The Great Glen Way, Scotland’s most beautiful valleys

Intermediate. Between 4 and 8 hours of hiking per day on trails with little technical difficulty. Most of the route takes place on trails, forest paths, or small roads. There are good climbs and descents. You need to enjoy hiking and be in good physical condition.

You only carry a small backpack with your daily belongings and lunch. You will find your luggage at your accommodation each evening. We kindly ask you to limit your luggage weight to 20kg per person.

From 2 people.

8 days / 7 nights.

From April to October.

A complete travel package will be provided to you, including among other things the detailed map, the route guide, the list of accommodations and exchange vouchers. Depending on the situation, you will receive your package before departure or find it at your first accommodation. There is no guide for this trip.

Accommodation

Comfortable accommodation in B&Bs, Guesthouses and small comfort hostels 2* to 3*, in twin rooms. In high season, from May to September, there is a surge in demand on the Great Glen Way and limited accommodation availability. It is possible that for availability reasons, we may not be able to book accommodation at the planned location. We will inform you of this before confirming your reservation.

Bracadale House in Invermoriston ® Bracadale House

Corrie Liath Bed & Breakfast in Fort Augustus ® Corrie Liath Bed & Breakfast

Glen Albyn Lodge in Invergarry ® Glen Albyn Lodge

Greenlea in Drumnadrochit ® Greenlea

Mahaar B&B in Spean Bridge ® Mahaar B&B

The Pier hotel in Portree ® The Pier hotel

Meals

Breakfasts included. Lunches and dinners are not included. Please inform us during registration of any food allergies or special dietary requirements; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

Start

Day 1 at your hotel in Fort William.

End

Day 8 after breakfast at your hotel in Inverness.

Plane

From Glasgow Airport: take the shuttle 500 from the airport to Glasgow Queen Street station. You can buy your ticket on the bus or online on the First Bus website. Ticket price: approximately 12 £.

From Glasgow Queen Street station: take a train to Fort William (direct train, journey takes approximately 4 hours, and ticket costs approximately 40 £ / person).

It is also possible to take a bus between Glasgow and Fort William, but we recommend the train as the journey is spectacular!

By bus: take the direct bus no. 915 from Glasgow Airport to Fort William bus station (approximately 3 h journey, approximately 25£ for the ticket). For more information about schedules, please consult the City Link website.

Return

The simplest is to take a direct train between Inverness and Glasgow Queen Street Station (approximately 3h15 journey, ticket price between 37£ and 56 £). To reach the airport you can take the shuttle 500 (approximately 35 minutes journey).

By bus: take the direct bus M10 from Inverness to Glasgow Buchanan bus station (approximately 4 h journey, approximately 25£ for the ticket). For more information about schedules, please consult the City Link website. From the bus station, you take the shuttle 500 to reach Glasgow Airport.

To plan your journeys in Scotland, trains in Scotland.

A number of our trips are suitable for swimming, during stages or at the end of the day. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it. However, we emphasize that you are solely responsible for deciding whether to swim; these swims are therefore at your own responsibility and at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle is a member of ATR, the reference association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips - on foot, by bike, on snow - to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

Present on the board of directors since 2018, we actively contribute to advancing the industry’s practices towards greater purpose. Concretely, we ensure:

• Transparency in our practices and our rates
• Respect for our partners and local populations
• Preservation of the environment on each of our stays

We also share the values of the traveller’s ethical charter, which encourages everyone to adopt simple gestures to protect the places visited and foster beautiful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle is recognized as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible practices in terms of environment, ethics and sustainable management, both within our company and with our partners and in the organization of our trips.

This label, the second level of a demanding international certification, attests to our concrete actions in favor of responsible tourism. We are actively pursuing our progress towards the higher level, Travelife Certified, in accordance with our sustainable development policy

You will find in this section links to products from our partner Alpinstore, a French e-commerce site, specialist in outdoor equipment, based in Annecy.

