Walkhighlands

After walking the WHW in May I started looking for my next long distance walk. Decided on the GGW. It was a tough choice between that and the Rob Roy Way. Started the Great Glen Way on the 15/8/12. I drove up to Fort William the day before and stayed in my Campervan at the Glen Nevis campsite to get an early start. The plan was to walk it in 3 days getting the bus back to the campsites each day. The first day this plan added about 4 or 5 miles to the total as the campsite is not in Fort William so I must have walked about 40 miles the 1st day.....hard going!
Day 1- Fort William to Fort Augustus(35miles stayed at Glen Nevis Campsite)

This part of the walk is really flat and quite open, walking mostly along the side of the Caledonian canal.
Day 2- Fort Augustus To Drumnadrochit(24 miles stayed at Cumberlands Caravan & Camping park Fort Augustus)

Found this part of the walk disappointing as its mostly through the forests. Its very enclosed with little opportunity to see the fabulous scenery. Its also seems to take you away from the lochs and up into the hills with nothing to see but trees!
Day 3- Drumnadrochit to Inverness (20 miles drove back down the road.)

Much the same as the day before, weather was pretty bad as well which never helped. The drive down to Fort Augustus was better than the last 2 days of the walk as I could actually see the scenery. Don't want to be to negative about this walk but after doing the WHW it was a bit of a let down. If the Forestry Commission cut down the trees blocking the views this would be a totally different walk.

Thanks for posting the vids! This is a walk I want to do in the very near future, and it's great to have these kinds of visuals. Gives me a better idea of what it's actually going to look like.

Thanks for the post - doing the GGW next year so found it really interesting - looks like you had pretty mixed weather.

Out of curiosity, what was the soundtrack to the first video???

Gordon

Great videos. Like you I, and two friends, took on the GGW last year (April 2012). Unlike you, we went for the 4 day option. Left Fort William about 7am and proceeded, via Neptune's Staircase and Gairlochy, to the hostel at South Laggan. Had to stop at the Eagle Barge Inn at Laggan Locks. What an experience!!
Day 2 saw us up and walking by 6.20am. Misty alongside Loch Oich and then the sun came out. Fort Augustus for lunch and Invermoriston for tea before overnighting at the Youth Hostel at Alltsigh.
Day 3 was our short one. Left Alltsigh about 9 and meandered to Drumnadrochit, arriving about 1.30pm. Stayed at the excellent Loch Ness Backpackers, which has its' own bar!!
Last day. Walking at 5.20am as we had a bus to catch from Inverness back to Fort William. Steep climb and diversion up to the highest point of the walk. Called in at the 'eco-cafe' at Abriachan. (not to be missed).
Long level walking towards Inverness to be greeted by the ' Inverness Castle 4 miles' sign when you are actually looking down on the city. .
Nice walk but too many trees.

Gordie12 wrote:Thanks for the post - doing the GGW next year so found it really interesting - looks like you had pretty mixed weather.

Out of curiosity, what was the soundtrack to the first video???

Gordon

Dakota - Stereophonics. I hadnt heard it before either. Soundhound fantastic phone app!

At the planning stage for this walk, this spring. These videos are really good! They give a real flavour of the walk. Cant wait.!

hello there Moray2148
thanks for posting these videos excellent makes me want to walk it now!! cannae wait to walk this myself in a month or too

NewTooWalking wrote:hello there Moray2148
thanks for posting these videos excellent makes me want to walk it now!! cannae wait to walk this myself in a month or too

Much as I would love to have posted these great videos I cant lay claim. They were posted by Welshy165 who started the thread and has walked the walk as they say.
Hope you enjoy the walk later in the year!

Moray2148