Great Glen Way

Highland

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 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. Great Glen Way High Route links Fort Augustus at a higher level above Loch Ness to rejoin the main route above Alltsigh. 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: August 2024: The high route between Fort Augustus & Invermoriston has now reopened.

UPDATE December 2023: Route diversion along western side of Loch Oich, using the Great Glen Way Invergarry Link, 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

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Details:

Path Type:	Scotland's Great Trails
Waymark:	Thistle within hexagon on blue posts
Attributes:	Scotland's Great Trails Paths marked on OS mapping Challenging Canal Forest/Woodland Lake/Reservoir/Loch
Start:	NN105743 - Fort William, Highland
Finish:	NH666449 - Inverness, Highland
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 Outdoor Scott - 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] Great Glen Way - Carl Johnson [YouTube video] Great Glen Way - Kevin Augello [YouTube video] Great Glen Way - Paul Willcocks [YouTube video] Great Glen Way - Justin Whiting [YouTube video] Great Glen Way - Abbie Barnes [YouTube video] Independent Hostels UK - Great Glen Way Accommodation Jasmine Goes for a Walk - Great Glen Way Tartan Trailblazers - Walking the Great Glen Way in Winter

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Great Glen Way  (Rucksack Readers  - 2024 )
Guidebook	Great Glen Way: Fort William to Inverness  (Trailblazer  - 2021 )
Guidebook	Great Glen Way: Fort William to Inverness two-way trail guide  (Cicerone Press  - 2025 )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Certificate	Great Glen Way Certificate  (Castle Tavern  - 2022 )
Leaflet	West Highland Wayfarer  (Famedram Publishing  - Annual )
General Interest Book	Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )
General Interest Book	National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )

Click to showhide 4 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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