Great Glen Hike and Barge Explorer

From Inverness:

The day's hike begins with a walk through the forest to join the Great Glen Way above Loch Dochfour. We will pause for lunch at the distinctive Abriachan Eco-Café, a popular stop for hikers and cyclists along the way.

In the afternoon, the trail primarily descends, providing our first glimpses of Loch Ness. A barge will pick us up in Drumnadrochit, a village located on the western shore of Loch Ness, and we will sail to Foyers on the eastern side for our overnight accommodations.

From Banavie (Fort William):

Beginning at Gairlochy, our trek will take us around Bunarkaig Bay, providing stunning views of Loch Lochy and the Achnacarry Estate, home to the chief of the Cameron clan of Locheil. We'll pass the picturesque Chia-Aig Falls before returning to the loch for lunch at Clunes.

In the afternoon, you can remain on the barge and take in the views from the water.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

We start the morning with a breakfast cruise back to Drumnadrochit, where our walking adventure will resume. After we disembark, we'll take a very leisurely walk through the village before ascending the trail, which offers beautiful views of the town and the loch. We'll enjoy lunch at the charming Grotaig Pottery gallery, which has a cozy café for walkers with seating options in the garden or inside the gallery.

In the afternoon, we'll cruise to Fort Augustus, where we'll spend the night.

From Banavie (Fort William):

Starting from Laggan, our morning walk takes us along a short section of canal to the peaceful banks of the beautiful Loch Oich. We then climb a small hill into Invergarry, before ascending out of Glen Garry to meet the barge at Cullochy.

We then make our way down on the barge into Fort Augustus, where we will spend the night.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

This morning, we'll once again enjoy a breakfast cruise back to Alltsigh, where the barge will drop us off. Our first walking segment today will take us to Invermoriston, a Highland village situated on the northern shores of Loch Ness, where we'll stop for lunch.

The barge will meet us at Fort Augustus for our overnight stay.

From Banavie (Fort William):

The day's hike starts with a climb from Fort Augustus to a viewpoint that overlooks the loch. The trail then splits into two paths: the High Route, which rises above the trees and provides breathtaking views of the Monadhliath Mountains (also known as the Grey Mountains), and the Low Route, which stays below the tree line and offers walkers beautiful views of Loch Ness. Both routes converge again in Invermoriston, a Highland village located on the northern shore of Loch Ness, where we will take a break for lunch.

In the afternoon, the barge will transport us back to Fort Augustus for the night.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

This morning's hike from Fort Augustus takes us up a small hill (120m) that provides breathtaking views of the entire stretch of Loch Ness. These will be our last glimpses of the loch, as we then head down to the canal towpath to meet the barge at Cullochy Lock for lunch.

From Banavie (Fort William):

As we savor our breakfast, we'll head back to Alltsigh to continue our journey. After being dropped off at the beach, we'll spend the morning hiking through a stunning pine forest to reach the pottery and café at Grotaig.

The barge will transport us across the loch for an overnight stay in Foyers.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

As we stroll along the shores of Loch Lochy in the morning, we are greeted by breathtaking views of the Munros to the north and, on a clear day, our first sight of Ben Nevis to the south. We pause for lunch by the loch before heading inland past Chia-Aig Falls and Loch Arkaig. The barge will be docked in Gairlochy, a charming village on the southern side of the loch.

From Banavie (Fort William):

We will sail back to Drumnadrochit while enjoying breakfast, and upon our arrival, we'll spend the morning hiking at a steady pace, taking in our final views of Loch Ness.

After lunch, we’ll descend through the forest to Dochgarroch, a picturesque village by Loch Dochfour, where we will meet up with the barge for a well-deserved dinner.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

Our final morning walk leads us along the canal towpath, where we encounter the last remaining hand-cranked bridge in the Great Glen, situated in the charming village of Moy. This path offers breathtaking views of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland at 1,345 meters (4,413 feet). We conclude our walk at Corpach Sea Lock, the westernmost point of the canal and the end of our coast-to-coast adventure. A taxi will transport us back to the barge for our last goodbyes and departures around 1 PM. Distance: 8 miles/13 km; Elevation change: -20 m/65.5 ft.

From Banavie (Fort William):

The last walk of the week leads us from Dochgarroch along the canal towpath to Clachnaharry Sea Lock in Inverness, marking both the conclusion of the canal and our coast-to-coast adventure. This route runs alongside the Caledonian Canal on the left and the River Ness on the right. The distance is 7 miles (11 km) with an elevation gain of 15 meters (49 feet).

Meals: B