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Great Glen Way

Great Glen Way: Accommodation in Hostels & Bunkhouses

Walking on the Great Glen Way
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Long Distance RoutesThe Great GlenPerfect for you EnglandScotlandWales

The Great Glen Way goes from Fort William To Inverness. It is marked and is about 75 miles long.

There are Independent Hostels along the Great Glen Way providing accommodation that caters specifically for long distance walkers and mountain bikers.

The Great Glen Way can be walked in 3 to 5 days undertaking a distance between 11 and 22 miles a day.

Most of the route is at low level alongside the water and is a good first walk for those new to long distance walking in the Highlands.

Accommodation on the Great Glen Way

  • Loch Ness Backpackers Lodge

    Coiltie Farmhouse, East Lewiston, Drumnadrochit, Inverness, IV63 6UJ
    Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness adn close to Loch Ness Backpackers Hostel

    Walking the Great Glen Way? Friendly hostel accommodation right on the route

    Loch Ness Backpackers is a great stop over on this iconic route. Warm and welcoming, within walking distance of a supermarket if you want to self-cater or pubs/restaurants if you don't.
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  • Fort William Backpackers

    Alma Road, Fort William, PH33 6HB
    Fort William Backpackers

    Accommodation at the start/end of the Great Glen Way and the West Highland Way in Fort William

    Most people walking the Great Glen Way start in Fort William, which has the train station on the West Highland Line and plenty of coach and bus links. Fort William Backpackers provides god value accommodation an easy walk from the town centre.
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  • The Lochside Hostel

    Alltsigh, Inverness. IV63 7YD
    lochside hostel by lochness part of the independent hostels network
    Perched right on the banks of Loch Ness, the Lochside Hostel has fantastic views up and down the loch and can give you direct access to the water’s edge. Why not go for a dip in Scotland’s largest water body? Take a walk to watch for wildlife? Or even hunt the elusive Nessie? The Great Glen walking route passes the front door, and the End to End cycle route is nearby. Drumnadrochit is just 12 miles away by boat.
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  • Bank Street Lodge

    Bank Street, Fort William, PH33 6AY

    Planning to walk the West Highland Way or the Great Glen Way?

    Bank Street Lodge hostel is just 10 mins walk from the start/finish and offers walkers perfect budget accommodation.
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  • Great Glen Hostel

    South Laggan, Spean Bridge, Invernesshire, PH34 4EA

    Great value food and walkers accommodation on the Great Glen Way.

    A days walks from Fort William (23 miles on flat loch-side terrain) is to Laggan Locks. Just a few minutes walk off the route is the Great Glen Hostel at Laggan, which provides good value accommodation and meals ideal for walkers.
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  • Morags Lodge Loch Ness

    Bunoich Brae, Fort Augustus, PH32 4DG

    Ideal accommodation in Fort Augustus for walkers on the Great Glen Way

    The second day’s walk (from Laggan) or third day if an overnight was taken at Gairlochy, completea at Fort Augustus. This is a beautiful walk, in places the path is sandwiched between the Caledonian Canal and the side of Loch Oich covered with natural woodlands. Morags Lodge in Fort Augustus provides good value accommodation, meals, a bar and an efficient welcome for walkers on the Great Glen Way.
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  • Saddle Mountain Hostel

    Mandally Road, Invergarry, PH35 4HP

    On the Invergarry Link of the Great Glen Way

    Walking the Invergarry Link takes you through the village of Invergarry and right past the front door of saddle Mountain Hostel. It’s a hostel run by walkers for walkers, and with (probably) the best gear drying room in the Great Glen. The village of Invergarry has a small shop to buy provisions and a hotel where walkers can stop for a meal or a drink.
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  • Smiddy Bunkhouse

    Snowgoose Mountain Centre, Station Road, Corpach, Fort William, PH33 7JH
    smiddy bunkhouse near fort william
    Enjoy our loch-side location overlooking the Caledonian Canal, with Ben Nevis & Fort William 4 miles away. Ideal for the outdoor enthusiast with advice & guiding available for walking/climbing, river, loch and sea kayaking, open canoeing & dinghy sailing. Outdoor equipment hire available. After a busy day in the fresh air return to a welcome drying room & laundry, hot showers and a comfy private bunkroom ideal for families & groups.
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  • Inverness Student Hotel

    8 Culduthel Road, Inverness, IV2 4AB
    Inverness student hostel

    Friendly accommodation at the end of the Great Glen Way at the city centre of Inverness

    The last day’s walk from Drumnadrochit to Inverness is 18 miles of easy walking through farmland and forestry. There are some nice views over Loch Ness to the mountains to the north. Spend a last night at the heart of Inverness celebrating your achievement.
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The Great Glen Way: Fort William to Inverness

Caledonian Canal on the Great Glen Way
Caledonian Canal on the Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way can be walked in 3 to 5 days undertaking a distance between 11 and 22 miles a day. There are Independent Hostels along the Great Glen Way providing accommodation that caters specifically for long distance walkers and mountain bikers on the trail. This article gives details of the stages of the walk and ideal places to stay. The Great Glen Way travels from Fort William, the largest town in the West Highlands, to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. It is a way marked walk of around 75 miles. The route follows the natural fault of the Great Glen which divides Scotland in half. Most of the route is at low level alongside the water and is a good first walk for those new to long distance walking in the Highlands. There are also higher sections between Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit which have dramatic views and steep climbs. The Great Glen Way runs alongside Loch Linnhe, Loch Oich and through the forests above Loch Ness. There is a section along the towpath of the Caledonian Canal which links these lochs to make a navigable sea route from the West Coast of Scotland to the Moray Firth.

