Great Glen Way

Great Glen Way

A walk through Scotland's Great Glen along the impressive Caledonian Canal.

3 to 8 nights
22-77 miles
Moderate to Demanding

From £390 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

Take in Scotland’s finest scenery on a long-distance walking holiday through the Highlands, past Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and along the shore of Loch Ness.

The Great Glen Way National Trail follows the route of the Caledonian Canal, which links the enormous lochs of the Great Glen all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. Open moorland, tree-lined towpaths, and towering, heather-clad hills are staple views, alongside castles and forts that have witnessed some of the most bloody scenes of Scotland’s turbulent history.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • Great Glen Way
  • Great Glen Way Short Break

About this route

3 nights
22 miles
Moderate / Demanding
27th March to 14th October

From £390 per person

Great Glen Way Short Break

This short walking break takes in the scenic central section of the Great Glen Way National Trail, travelling 22 miles from Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit.

Woodland tracks part to deliver the trail onto the shore of Loch Ness, where there are plenty of waterfalls, open views to distant mountains, and the imposing Urquhart Castle to enjoy on the way. Local history and hospitality are abundant throughout the walk, particularly in Invermoriston, as well as at Drumnadrochit where this walking holiday ends.

This tour is perfect for those keen to explore the wonders of the Scottish Highlands within a short space of time. With a wealth of amazing views, mythical history and immersive culture, the Great Glen Way Taster Break boasts something for every walker.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
GGWSB1 From Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate / Demanding £390

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
GGWSB1 From Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate / Demanding £390

Great Glen Way Short Break 3 nights, 2 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights

Important information

Please note this trail is very popular, if you have flexibility with your start date, please advise this when booking. Please do not make any travel plans until we have double checked and confirmed availability for your booking.

Start

Travel to Fort Augustus where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Fort Augustus to Invermoriston. 8 miles (13km) / 1076 ft (328 m) ascent

Day 2

Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit. 14 miles (22km) / 2096 ft (639 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Drumnadrochit after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£50.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Great Glen Way Short Break  map
Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit
22 miles (35 km)
27th March to 14th October

Holiday highlights

Following the shoreline of the world-famous Loch Ness and discovering the wealth of mythology surrounding it.

Spotting Urquhart Castle and learning all about the area’s fascinating history.

Tackling steep hills and being rewarded with breath-taking views of the stunning Scottish Highlands.

What's included?

  • 3 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

An extra night gives you the chance to explore some of the villages and old market towns along the trail, catch up with writing postcards or to simply relax and give those weary legs a rest.

Fort Augustus is a pleasant little village. Both the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre and the Clansmen's Centre are worth visiting.

If you fancy somewhere peaceful, consider Invermoriston. It is an attractive little village and there are some lovely walks to waterfalls along woodland trails.

If you want to spend time looking for the Loch Ness Monster then Drumnadrochit is a good choice

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 22 miles (35 km)
Duration: 3 nights, 2 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 8 miles (13 km)
Maximum daily distance: 14 miles (22 km)
Code: GGWSB1 Grade: Moderate / Demanding
Season: 27th March - 14th October
Start of holiday: Fort Augustus
End of holiday: Drumnadrochit

Route Profile

Great Glen Way Short Break Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Inverness, Glasgow and Glasgow Prestwick.

By Rail - The nearest rail stations to the start of the trail (Fort Augustus) are either Spean Bridge (about 23 miles away) or Fort William (about 32 miles away). The nearest rail station to the end of the trail (Drumnadrochit) is at Inverness (about 16 miles away).

By Bus - Buses run from both Spean Bridge and Fort William to Fort Augustus. A bus service runs from Drumnadrochit to Inverness. These services can be quite infrequent at times, especially on Sundays, so a taxi may be required.

From London - Trains run from London Euston/Kings Cross stations to Spean Bridge & Fort William. Alternatively trains run from London Euston/Kings Cross stations to Glasgow, where buses then run regularly to Fort William. From there a bus/taxi will be required to Fort Augustus.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail is to take the bus or taxi from Drumnadrochit to Fort Augustus. The bus service is rather infrequent at some times, particularly on Sundays.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.