Loch Ness and the Great Glen

Over 20 miles long, a mile wide and 740 feet at its deepest, Loch Ness is the largest body of water in Scotland by volume and lies in a natural geographical fault that stretches across the width of Scotland. It is joined at either end by the Caledonian Canal, built by the engineer Thomas Telford in 1822.Originally designed by the famous civil engineer Thomas Telford and opened in 1822, the Caledonian Canal is 60 miles long and links Inverness to Fort William. The canal was originally built to provide a short cut for merchant skippers between the east and west coasts of Scotland, who welcomed the chance to cut down their journey times and avoid unwelcome approaches from French pirates on the open sea. Today, the canal is still in use and the Fort Augustus locks are less than one mile away.

Discover the Great Glen Way, a walking route 73 miles in length and which runs from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east. With spectacular views and historical and natural heritage to be discovered all along the way, the Great Glen Way can be broken down into sections. Alternatively the whole route can be walked in 5-6 days, staying overnight in the various communities within the Glen, and suits all levels of walker.

Located west of Loch Ness is Glen Affric, offering spectacular scenery and tranquillity. The area is a Caledonian Forest Reserve, a National Scenic Area and a National Nature Reserve. Often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, it contains one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland as well as lochs, moorland, mountains and a variety of walking routes ranging from half a mile to 16 miles and from easy to demanding.