Scotland Coast to Coast Walk and Barge

We will board the barge at 14:00 (2pm) today and after meeting the crew and other guests, we walk to Clachnaharry Sea Lock, the easternmost point of the Caledonian Canal, to start our coast to coast journey. The canal which was constructed in the early 19th century connects the east coast of Scotland, from Inverness to Fort William. This afternoon we will follow the barge to Dochgarroch, a picturesque settlement located on Loch Dochfour, where we'll stay for the night. The walk follows the towpath with the Caledonian Canal on your right and the River Ness on your left.

Distance: 7 miles/11km; Height gain: 15m/49ft

The day’s walk begins with a climb through the forest to join the Great Glen Way above Loch Dochfour. We stop for lunch at the weird and wonderful Abriachan Eco-Café, a popular stop-off point for both hikers and cyclists along the trail. The afternoon walk is mostly downhill, providing our first glimpses of Loch Ness. The barge will pick us up at Drumnadrochit, a village located on the western side of Loch Ness, and we'll cruise to Foyers, on the eastern side, for the night's mooring.

Distance: 14.5 miles/23.2km; Height gain: 350m/1148ft

We start the morning with a breakfast cruise back to Drumnadrochit where we will continue our walk. From the mooring we head through the village, before ascending the trail, with views back over the town and the loch. Our lunch stop today is at the charming Grotaig Pottery gallery, which has a small walkers cafe with tables in the garden or inside the gallery. In the afternoon we'll descend through some beautiful pine woodland back to the loch side, where the barge will pick us up at Alltsigh. We will then cruise to Fort Augustus where we will spend the night.

Distance: 13 miles/21km; Height gain: 400m/1312ft

This morning we will once again cruise during breakfast back to Alltsigh, where the barge will drop us ashore. The initial section of today's walk will take us to Invermoriston, a highland village located on the northern shores of Loch Ness where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we have the choice of two walking routes both with converge at Fort Augustus. The High Route which takes us above the trees offers breath-taking views over the Monadhliath Mountains (Grey Mountains). The Low Route which stays below the tree line provides walkers with viewpoints across Loch Ness. The barge will meet us at Fort Augustus where we will overnight.

Distance: 13 miles/21km; Height gain: 200m/656ft (High Route: +1 mile/1.6km, +300m/984ft)

The walk out of Fort Augustus this morning takes us up a small hill (120m) which commands awesome views over the full length of Loch Ness. These will be our last glimpses of the loch, as the route then takes us back down to the canal towpath to meet the barge at Cullochy Lock for lunch. The rest of the walk takes you along forest path above the picturesque and secluded Loch Oich into Invergarry, before climbing out of the other side of Glen Garry to re-join the barge at Laggan Locks.

The fascinating water lock gates here connect the highest waters of the Caledonian Canal, at Loch Oich with the lower water levels of Loch Lochy.

Distance: 14 miles/22.5km; Height gain: 500m/1640ft

Following close to the shore of Loch Lochy, our morning walk provides some dramatic views of the Munros (a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet or 914.4 mt) to the North and, on a clear day, our first sight of Ben Nevis to the South. We stop for lunch on the shore of the loch, before heading inland past Chia-Aig Falls and Loch Arkaig. We continue into the Achnacarry Estate, home of the Clan Chief of the Camerons of Locheil. We return to the loch side, passing wonderful native woodland along the shores, before returning to the barge which will be moored at Gairlochy, a small hamlet located on the southern shore of the loch.

Distance: 14.7 miles/23.5km; Height gain: 140m/460ft

Our final morning walk follows the canal towpath, passing the only hand wound bridge left in the Great Glen at the small village of Moy. The path offers fantastic views of Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest mountain at 1,345 m (4,413 ft). We conclude our walk at Corpach Sea Lock, the most westerly point on the canal and the end of our coast to coast journey. A taxi will return us to the barge for our final goodbyes and departures at approximately 1pm.

Distance: 8 miles/13km; Height gain: -20m/65.5ft