The Great Glen Way

Walking through nature can be one of the most relaxing things you'll ever do. I find inspiration there, often coming up with unique ideas that I would never even imagine when back at home with the noise, traffic and trials of everyday life.

Across the world there are a number of great walking trails. The John Muir trail in California and the Great Ocean Walk in Australia are something to behold. Spain has the Camino De Santiago and England offers the Cotswolds Way. But way up north in Scotland there is another amazing walk, it is spectacular, and one that very few people know about.

The Great Glen Way is a magic Journey through the highlands of Scotland. It’s a fairly long hike, a not for the meek. At about 120 kilometers, you wind your way between Fort William and Inverness. The walk itself follows a major geological fault that runs southwest-northeast across the entire width of Northern Scotland.

Personally, I would suggest that you start at Fort William and end in Inverness, that way the sun is at your back the entire way, not to mention the breezes that continually blow across the highlands. You can easily get to Fort William from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, London and many other major British towns by train and bus. If you re coming from London, the trip to Fort William takes all day.



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The Great Glen walk passes through some amazing towns. Gairlochy, Loch Lochy, Laggan, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit. It is easy enough to find accommodation in any of these places, and it is easy to break the walk into many days. There are several guides you can get for this walk, but it is really possible to walk the route without a map. There are route markers at all key intervals. You probably don’t even need to book accommodation in advance. It’s best to just take this walk at your own speed. The final length of the hike is along the shore of Loch Ness, so keep your eyes open for Nessie.

Make sure that you stock up on supplies before you leave Fort William. There are not a lot of big supermarkets in the towns in between. Of course you can find food, lodging and a pub in each place but the little things, you need to bring with you. Invermoriston has a small convenience store and Fort Augustus has some good cafes and supermarkets but apart from that you have to stock up in either Inverness or Fort William.

Don’t forget that this is real wilderness backpacking. Of course, since you will spend your nights in hostels or BnB’s along the way, it’s not like you need to carry full gear. You won’t need a tent or sleeping bag, and you won’t need to cook along the way. And it’s not like you are leaving civilization completely either. But having a decent supply of water for the hike in between towns is essential. Also, carry enough ready to eat food for at least a day. You never know the weather up here in the highlands, and it is best to be prepared. You should carry a good map, warm and waterproof clothes, a travel guide and a it’s a really good idea to have a compass. It is fine to bring your mobile phone too, but don’t rely on it 100%. In remote areas there might be no coverage at all, so be warned, your iPhone compass won’t work out here. Midges and mosquitos can be a real pain during summer, so use a good insect repellent and also bring sunscreen. This isn’t like a walk to the corner shop, it has some fairly strenuous parts while you are walking into or out of the valleys, but the trip can be easily be broken into 11 mile parts. It should take 4 to 6 days to complete if going full on. Personally I would say 6 or 7 is better. More time to relax and enjoy the Highlands.



 

It may sound like a lot of work, but actually, it’s not. The views are fantastic and
the solitude is amazing. You will sometimes meet other walkers, but for the most part, you’ll have the trail to yourself. I never actually do this walk alone. Partly because I would probably get really bored, but also because there is an element of safety when you are with someone else. Plus, it is nice to have someone to share the views with. There is something magic about this walk, traveling along Loch Ness and then ending your journey at the Inverness castle. I highly recommend late spring or early September.

Remember, if you call ahead to book accommodation for the night, be sure to cancel the booking if you don't plan to stay there anymore. Because if you don't show up it is very likely that they will call the local rescue service thinking you are lost somewhere out there on the trail, even if you are just sleeping at a BnB across the street. The locals on this route are very friendly, and will go out of their way to engage you and inquire where you are from. They are very proud of being Scottish, of the Highlands and the wild nature. Please remember to show respect for it. What ever you carry in, bring it out with you. Any trash, cigarette butts or empty wine bottles. Oh yes. I always bring wine along the way. There is nothing like having a glass of Merlot while looking out over the wilds of the Highlands.

 

Pan Martinez