Loch Oich & Caledonian Canal
Highland
This bonny section of the Great Glen Way traces lochs and canals beneath a raft of majestic Munros for the perfect Highland adventure.
DISTANCE: 10.7 MILES/17.3KM TIME: 6 HOURS LEVEL: MODERATE ASCENT: 78M TERRAIN: Generally flat with a few short ascents and descents. Follows the Great Glen Way, so well-signed on towpaths, woodland trails and grassy tracks.
The natural faultline of the Great Glen Way washes across Scotland in a series of beautiful lochs, which were linked by Thomas Telford’s Caledonian Canal in 1822, providing a route for vessels to cross between east and west Scotland.
This delightful waterside walk begins at Laggan Locks and follows the canal along the eastern shore of Loch Oich to reach Fort Augustus.
Although it’s a lengthy stomp of some six hours, it offers calm, easy walking on well-signed paths beside water and through lush woodland. You may even spot red squirrels, pine martens and eagles, if you’re lucky.
1 ENGINEERING MARVEL
From Laggan Locks at the north end of Loch Lochy, follow the canalside path north-east past a picnic area and the Eagle Barge Inn and along the embankments. As the grassy track becomes a gravel path rising into the woods, shaded by Scots pine trees, admire views to the glinting waters of the canal, which took 18 years to construct; think of the effort it would have taken to cut its passage into this higher ground. Continue on the path (ignoring the route on the right leading to the A82) to cross the footbridge over the burbling Allt an Lagain. After exiting the woods, look back down the canal to drink in views of the Loch Lochy Munros.
Continue along the bracken-clad canalside route to emerge on the A82 near the Laggan Swing Bridge.
2 LINKING LOCHS
Cross the main road to a quiet lane opposite leading into the Great Glen Water Park on the shores of Loch Oich. Follow the signs for the Great Glen Way, tracking up into the woods on to a shared cycle path, once a railway line built in 1896, now fringed with purple orchids and rhododendron. This is Leitirfearn Forest Nature Reserve, a verdant mixed native woodland, rich with ferns, mosses, ash, birch, elm and hazel, which runs along the eastern shore of Loch Oich, the smallest of the three lochs linked by the Caledonian Canal.
After several miles, the path passes old Leitirfearn cottage, with views to Invergarry Castle, and opens into a small meadow.
After returning to woodland and shore, the way then rises steeply to pass through an old railway tunnel.
Eventually the track crosses a small waterfall before turning left at gates to cross an old railway bridge over the Calder Burn.
3 NORTH BOUND
Turn left at a kissing gate then walk beside Loch Oich to a ladder stile. Continue on to the Aberchalder Swing Bridge, where you can detour to the double-cantilevered Oich Bridge, built in 1854.
Cross the A82 to follow the track on the south side of the Caledonian Canal, passing Bridge House Tea Garden. At Cullochy Loch, find the towpath on the north side of the canal, passing through a woodland of elegant birch trees. Admire the wide sweep of the canal where a small loch has been incorporated, and the colourful boats, continuing to the pretty surroundings of Kytra Locks.
4 FORT FINISH
The pine-clad canal continues into a mixed woodland of hazel and birch, and the River Oich can be seen running alongside at points.
Finally Fort Augustus comes into view, a large village that sits on either side of five splendid stepped locks descending towards Loch Ness. At the A82, turn left and cross a bridge over the River Oich to reach the tourist information centre, from where Scottish Citylink operates a bus back to Laggan Locks five times a day. Alternatively, Fort Augustus offers a variety of accommodation, including campsites, hostels and hotels, if you wish to continue your Great Glen Way adventure.
