Walking the Great Glen Way

At 117km long, the Great Glen Way is the third longest walking route in Scotland. It leads from Fort William, a popular west coast town for outdoor enthusiasts, to the vibrant city of Inverness on the eastern coast of Scotland.

It’s a unique route for many reasons. The gentle gradient marks it as a relatively easy walk for beginners to enjoy while the scenery makes it attractive regardless of your ability and fitness levels. What’s more, it follows the Caledonian Canal, offering opportunities for activities on the water as well as the luxury of a barge holiday in Scotland.

Accommodation on the Great Glen Way

If you’re planning to walk the Great Glen Way in Scotland, you’ll need accommodation. However, Caledonian Discovery offers a unique alternative to the usual bed and breakfast in the Scottish Highlands. Our two barges are converted into floating hotels, complete with en-suite guest rooms, a live-in chef producing gourmet cuisine and plenty of communal areas to relax in. In fact, walking the Great Glen Way has never been easier. You can walk the whole route, if you like, only rejoining the boat for meals and rest. Alternatively, you can choose which sections you want to walk, enjoying scenic cruises or water sports on other days. Follow this link to read more about our cruises.

Walking Stages of the Great Glen Way

If you do plan to walk the entire length, the Great Glen Way splits very easily into six sections. Our cruises follow a similar route, so wherever you call it a day, we’ll be nearby to pick you up. Typically, you’ll find the split follows these stopping points, although they can be varied:
Fort William to Gairlochy 17km
Gairlochy to Laggan 19km
Laggan to Fort Augustus 17km
Fort Augustus to Invermoriston 12 km
Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit 23 km
Drumnadrochit to Inverness 29km

Benefits of Barge Holidays in the Great Glen Way

Canal barge holidays from Fort William to Inverness have several advantages to typical walking holidays. Firstly, your accommodation is never far away, so if the weather turns bad, you decide to take a break or it’s time for lunch, you don’t have far to go. Secondly, your luggage travels with you, so no need for endless packing and unpacking as you go. That’s also true when you pick up souvenirs along the route, giving you a safe place to keep your gifts until the end of your adventure in Scotland.

These aren’t the only reasons our canal cruises are so popular though. If you’d like to learn more about Caledonian Discovery, as well as see the availability of our barge holidays, take a look at our website where our 2020 and 2021 are on line or get in touch 01397 772 167.

4 Comments

Posted on 6th February 15:36pm by caldisc-martin

Hi Jan thanks for being in touch - you can check out our calendar for all the walk focussed cruises under availability. We will also email you with more detail as well !

Posted on 2nd February 8:12am by Janine Baker

Could I please have dates of your walks for 2024, particularly the great Glen walk . Thanks Jan

Posted on 2nd October 16:02pm by caldisc-marketing

We are happy to provide you with a chance to meet fellow walkers. Thank you for your kind words and we look forward to your company in due course.



Posted on 1st October 22:59pm by Catherine Renouf

Thank you so much. That's just what I've been looking for. I will be booking my trip very soon. Looking forward to it already! I'm usually a lone walker, but would love the opportunity to socialise with fellow walkers.