section one

Fort William to Achnashellach (train station)

Distance: 6 days/83mls/138km:  Fort William to Glengarry: 21mls/30km; Glengarry to Tomdoun: 12mls/20km; Tomdoun to Cluanie: 12mls/20km: Cluanie to Morvich: 14mls/23km; Morvich to Kililan in Glen Elchaig: 12mls/20km: Glen Elchaig to Achnashellach Station: 15mls.25km

Map: OS sheets 41, 34, 33 and 25  

Start: Fort William at the terminus of the Great Glen Way at An Aird

Finish: Achnashellach railway station

Transport for start and finish: Fort William is well served by bus and rail transport. Achnashellach is on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh rail line and is also served by bus links from Inverness. Traveline: 0870 6082608. Scotrail,0845 748 4950 wwwscotrail.co.uk

Suggested Accommodation: There are B&B’s in the Glengarry area; Forest Lodge Guest House, South Laggan, the Tomdoun Lodge Hotel: 01809511218 has a growing reputation as a good staging post for backpackers; the Cluanie Inn is a traditional climbers and walkers hostelry and it’s not too far from Morvich down to the Kintail Lodge Hotel. Kililan in Glen Elchaig might prove difficult but Gerry’s Hostel at Achnashellach (01520 766232) is well known amongst the Scottish outdoors cognescenti.

Tourist Information: Fort William TIC 01397 703781

Route:  From the terminus of the Great Glen Way in Fort William, opposite Safeways, follow the signs for the GGW past the supermarket, along the back of the shinty stadium, through the Caol housing estate and along the shores of Loch Linhhe to the towpath on the Caledonian Canal. Follow the towpath to Banavie.

Continue along the towpath, past the locks of Neptune’s Staircase for 7 miles to Gairlochy. Cross over to the N side of the canal and follow the GGW signs again to Clunes. From here the route of the GGW, and the Cape Wrath Trail, follow the forestry track that runs along the NW shores of Loch Lochy for12 miles to South Laggan. Cross the lock bridge to the S side of the canal and follow the towpath again through Laggan Avenue to the locks at the end of Loch Oich. It’s about a mile from here to the shop at The Well of the Seven Heads, a good re-supply point.

From the shop, backtrack along the road for a short distance to a junction with a Forest Enterprise track. Follow this track N and W through the Glengarry Forest for 9 miles to the footbridge over the narrows of Loch Garry. From here follow the road west, past Tomdoun Lodge Hotel to GR113018. A footpath runs over the Druim na h-Achlaise ridge and down into Glen Loyne near the head of Loch Loyne. Cross the River Loyne near to GR091055 then follow the path on the opposite shore a over the east slopes of Creag a’Mhaim and down to Cluanie.

From the hotel at Cluanie, backtrack along the road for about 1.5km and take the path that runs over the An Caorann Mor into the head of Glen Affric. Turn south-west into the Fiongleann and follow the track past Camban Bothy into Gleann  Lichd. Follow the track, occasionally steeply, down to Glenlichd House and the estate track that runs north-west to the road at Morvich. Follow the road to Inchnacroe where a footpath, signposted to the Falls of Glomach, runs N then NE to cross the river below Durusduain. Continue on the signposted path to the bridge over the Allt an Leoid Ghaineamhaich. Cross the bridge and follow the path as it turns right and ascends the slopes above the burn to the Bealach na Sroine. Cross the bealach and descend in a NE to the Allt a’ Ghlomaich above the Falls of Glomach..

Follow the path down the steep-sided glen into Glen Elchaig where a footbridge crosses the river. Follow the track west and north as far as Killilan, to the start of the public road. Follow the road across the bridge and turn right to Nomach Lodge. Beyond the Lodge a footpath runs up Glen Ling, crosses a tributary of the River Ling and continues to the forest at Loch an Iasaich. Beyond the forest an estate track runs for about 4 miles to Bendronaig Lodge beyond which another footpath runs north by the Black Water to Loch an Laoigh. You have to leave the path just beyond the loch and cross the Abhainn Bhearnais to the bothy on the north shore. From there another footpath runs over a high (600m) pass below Sgurr na Feartaig from where it wriggles down towards the Achnashellach Forest and a footbridge over the River carron to the A890 road at Achnashellach Station.

The section from Bendronaig Lodge can be difficult in bad weather. A lower level alternative follows a footpath from Glen Ling north to the A890 at Attadale and then follows the road to Strathcarron. From there, more road walking leads to the A890 and a long road stretch past Coulags to Achnashellach.

SECTION two

Achnashellach to Oykel Bridge