The Great Glen

The Great Glen is a spectacular deep valley situated along a dramatic fault line which splits the Scottish Highlands in two. This stunning glen forms a major route through the Highlands, running from Fort William on the west coast (170 kilometres north-west of Glasgow) to Inverness on the north-east coast. The Great Glen showcases majestic Highlands scenery including high level tracks overlooking tranquil lochs and open moorlands. 

Exploring the Great Glen enables walkers to visit some of Scotland’s best known landmarks. Located close to Fort William is the mighty Ben Nevis which, at 1345 metres, is the highest mountain in Britain. Other natural wonders include the vast Loch Ness which is 37 kilometres (23 miles) long and deeper than the North Sea - plenty of room for a reclusive sea monster.

There are many historic castles and forts in the region, including Urquhart Castle, Inverlochy Castle and Inverness Castle. Welcoming villages such as Invergarry, Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus offer comfortable accommodation and culinary delights. Walkers can follow the path of the Caledonian Canal which contains a fascinating series of eight locks called “Neptune’s Staircase”. These locks adjust the water levels of the canal to match the surrounding landscape.

The Great Glen region offers many day and multi-day walks and there are a number of tour operators offering a variety of walking trips.

However, there are innumerable shorter multi-day walks and the walking tour operators in the area have crafted many different walking itineraries. We can help you choose a walk and an operator that best suits your needs.

The best-known multi-day walk in the Great Glen is clearly the Great Glen Way.

The Great Glen Way is just one of the many walks in this region we can tell you about, and help you to plan and complete.