The Great Glen Way is most often walked in 4 or 5 days by those undertaking an average distance of 13 miles a day. However, it can be completed in 3 days if a mileage of around 20 miles a day is undertaken on two days. There are Independent Hostels in Fort William, in three locations on the banks of Loch Ness and in Inverness at the end of the Great Glen Way.  These provide self catering accommodation with meals and cater specifically for long distance walkers and mountain bikers on the trail.

Most people walking the Great Glen Way start in Fort William, which has the train station on the West Highland Line and plenty of coach and bus links. There is a choice of accommodation in Independent Hostels in Fort William all an easy walk from the town centre. BANK STREET LODGE and FORT WILLIAM BACKPACKERS offer good value accommodation in the town centre.

The first day’s walk from Fort William to Laggan Locks is 23 miles on flat loch side terrain. This day can be split in half with a night at Gairlochy if required. GREAT GLEN HOSTEL at Laggan is just a few minutes’ walk off the Great Glen Way and provides good value accommodation and meals ideal for walkers of the Great Glen Way.

Great Glen Hostel at Laggan on the Great Glen Way
Great Glen Hostel at Laggan on the Great Glen Way

The second day’s walk (or third day if an overnight was taken at Gairlochy) is from Laggan to Fort Augustus. This is a beautiful walk, in places the path is sandwiched between the Caledonian Canal and the side of Loch Oich covered with natural woodlands. This is a shorter day’s walk totalling around 11 miles. MORAGS LODGE LOCH NESS at Fort Augustus provides great accommodation, meals, a bar and an efficient welcome for walkers on the Great Glen Way.

Morags Lodge at Fort Augusts on the Great Glen Way
Morags Lodge at Fort Augusts on the Great Glen Way

As an alternative to the main route along Loch Oich walkers can choose to follow the Invergarry Link of the Great Glen Way. The 8.4 mile link route takes the west side of Loch Oich between the Kilfinnan road end and the Bridge of Oich. The forest tracks and paths that make up the Invergarry Link climb up above Loch Oich, giving great views of the loch itself, Loch Ness in the distance and the nearby mountains. Walking the Invergarry Link takes you through the village of Invergarry and right past the front door of SADDLE MOUNTAIN HOSTEL. It’s a hostel run by walkers for walkers, and with (probably) the best gear drying room in the Great Glen. The village of Invergarry has a small shop to buy provisions and a hotel where walkers can stop for a meal or a drink.

Saddle Mountain Hostel on the great glen way
Saddle Mountain Hostel on the Great Glen Way

The third (or fourth) day’s walk from Fort Augustus to Dumnadrochit is 22 miles. This involves some steep climbs up forestry tracks and spectacular views as you climb the paths up the lochside.  This is a long walk with significant accent, but it can be split into two parts with a night at The Lochside Hostel at  Altsigh.  This is the old SYHA Loch Ness hostel, built right on the bank of the loch with stunning views over the water.

lochside hostel on the great glen way

The third (or perhaps fourth or fifith) night accomodation is in the village for Drumnadrochit  LOCH NESS BACKPACKERS LODGE provides a welcoming nights rest.

Loch Ness Backpackers at Drumnadrochit on the Great Glen Way
Loch Ness Backpackers at Drumnadrochit on the Great Glen Way

The last day’s walk from Drumnadrochit to Inverness is 18 miles of easy walking through farmland and forestry. There are some nice views over Loch Ness to the mountains to the north. There is hostel accommodation available at INVERNESS STUDENT HOTEL and good public transport links including a train station to find your way home.

Inverness Student Hostel at Inverness, the end of the Great Glen Way
Inverness Student Hostel at Inverness, the end of the Great Glen Way

You can see a map showing all the hostels and bunkhouses around the Great Glen Way. Owen Peters, one of our travel writers, has walked the Great Glen Way in reverse, starting at Inveness and finishing at Fort William. He did the route in 3.5 days. The tale of his adventures has been published on our blog in the four installments:-  Inverness to Drumnadrochit, Drumnadrochit to Fort Augustus, Fort Augustus to Laggan, Finishing at Fort William.

This article shows the location and details of the hostels and bunkhouses along the trail.  Full details of the route and other resources can be found on the LDWA website.

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