An easy but very pleasant walk which follows the Caledonian Canal between Loch Lochy and Loch Oich, returning via the old railway line.
Summary
An easy walk on good tracks and paths; the old railway line can be very slightly muddy.
Terrain
NN287963
Grid ref
6km/3.75 miles
Distance
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Bus service to Laggan Locks.
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Pronunciation
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1. Park at Laggan Locks just off the A82(T) at the east end of Loch Lochy; there is a good sized car park. After you've had a look at the view down Loch Lochy, the walk begins along the nearside of the canal, which was built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1822. Beside the locks there is a public toilet on the far side, and also a delightful picnic area and a floating pub on a Dutch barge called the Eagle. Continue along the canal-side path, sloping up onto the track on top of the embankments when it forks (the canal side path ends just beyond the last boat berths).
2. Follow the track above the wide canal into the pinewoods ahead. The track rises slightly as the canal passes through a wide, deep cutting here – the highest part of the Great Glen. The walking is very pleasant with good views of the canal down through the trees. At one point a path goes off right to meet the A82 – ignore this, and cross over a stream on a footbridge. As the woods are eventually left behind there is a great view back down the canal with a glimpse of the Loch Lochy Munros. Ignore the next path off to the right, keeping on the canalside route (marked with Great Glen Way markers).
3. Further on the path finally emerges onto the A82 close to Laggan swing bridge. Cross straight over the road (carefully – beware speeding traffic), heading down the minor lane opposite signed for the Great Glen Water Park. Continue along this road, not turning into the water park, until it reaches the Water Park exit at a no entry sign. Follow the track to the right here (still following Great Glen Way markers). You'll see the old railway above you to the right; continue along the path until you can turn right on a little track leading up onto this.
4. Follow this track (slightly muddy in places), which soon becomes a path and follows the line of the old railway from Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus that was built between 1896 and 1903. This was supposed to be part of a cross-country link to Inverness but was never extended beyond Loch Ness; the line closed to passengers in 1933 and was last used during World War Two before being dismantled. The line of the track is attractively wooded and gives easy walking.
5. At one point the path crosses an old railway bridge with a view of waterfalls on the left. Further on it emerges onto a wide track. Continue straight ahead here; further on ignore a track coming in from the left and another heading uphill on the left. Don't turn off onto any side-tracks, but keep an eye out for a little path which heads off to the right, which is well-walked but easily missed. Turn down it and follow it to the A82, taking care when crossing it and following it a short distance to the right before turning left down the minor road back to Laggan locks.
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