Last chance availability on popular trips: Browse here

 

Great Glen Escape

5 Days & 4 Nights 4.8 Read 29 reviews
  • Immerse yourself in the highland landscape on one of Scotland's most renowned trails
  • Discover the historic tow paths of the Caledonian Canal and its impressive series of locks
  • Visit Urquhart Castle with its superb setting on Loch Ness
  • Explore Loch Ness by foot and perhaps catch a glimpse of the famous Loch Ness Monster!
  • Arrive in Inverness having passed through some of Scotland’s finest scenery
Known as one of Scotland’s finest long distance walks, the Great Glen Way takes you along the Caledonian Canal, through beautiful forests, peaceful working canals, and magnificent brooding lochs. On the Great Glen Escape short break, we have focused on arguably the most scenic part of the walk, from Fort Augustus to Inverness, allowing you to experience the highlights of the Great Glen over 5 days. Set off from Fort Augustus, from where the trail follows the western shores of Loch Ness, passing the charming Highland towns of Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit before reaching the historic city of Inverness. "Nessie" hunters can take a cruise on Loch Ness from Fort Augustus, and shouldn’t miss the Loch Ness Experience in Drumnadrochit. Urquhart Castle, with its commanding view of Loch Ness is another must see, as is Inverness Castle at the walk’s end! We include hand-picked overnight accommodation in high quality hotels, B&B’s and guesthouses, daily door to door baggage transfer, maps, route notes and emergency telephone support from our UK office in your short break with Macs Adventure.
Read All
If you only have a few days available for walking through the Great Glen then this short break allows you to experience some of its most dramatic scenery and enjoy the jaw-dropping vistas.

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 14 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

  • Long-Distance Trails
  • Short Break
  • Accessible by Rail

Activity Level & Terrain

This holiday is graded easy to moderate overall, with the 7 and 8 day and the Great Glen Escape tours graded moderate, due to a couple of longer days. Daily walking distances very between 8-20 miles. Some days will be more challenging than others and the terrain will be varied with some rough and rugged footpaths. There are ascents and descents involved, so a good level of fitness will be required. For fitter walkers the High Route will appeal, which affords particularly spectacular views.

The High Route

Through a £1 million project, the Forestry Commission Scotland created over 10 miles (16km) of waymarked Great Glen ‘High Route’ above Loch Ness. These options take you above the treeline and offer more fantastic views than the traditional route, with some challenging gradients and a new summit at 422m (1385ft) on Creag Dhearg. 

Navigation

The route is well way marked and easy to follow. All the walks on this itinerary are available in the Macs Adventure Smartphone App. We also supply a map and guidebook so you will easily manage to find your way.

As the navigation on this tour is straightforward, it does not have turn-by-turn directions. Simply download the app for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that you will be able to find your way, even without turn-by-turn directions.

Accommodations

One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of accommodation. We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food.

Solo Walkers & Single Rooms

The Great Glen Escape is available and well suited to solo walkers as the route is popular and well marked. Single rooms are available but a single supplement is payable.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants and your guide book will have details.

Included
  • Hand-picked accommodation in B&B's, guest houses and small hotels
  • Breakfast at each accommodation
  • Baggage transfers
  • Information pack and access to maps and GPX tracks on the Macs Adventure smartphone app
  • 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office
Excluded
  • Travel to the start / from the finish of the walk
  • Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Personal equipment
  • Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
Extras
  • Extra nights before, during or after your walk
  • Single/Solo Supplement

When To Go

You can start your walk on the Great Glen Way on any day between March and October, subject to availability. Due to the small size of some of the charming Highland villages along the Great Glen Way, availability can be tricky for us. It is always best to book as far in advance as possible to secure our preferred accommodation choices. To be in the best chance of getting this tour confirmed for your preferred dates, it is best to try and avoid staying in Invermoriston on a Sunday night, due to the limited dining options in the area.

Getting to the Start

Fort Augustus can be reached by public transport or by private transfer.

By Bus: Scottish Citylink operates buses from Inverness (1 hour) to Fort Augustus. Visit www.citylink.co.uk for timetables and tickets.
Private Transfers: We can arrange private transfers from Glasgow, Inverness or Edinburgh to the start/end of your walk; just ask us for a quote. This is often the smoothest way to begin or conclude your adventure.
Journey Planning: If travelling by public transport the website www.travelinescotland.com has an excellent journey planner.

Getting from the End

Inverness has excellent transport links by road, rail and air to destinations throughout Scotland and the UK. Use the websites listed above for timetables and tickets.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person.  It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

 

Taxi Transfer

You will be collected from your accommodation in Drumnadrochit on day 4 of your trip and transferred to Loch Laide, avoiding the busy A82 section of the Great Glen Way, and allowing you to enjoy walking into Inverness at a more leisurely pace.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

How far in advance do I need to book?
How fit do I need to be?
How do the baggage transfers work?
What personal equipment do I need?
When is the best time of year?
How do we get to and from the trail?
What are the midges like?
Am I able to take my dog?
What happens if I cant walk a stage?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Fort Augustus and overnight Day 2 Fort Augustus to Invermoriston 8 miles / 13 km Day 3 Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit 14.5 miles / 23 km Day 4 Transfer to Loch Laide and walk to Inverness 12.5 miles / 20 km Day 5 Onward Travel

You May Also Like

  • Classic Routes
    Type Classic Routes
    5 Days 4 Nights
    West Highland Escape
    Our popular short break inn-to-inn itinerary on Scotland's most iconic long-distance trail.
    Highlights
    • Walk the most scenic northern part of the trail
    • Explore the remote Rannoch Moor and iconic Glencoe
    • Finish in Fort William at the base of Ben Nevis
    Activity
    Level
    Accommodations
    Level
    From $810.00
  • Slower Adventures
    Type Slower Adventures
    6 Days 5 Nights
    The Yorkshire Dales In Comfort
    Classic walking through the Dales, staying in charming Yorkshire villages and towns
    Highlights
    • Burnsall, home of Dick Whittington
    • The stone-built village of Grassington
    • Tea rooms, local brews and cuisine
    Activity
    Level
    Accommodations
    Level
    From $985.00
  • Slower Adventures
    Type Slower Adventures
    5 Days 4 Nights

    0 Reviews
    Escape to the Lake District
    Escape to the Lake District for a few days of lovely relaxed walking based in Ambleside and Grasmere
    Highlights
    • A relaxed short break in the Lake District
    • The classic lakes villages, Grasmere and Ambleside
    • Discover the land of Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth
    Activity
    Level
    Accommodations
    Level
    From $715.00
  • Classic Routes
    Type Classic Routes
    5 Days 4 Nights
    Escape to Snowdonia
    Walk in the iconic landscapes of Snowdonia National Park on this short break in North Wales
    Highlights
    • A few days to discover the Snowdonia National Park
    • Villages with huddles of grey slate houses
    • Welsh heritage, myths and legends
    Activity
    Level
    Accommodations
    Level
    From $775.00
Currency:
$ - USD - US Dollar
Country/Region name:
USAUSA