To carry your belongings

• A comfortable backpack of 30 to 50 L with ventral belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic during the day
• A follow-on bag: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition, or a not too bulky suitcase. One bag per person; limited to 15kg

Discover in our Magazine how to properly pack your hiking backpack.

For hiking

For maximum comfort, choose a “multi-layer” clothing system: warm underwear (tights + base layer) type “carline” or “Capilene” (hollow fibers that wick moisture) + sweatshirt or fleece jacket + mountain jacket and overpants with waterproof and breathable membrane (type “gore tex” or equivalent) for bad weather. Generally speaking and outside hot climates and countries, avoid cotton which retains moisture against the body (and dries poorly) in favor of suitable synthetic materials.

• Mountain boots with ankle support featuring a good grip sole, a heel counter and good waterproofing
• Comfortable hiking socks (3 pairs minimum)
• Fleece jacket
• Comfortable hiking trousers (quick-drying technical material)
• Comfortable technical shorts
• T-shirts or technical underwear (quick-drying material)
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Walking poles (telescopic), very important for facilitating walking. Discover all the benefits of hiking poles in our dedicated article or how to choose your hiking poles

Note: synthetic technical clothing is very effective. New merino wool clothing has also appeared; it is very effective and pleasant to wear, and has the advantage of not developing body odour!

For your midday lunch

• Your kitchen kit: bowl, box or plastic plate, cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)
• 1 or 2 water bottles (total of 1,5 L minimum) – mandatory; a thermos water bottle for winter

Sun and rain protection

• Sunscreen (high protection)
• Sunglasses
• Hat, cap or sun hat
• A rain cape or waterproof jacket such as softshell or Gore-Tex, and possibly waterproof trousers

After the activity

• Pair of trainers for the evening
• Change of clothes and personal items
• Toiletry bag and towel (mini)
• Swimming costume and towel for fitness areas (if specified) or swimming
• Mini first aid kit: personal medications, surgical masks, hand sanitiser, plasters, sterile compresses and bandages, gauze, disinfectant, arnica granules and aspirin etc (note: non-exhaustive list to be adapted according to your own medical needs).

Find these tips in our article #what to pack for a hiking trip.

This list is given for information purposes only and should be adapted according to your stay and the season in which you are travelling.

• A comfortable small backpack of 40 to 50 L with a hip belt to carry your personal items and lunch during the day
• A follow-on bag: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition, or a not-too-bulky suitcase. One bag per person; limited to 20kg

Country: United Kingdom Constituent nation: Scotland Capital: Edinburgh Population: 5295000 inhabitants

A few words about Scotland
Scotland, a land of legends… While ghosts and the Loch Ness monster still attract some curious visitors, most travellers are drawn to the subtle blend of raw and wild nature, rich history, and unique culture.
Scotland, a land of mist… Those who love heather-covered moorlands and romantic lochs, cliffs and waterfalls will return home fulfilled, especially if they venture into the north-west of the country to discover the Highlands.
This region is among the best preserved in Europe: fewer than 10 inhabitants per square kilometre! Far more sheep, in fact… and some distinctive cattle with long hair and rebellious fringes (Highland cattle), as well as countless seals and birds that populate the multitude of islands.
As for the Scottish people, you’ll find them warm and welcoming, reflecting the atmosphere that often prevails in the pubs. Their cuisine also reveals some pleasant surprises, such as haggis, the famous stuffed sheep’s stomach, feared by many yet voted ‘Scotland’s best dish’.
Ultimately, the only potential enemy of the budget traveller in Scotland remains the rain. So much so that the Scottish people claim to have invented the kilt to avoid getting the bottoms of their trousers wet! Rest assured: the weather changes quickly, and the landscapes rival each other so in beauty from one moment to the next…
Source

