The Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way, a fairly new walking route that was created to add an extension to its much more famous and well established sister, The West Highland Way.

The Great Glen Way stretches 73 miles officially...but is longer by 5 miles at least, from Fort William to Inverness passing some of the most beautiful scenery the Highlands has to offer. The initial part of the walk is quite boring with many flat stretches, even walking alongside the Caledonian Canal towpath, but don’t let this fool you, as soon as you meet Fort Augustus you leave the village and start to climb, this is where on a clear day the views will astound you. The famous and majestical loch that we sometimes take for granted comes into view as you hike your way towards our village 'Invermoriston'.

The official distance from Fort Augustus to Invermoriston is 8 miles, as you wind your way around the mountain of Strom-na-Muich or as it is known in English the Snout of the Pig, the hotel will come into view..however you will have to travel another 1 1/2 miles before you can taste that pint of beer, lager or good of cup of tea! You have to travel down the road of Dalcattaig and then make your way back again before you reach the village centre and finally the Hotel. All in all, on this part of the walk will have been 9 3/4 miles not the 8 quoted by the guidebooks. The path then leads its way through the village to the front of the Hotel, around the side of the Clog & Craft Shop, to the rear and up the hill towards Drumnadrochit.   

After leaving the village in the morning you have a steep climb up the hill at the rear of the hotel but believe me the view is spectacular once you reach the top. A tip is to take a moment to walk off the path when you see the sign for the stone seat, this is a victorain seat built for the ladies of the area so they could partake in tea and scones in the afternoon. THe view from here lets you take in the Loch from Invermoriston to Fort Augustus, the Cairngorm mountain range and also the Nevis range...well worth the effort. After this you are on your way to Drum...as we all know it. Drumnadrochit is by far too big a mouthfull! This walk will take you up and down for the firts half of the 14 miles, before you arrive at your next stopping place...but, it is the most beautiful stretch you will walk along the whole route so do not give up, it's well worth the effort.

After Drum, most people will manage the last stretch (18 miles) to Inverness in one day as most of it is fairly flat walking, with the final 5 miles being road walking before you reach the official end of the walk at the monument outside Inverness castle.

The walk is not as taxing as the West Highland Way and does not have the amenities that the WHW has, however the Forestry Commision along with the Great Glen Way Ranger service are doing there best to improve things on the walk all the time, when money will allow.

We hope you will find the walk enjoyable, and our village too. Call in and see us for something to eat or drink or both... have a good blether with the locals or other perhaps meet up with other walkers you've met en route and a good night is guaranteed.

We look forward to meeting you soon.