dismantled railway. Then back to the canal towpath for the next section into Fort Augustus.
From Fort Augustus the route climbs away from the canal and the lochs up into the forest. There are views from the high level forest track which eventually drops into Invermoriston and out by a steep climb. High level forest track leads into the village of Grotaig then out of the village until a path heads off through Clunebeg Wood to the banks of the River Coiltie and Borlum Bridge. Then into Nessie country, the home of the legend Drumnadrochit. The Great Glen Way ascends a forest track giving good views traversing through the forest. Leaving the road at Blackfold, the waymarking indicates forest track at Craig Leach Forest which eventually emerges at a reservoir.