A word on midges
Midges are small flies characteristic of Scotland and the Highlands. Similar to mosquito bites, midge bites are bothersome and often uncomfortable, but not painful – they usually cause small red bumps that can be irritating. Once bitten, the best thing to do to relieve them is to apply an antihistamine cream.
Here are some tips to protect yourself from midges:

1. Wear long clothes and light colours
2. Avoid going out at sunrise and sunset
3. Use an anti-midge lotion (‘midge repellent’) and make sure to buy it in Scotland
4. Wind is your friend!
5. Check the midge forecast
6. Visit museums, distilleries and castles on dull and humid days.
7. Prefer the period from October to May

We advise you not to let the flies spoil your trip to Scotland. If you’re hiking or doing an outdoor activity, rest assured, there’s a good chance you won’t notice them. Most of the time, there’s too much wind for them. If they are a nuisance, take insect repellent, wear a mosquito hood and enjoy!

Formalities

Since 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union.
To enter the United Kingdom, the European traveller must, as before, be in possession of a valid passport or national identity card (provided they have European resident status in the United Kingdom).

Since 2 April 2025, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is mandatory for European travellers wishing to travel to Great Britain. More information is available on the UK ETA website.

Important: travellers with identity and travel documents that have been declared lost or stolen are systematically have the document removed by the British authorities in charge of border control (Border Force). It is imperative not to attempt to travel between France and the United Kingdom with a travel document declared lost or stolen (and therefore invalidated).

Health

Obtain a European health insurance card, which you should request from your health insurance fund at least 15 days before departure.

Consulate General of France
Lothian Chambers,
W Parliament Square,
Edinburgh EH11RN, United Kingdom
Tel: +441312856020

Telephone dialling code: + 44.

There is one hour less; when it is 10:00 in Paris it is 09:00 in Edinburgh.

English.

British Pound £1 = 1,20 € (on 07/11/2024).

A few words about Scotland
Scotland, land of legends… While ghosts and the Loch Ness Monster still attract the curious, most travellers seek the subtle blend between raw and wild nature, rich history and unique culture.

Scotland, land of mist… Lovers of heather-covered moorlands and romantic lochs, cliffs and waterfalls will return satisfied, especially if they venture into the north-west of the country, discovering the Highlands.

This region is among the best preserved in Europe: fewer than 10 inhabitants per square kilometre! Many more sheep, in fact… and some unusual cattle with long hair and rebellious fringe (Highland cattle), as well as innumerable seals and birds that populate the multitude of islands.

As for the Scottish, they are warm and welcoming, reflecting the atmosphere that often prevails in pubs. Their cuisine also reveals some pleasant surprises, such as haggis, the famous stuffed sheep’s stomach, feared in our country and yet voted ‘Scotland’s national dish’.

The only potential enemy of the backpacker in Scotland remains the rain. To such an extent that the Scottish claim to have invented the kilt to no longer have to wet the bottom of their trousers! Rest assured: the weather changes quickly, and the landscapes rival each other so much in beauty between each shower…

Source

A word about midges
Midges are small flies, characteristic of Scotland and the Highlands. Similar to mosquito bites, midge bites are annoying and often uncomfortable, but not painful – they generally cause small red bumps that can be irritating. Once bitten, the best thing to do to relieve them is to apply an antihistamine cream. Midges are mainly active from late spring to early autumn, with a peak between June and August, especially in the wet and wooded areas of the Highlands and the west of the country.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from midges:

1. Wear long clothing and light colours
2. Avoid outings at sunrise and sunset
3. Use a lotion against midges (“midge repellent”), making sure to buy it in Scotland
4. Wind is your friend!
5. Check the midge weather forecast
6. Visit museums, distilleries and castles on dull and humid days.
7. Prefer the period from October to May

We advise you not to let midges spoil your trip to Scotland. If you are hiking or doing outdoor activities, rest assured, there is a strong chance you will not notice them. Most of the time, there is too much wind for them. If they are a nuisance, bring insect repellent, wear a mosquito hood and enjoy!