Loch Ness and the Great Glen

The Great Glen

The Great Glen is an ancient geological fault line that cleaves through the Scottish Highlands from coast to coast. The glen runs for 100km / 62 miles from Fort William in the south-west, to Inverness in the north-east. This huge feature of the landscape has been used as an ancient travelling route since the earliest days of human settlement in Scotland, with its many lochs and rivers providing a relatively easy route through the mountains. Of these lochs there are 3 of significance – Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness. Loch Ness is of course by far the most famous, but all are beautiful and have much to offer the adventurous traveller. The many offshoot glens, woods and hills in the area surrounding the Great Glen itself are perhaps one of the most underrated areas in Scotland, as many people still simply pass through the Great Glen on their way to and from the north, or linger only long enough to scratch the surface of the famous loch. The true wonders lie deeper.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness itself is best known for the tales and legends of its monster – Nessie. But the loch has other claims to fame. Though it is neither the longest, nor deepest loch in Scotland, it holds by far the most water; more than in all the rivers and lakes of England and Wales combined! And we never tire of telling them…

While most travellers will simply pass by the western shore of the loch on the main road, the east side of the loch is a quiet hiker’s paradise, offering beautiful mixed woodlands (including one of the finest oak woods in the country), rugged hillsides and roaring waterfalls.