79 miles is the length of the Great Glen Way, and 5 walking days means 14 to 18 miles per day. We plan this as a gentler follow-on to the West Highland Way because the gradients are lower. Moira Donnelly from our studio checks each 5-day split against boat times on Loch Ness and bus backups.
79 Miles Splits Into 5 Even Walking Days
79 miles over 5 days breaks as 14, 15, 17, 18 and 15 miles from Fort William to Inverness. Day 1 follows the Caledonian Canal towpath for 9 of its 14 miles, so the start is flat. You reach Gairlochy and Laggan with very little climbing on day one.
17 miles is the longest middle day between Laggan and Fort Augustus, with forest track and a high section at 300 meters. You walk 6 to 8 hours depending on stops. We place a lunch stop at Laggan Locks because the cafe sits almost exactly halfway.
32 Miles Run Beside Loch Ness
32 miles of the route sit within sight or sound of Loch Ness between Fort Augustus and Inverness. Day 4 climbs to 400 meters above the loch with repeated forest road undulations. You gain and lose about 600 meters across that single day, the hardest on the plan.
5 days keeps hotel moves simple: Fort William, Laggan area, Fort Augustus, Drumnadrochit area, Inverness. We book luggage moves at 9 to 12 GBP per bag per stage in 2026. You carry water and layers only, which matters on the high forest miles.
4 Nights of the 5-Day Plan Cost 780 to 980 GBP
4 nights is a shorter option some walkers ask about, but it pushes days to 19 to 21 miles and we only offer it to proven distance walkers. Our standard 5-night 5-walk plan runs 780 to 980 GBP per person in 2026 with en suite rooms. The price includes maps, transfers and trail support by phone.
| Day | Section | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort William to Laggan | 14 |
| 2 | Laggan to Fort Augustus | 15 |
| 3 | Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit | 17 |
| 4 | Drumnadrochit to Inverness | 18 |
15 miles is the average day on the 5-day math, and the table above shows one workable split. You can shift 2 miles between days 3 and 4 by changing the overnight village. We confirm each overnight has dinner within 1 mile before we lock it.
300 Meters Is the Highest Sustained Altitude
300 to 400 meters is the working altitude for most of the high sections, well below Munro height. Navigation stays simple because waymarks and canal infrastructure guide you. You still need a waterproof shell because the Glen funnels rain sideways in April and October.
2 pairs of socks per day is our standing advice for the canal miles, where hard towpath surfaces punish feet. You change at lunch and air the morning pair on your pack. We include a blister kit list tuned for flat-surface friction.
60 Minutes Connects Inverness to the Start by Bus
60 minutes is the buffer we build between your Inverness arrival and any onward train booking. Buses link Inverness and Fort William in about 2 hours if you need to return a car. Trains take longer at 3.5 to 4 hours with a change, so we price that honestly in your plan.
2 business days is our reply time for a written 5-day draft with named overnights. Moira Donnelly signs off each Great Glen plan for trail conditions around Loch Ness. You get a GPX track, a paper map note and a number to call if a stage runs long.