Scotland Highlands on Foot and Water

From Inverness:

The day's hike starts with an ascent through the forest to connect with the Great Glen Way above Loch Dochfour. We'll take a lunch break at the unique Abriachan Eco-Café, a favored stop for hikers and cyclists along the route.

In the afternoon, the trail descends mostly, offering our first views of Loch Ness. A barge will collect us at Drumnadrochit, a village on the western shore of Loch Ness, and we'll sail to Foyers on the eastern side for our overnight stay. Distance: 14.5 miles/23.2 km; Elevation gain: 350 m/1148 ft.

From Banavie (Fort William):

Starting from Gairlochy, our hike will take us around Bunarkaig Bay, offering spectacular views of Loch Lochy and the Achnacarry Estate, the residence of the Cameron clan chief of Locheil. We'll pass by the beautiful Chia-Aig Falls before heading back to the loch for lunch at Clunes.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue along Loch Lochy to Laggan Locks, where our barge will be waiting for us. The intriguing lock gates here link the higher waters of the Caledonian Canal at Loch Oich with the lower levels of Loch Lochy. Alternatively, you can choose to stay on the barge and enjoy the scenery from the water. Distance: 14.7 miles/23.5 km; Elevation gain: 140 m/460 ft.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

We begin the morning with a breakfast cruise back to Drumnadrochit, where our walking journey will continue. After disembarking, we will stroll through the village before climbing the trail, offering scenic views of the town and the loch. Our lunch break will be at the delightful Grotaig Pottery gallery, which features a cozy café for walkers with seating available in the garden or inside the gallery.

In the afternoon, we will make our way down through picturesque pine woodlands back to the loch's edge, where the barge will meet us at Alltsigh. We will then cruise to Fort Augustus, where we will spend the night. The total distance covered will be 13 miles (21 km) with an elevation gain of 400 meters (1,312 feet).

From Banavie (Fort William):

Departing from Laggan, our morning stroll leads us along a brief stretch of canal and to the tranquil shores of the stunning Loch Oich. The path then ascends a small hill into Invergarry, before rising out of Glen Garry to reunite with the barge at Cullochy.

The remaining journey consists of a 5-mile walk to Fort Augustus, initially following a towpath before climbing a small hill (120m) that offers spectacular views of Loch Ness. We then descend into Fort Augustus, where we will spend the night. Total distance: 14 miles/22.5 km; Elevation gain: 500m/1640ft.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

This morning, we'll once again enjoy a cruise during breakfast back to Alltsigh, where the barge will drop us off. Our first leg of today's walk will lead us to Invermoriston, a highland village on the northern shores of Loch Ness, where we'll have lunch.

In the afternoon, we can choose between two walking routes that both converge at Fort Augustus. The High Route, which takes us above the tree line, offers stunning views of the Monadhliath Mountains (Grey Mountains). The Low Route, which stays beneath the trees, provides walkers with scenic viewpoints overlooking Loch Ness. The barge will meet us at Fort Augustus for our overnight stay. Distance: 13 miles/21 km; Elevation gain: 200 m/656 ft (High Route: +1 mile/1.6 km, +300 m/984 ft).

From Banavie (Fort William):

The day's hike begins with an ascent from Fort Augustus to a viewpoint overlooking the loch. The trail then diverges into two options. The High Route ascends above the trees, offering stunning views of the Monadhliath Mountains (Grey Mountains), while the Low Route remains beneath the tree line, providing walkers with scenic vistas across Loch Ness. Both paths meet again in Invermoriston, a Highland village situated on the northern shore of Loch Ness, where we will stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will climb out of Invermoriston before descending to Alltsigh, where a barge will pick us up and return us to Fort Augustus for the night. The total distance is 13 miles (21 km), with a height gain of 200 meters (656 ft) on the main route (High Route adds an extra mile (1.6 km) and 300 meters (984 ft) of elevation).

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

This morning's walk from Fort Augustus leads us up a small hill (120m) that offers stunning views over the entire length of Loch Ness. These will be our final sights of the loch, as we then descend to the canal towpath to meet the barge at Cullochy Lock for lunch.

The remainder of the walk follows a forest path above the beautiful and secluded Loch Oich, continuing into Invergarry before ascending out of Glen Garry to reunite with the barge at Laggan Locks. The intriguing lock gates here link the higher waters of the Caledonian Canal at Loch Oich with the lower levels of Loch Lochy. Distance: 14 miles/22.5km; Elevation gain: 500m/1640ft.

From Banavie (Fort William):

While enjoying breakfast, we'll cruise back to Alltsigh to continue our adventure. After being dropped off at the beach, we'll spend the morning hiking through a beautiful pine forest to reach the pottery and café at Grotaig. There, we'll take a break for lunch (and perhaps indulge in some shopping) before making our way along country roads to Drumnadrochit, a village situated on the western shore of Loch Ness.

Once we reach the edge of town, we'll be picked up by the barge and transported across the loch to spend the night in Foyers. The total distance covered will be 13 miles (21 km) with an elevation gain of 400 meters (1312 feet).

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

As we walk along the edge of Loch Lochy in the morning, we are treated to stunning views of the Munros to the north and, on a clear day, our first glimpse of Ben Nevis to the south. We take a break for lunch by the loch before moving inland past Chia-Aig Falls and Loch Arkaig. Our journey continues into the Achnacarry Estate, the ancestral home of the Clan Chief of the Camerons of Locheil.

We then make our way back to the loch, enjoying beautiful native woodlands along the shoreline, before returning to the barge, which will be docked in Gairlochy, a quaint hamlet on the southern side of the loch. The total distance covered is 14.7 miles (23.5 km) with an elevation gain of 140 meters (460 feet).

From Banavie (Fort William):

We'll sail back to Drumnadrochit while having breakfast, and once we arrive, we'll spend the morning hiking steadily, enjoying our last views of Loch Ness. Our most diverse lunch destination of the week will be the Abriachan Forest School and Eco-Café, a favored stop for hikers and cyclists on the trail.

After lunch, we'll make our way down through the forest to Dochgarroch, a charming village situated by Loch Dochfour, where we'll reunite with the barge for a well-deserved dinner. Distance: 14.5 miles/23.2 km; Elevation gain: 350 m/1148 ft.

Meals: B,L,D

From Inverness:

Our last morning stroll takes us along the canal towpath, where we pass the only remaining hand-cranked bridge in the Great Glen, located in the quaint village of Moy. The route provides stunning views of Ben Nevis, Scotland's tallest peak at 1,345 meters (4,413 feet). We finish our walk at Corpach Sea Lock, the westernmost point on the canal and the conclusion of our coast-to-coast journey. A taxi will take us back to the barge for our final farewells 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