Great Glen Way Mountain Bike Route
The Great Glen Way is a long distance path running 73 miles from
Fort William to Inverness. The Great Glen is actually a series of glens
filled by lochs which are linked by the Caledonian Canal.
Cycling the Great Glen from west to east is the most popular choice
as you have the prevailing wind behind you and start with the easier
sections of the route.
The route is waymarked and for the most part follows the Caledonian
Canal. There are however some challenging sections where the route
climbs high above the banks of Loch Ness.
We recommend tackling the route over three days, with overnight stops in the villages of Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit.
We've just launched a new one-way bike hire service for the Great Glen Way which makes organising your trip just a little bit easier.
Day One: Fort William to Fort Augustus
Day one is the longest but by far the gentlest day. Beginning and ending on the towpath of the Caledonian Canal, the route on the north side of Loch Oich climbs to around 450 feet and offers some of the best views of the trip.
Day Two: Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit
Day two is the hardest with challenging climbs out of Invermoriston and Alltsigh. Your effort is rewarded with stunning views over Loch Ness that few visitors (or even locals) ever see. If you arrive early enough then a walk round Urquhart Castle will help loosen off tired muscles before dinner.
Day Three: Drumnadrochit to Inverness
The final leg starts with another steep climb but once up there the route is fairly gentle and you finish with a long descent into Inverness. If you've still got plently of energy then the graded mountain bike trails at Abriachan provide some fun. You can stop here for a picnic or a wee walk in the woods too.
Our unique bike taxi service transports up to six cyclists and their bikes from Inverness to the starting point in Fort William.
For more information see Great Glen Way Rangers, Undiscovered Scotland or this excellent waterproof Great Glen Way map.
