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Thistle within hexagonGreat Glen Way

Highland

127 km / 79 miles  View Facebook Page
One of the original four officially designated Long Distance Routes in Scotland, and now one of the family of Scotland's Great Trails, links the west coast at Fort William, the end of the West Highland Way, with the east coast at Inverness via the Great Glen and Loch Ness. Use is made of forestry tracks, the towpath of the Caledonian Canal and various minor lanes and tracks with very little use made of the main A82.

Two alternative route sections complement the original main route: Great Glen Way High Route links Fort Augustus at a higher level above Loch Ness to rejoin the main route above Alltsigh; and Great Glen Way Invergarry Link traverses along Loch Oich on the western side between Laggan and Aberchalder passing close to Invergarry, while the main route keeps to the east of this loch.

Both variants are more scenic but more demanding and provide alternatives if forestry operations close the main route. The mapping below shows them by selecting the Show Variants option.

UPDATE December 2023: Route diversion along Loch Oich until December 2024 for more details see https://www.highland.gov.uk/greatglenway/news/article/31/ggw_route_diversion_along_loch_oich_from_the_start_of_december_2022_to_december_2024

UPDATE December 2023: High Route closed between Fort Augustus & Invermoriston until summer 2024 for more details see https://www.highland.gov.uk/greatglenway/news/article/36/high_route_closed_between_fort_augustus_and_invermoriston_from_monday_the_20th_of_november

NOTE: GPX file shows the current diversions.


Details:

Waymark: Thistle within hexagon
Path Type: Scotland's Great Trails
Waymark: Thistle within hexagon
Attributes: Scotland's Great Trails
Challenging
Canal
Forest/Woodland
Lake/Reservoir/Loch
Start: NN104743 - Fort William, Highland View on StreetMap
Finish: NH666451 - Inverness, Highland View on StreetMap
Open Date: 2002
Web Sites: Highland Council - Great Glen Way Scotland's Great Trails - Great Glen Way Walk Highlands - Great Glen Way Trailman - Great Glen Way Undiscovered Scotland - Great Glen Way Camino Adventures - Guide to the Great Glen Way [blog] Trailplanner - Great Glen Way [blog] Wild Walking UK - Great Glen Way [blog] Brian's Walks - Great Glen Way [blog] Kevin Augello - Great Glen Way [YouTube video] Great Glen Way - Paul Willcocks [YouTube video] Great Glen Way - Justin Whiting [YouTube video] Independent Hostels UK - Great Glen Way Accommodation Great Glen Way - Leaflets & Maps Downloads Great Glen Way [YouTube video]

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook Great Glen Way: Fort William to Inverness  (Trailblazer  - 2021 )
Guidebook Walking the Great Glen Way : Fort William to Inverness two-way trail guide  (Cicerone Press  - 2016 )
Guidebook Great Glen Way  (Rucksack Readers  - 2020 )
Certificate Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Certificate Great Glen Way Certificate  (Castle Tavern  - 2022 )
Guidebook Great Glen Way : a low-level walking route from Fort William to Inverness  (Mainstream Publishing  - 1997 )
Guidebook The Caledonian Canal  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 1998 )
External download Accommodation and Service Guide (2016)  (Highland Council - Great Glen Way Office  - 2016 ) Download
Leaflet West Highland Wayfarer  (Famedram Publishing  - Annual )
General Interest Book Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )
General Interest Book Walks of a Lifetime : extraordinary hikes from around the world  (Falcon Guides (an imprint of Globe Pequot)  - 2017 )
General Interest Book National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
General Interest Book Big walks of the north  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
General Interest Book Big walks of Great Britain  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2007 )

Click to showhide 10 more Publications, Badges and Certificates


Maps:

You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)

Show Connected Path Outlines
Path Variants
Scotland's Great Trails
Other Paths
Anytime Challenges

Show Accommodation
Hostel Accommodation
Bunk House

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.
Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps):
OS Landranger 26, 34, 35, 41
OS Landranger Active 26, 34, 35, 41
OS Explorer 55, 391, 392, 399, 400, 415, 416, 431
OS Explorer Active 55, 391, 392, 399, 400, 415, 416, 431
Other Paper Maps:
Stripmap
Great Glen Way: Map & Guide (Footprint Maps - 2017)
Harvey National Trail map
Great Glen Way (Harvey Maps - 2017)

Walking Support Providers:

Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Great Glen Travel)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Great Glen Baggage Transfer)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Sherpa Van Project)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self Guided Walks (Celtic Trails Walking Holidays)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Cruising Holidays (Caledonian Discovery)
Support Providers
Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (North-West Frontiers Ltd)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Guided Walking Holidays (Thistle Trekking)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Wilderness Scotland)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Contours Holidays)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Absolute Escapes Ltd)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Make Tracks Walking Holidays)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Let's Go Walking! Ltd)
Support Providers
Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Mickledore Travel Ltd)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking holidays (Discovery Travel)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (C-N-Do Scotland)
Support Providers
Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Loch Ness Travel)
Support Providers
Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Sherpa Expeditions)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Great British Walks Limited)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Piggyback Baggage Transfers)
Support Providers
Baggage Handling (Mountain Tours Scotland)

Click to show 25 more Walking Support Providers


Accommodation within 5 km of this Path:

 
 
From
Path
Along
Path
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
< 1 km
Hostel Accommodation
3 km
< 1 km
Bunk House
< 1 km
5 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
5 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
44 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
59 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
78 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
127 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
127 km
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
127 km
Hostel Accommodation
1 km
127 km

Click to show 9 more Accommodations


Connected Paths:


Downloads:

Reminder: Material downloaded from this website is for personal use only. Commercial use, reproduction, modification of all content is strictly prohibited without prior approval by the LDWA. Please Contact Us if you have any requests.

GPX Route File
Great Glen Way GPX Exchange Format Route File
Last Updated 29/12/2023 22:24:05 - Route diversions
Login to Download
(Members Only)
MemoryMap Route File
Great Glen Way Memory Map Route File
Last Updated 29/12/2023 22:24:05 - Route diversions
Login to Download
(Members Only)
Tracklogs Route File
Great Glen Way Tracklogs Route file
Last Updated 29/12/2023 22:24:06 - Route diversions
Login to Download
(Members Only)

Route Profile:

122.0 km (75.8 miles)
2,906 m (9,534 ft) ascent
381 m (1,250 ft)  maximum height

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