We caught the 12:21 train from Glasgow Queen Station to Fort William to where we would start the walk. Almost a 4 hour train ride but with now connections so pretty easy, apart from the banshee squealing brakes on the train that were periodically applied. The scenery became pasture like and then rolling hills.
We took a taxi from the train station to our first B&B, Gowan Brae House. The rooms were nice and we settled in and then took a walk down to the village for dinner at a little pub. Afterwards we walked the shops a bit and then stopped for another drink at another pub.
September 21 – Great Glen Way – Day 1, Fort William to Gairlochy
After our filling Scottish breakfast we set out from our B&B to the start of the Great Glen Way, conveniently located near the train station and McDonalds. We walked through the village of Caol and stopped at Corpach on the canal to pick up the key for the toilets along the way. The Caledonian Canal is a sister canal to the Rideau Canal.
We then walked along the canal and stopped for lunch at a restaurant beside Neptune’s Staircase, which is a number of locks in a row to take the boats up the hill. The rest of the day’s walk was mostly along the canal. Had sporadic spots of rain during the day but not for very long at any point. We then turned off the path to head to the B&B, stopping for a great rainbow!
The basic walk was about 10.5 miles but with the distance from the B&B to the start of the trail and the distance to the next B&B, it was closer to 19.5 km.
Got to our B&B and were welcomed by our host, Helen, with tea. Helen was a nice lady with very distinct views. After we settled she drove us into Spean Bridge for dinner at a restaurant at the railway station. On the way to dinner she seemed to be driving pretty fast considering it was a winding, narrow road and her defrost didn’t seemed to be clearing the window! Regardless, we made it to and from dinner.
September 22 – Great Glen Way – Day 2, Gairlochy to South Laggan
A long walk today through some forest and along Loch Lochy. Periods of rain but still pretty decent weather. Nowhere to stop for lunch but we had some apples and sandwiches from Helen, which we ate on the forest path.
We had planned to stop at The Eagle, a floating barge pub and restaurant on the way into Laggan but it was closed. So we ended up heading to the B&B, which was through a forest and then back down the road towards the Eagle. The hosts were a very friendly couple, who cheered us on as we came into the driveway. They drove us to the only open restaurant in town at the Lodge. Then back to the B&B to bed after a long day.