Great Glen Way to Loch Ness – comfortable b&b’s – 8 Days

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs.

If you do not have access to hills, it is essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible such as on a treadmill or stair climber. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Also, prioritising resistance weight training will help you develop overall muscle strength.  Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels if you are able to. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike

TERRAIN

FLAT TERRAIN

Whilst training for walking on flat and hard terrain, you should focus on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace.

Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to get used to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back, keeping a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.

MOUNTAINOUS / UNDULATING TERRAIN

As terrain associated with mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and rocky, balancing and core exercises are vital.

Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills, up and down stairs at work, or up and down at a local oval with a grandstand is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking. Concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles.

AVAILABILITY

This walk is available from April through to October.

So the saying goes in Scotland, always be prepared for a change of weather! Regardless of when you travel, you can experience rainy days with temperatures dipping to 12°C and on the same day, clear skies and sunshine of up to 22°C. In the early and later weeks of the season, it isn’t unusual to see snow on the mountain tops, and you may even experience a frost. May and June are usually the months with the least rainfall, followed by July, August and September. However, what Scotland lacks in warm weather, it truly makes up for it with hospitality.

THE WALKING

Easy to moderate with 2 moderate days of walking. An active lifestyle makes walking more enjoyable, an exercise regime of 2 to 3 times a week is needed along with usual walks. Typically, days are generally easy-going underfoot. Distances on this walk range from 13km to 30km in a day and is very varied. There are some very easy-going days along canal tow paths, whilst several of the days will have between 500-700m of ascent, so you should be physically prepared for a change of terrain mid-way through the walk. The route will have sections of canal tow paths, forest roads, rocky trails and in places, loose terrain underfoot. Trails are very well-defined and are very well waymarked. You will also walk through towns and villages. Although the route is well waymarked, for each of your walks, you will be provided with daily summaries, a map, a guidebook and the GPX tracks if you require to use them for your own device.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

This walk starts in Fort William and finishes in Inverness.

To Fort William
Fort William does not have an airport. The closest airports are Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.

From Glasgow airport, you can catch the shuttle bus to central Glasgow and take a direct train service from Glasgow Queen Street (3hrs 45min journey).

From Edinburgh airport you can take a bus to Edinburgh Haymarket and change for a train to Fort William, travelling via Glasgow Queen Street (4.5hrs journey).

From Inverness, bus services connect the airport and Fort William, with a journey time of around 3hrs.

Caledonian Sleeper Train – to Fort William
A great way to travel from/to London is by taking the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train. Depending on the day, services depart London Euston around 10 pm, travel through the night and arrive in Fort William around 8.30 am the following day. At the end of your walk you can take this train from Inverness to back to London.

Onward Travel From Inverness
Inverness airport has excellent domestic connections across the UK and a limited service into Europe. Alternatively, the Inverness train has onward connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh (4hrs 30mins).

For all train travel in the UK, please check The Trainline or National Rail for timetables, prices and ticket purchases.

If travelling on the Caledonian Sleeper Service, please check Caledonian Sleeper for information.

Another useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to, other destinations.

NOTE Train travel in the UK can be very expensive. Booking trains in advance is always the most cost effective strategy. Travelling off peak (after 9:30 am and not between the hours of 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm) can also reduce ticket prices significantly. Train strikes have also become more common in recent years. For the latest updates, always check www.scotrail.co.uk

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.