The Grog & Grill is one of the most popular restaurants in all of Fort William. This joint has everything you could ever want. From morning till night, you can order from their Alehouse menu. Here you can find the perfect light snack or a hearty meal to fill your belly. Once evening rolls around, try their restaurant menu which features everything from nachos to steak to Cajun food. You will want for nothing after an evening here. Plus, it is an absolute must to try one of their regionally brewed ales or a classy whisky.

Make your way over to this red-roofed restaurant to experience the best seafood that Scotland has to offer. Overlooking Loch Linnhe, right on the Fort William Town Pier, Crannog features everything from salmon to hake. If you are not a seafood lover, no problem! They also serve roasted turkey, rib-eye steaks, and hearty pies. Just make sure to leave room for their cherry chocolate torte with cherry Chantilly cream to finish off the night in style.

If you would like to experience fine dining like royalty, you must visit Albert and Michel Roux Jr. at Inverlochy Castle. This father/son duo create spectacular dishes from locally sourced ingredients in modern British style with a French twist. Delight in their Loch Etive sea trout or their herb encrusted lamb and pair it with a delectable wine. You will leave with your taste buds soaring.

The Lime Tree is an award-winning restaurant that prides itself on creating delicious meals from fresh and seasonal locally-sourced products. Curious about haggis but don’t want to try the real thing? Try their vegetarian haggis instead! You can also taste their beautifully made aubergine parmigiana, highland venison, or Lasg bree. The kitchen even serves a tiny taster course similar to an amuse-bouche that will give you a sneak peek into Scottish cuisine.

Experience dining like a Scot at the Moriston Bar & Restaurant. Moriston prides itself on freshly prepared in-house meals made of quality, locally-sourced ingredients. You will have the opportunity to taste traditional dishes like Scottish salmon, Highland beef, haggis, and black pudding. Moriston enjoys feeding people from every walk of life, so they also have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options to ensure that everyone leaves full and happy.

Within the Lovat Hotel is the excellent Brasserie restaurant. This cute restaurant is shabby-chic and prides itself on an attentive, yet non-intrusive, staff that will cater to your every need. Carefully designed meals made of high-quality produce will delight your senses. Join them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and prepare yourself for a delicious meal. Try their flame-grilled mackerel as an appetiser or the roast loin of lamb as your main course. Just make sure to save plenty of room for one of their classy desserts at the end.

Had enough Scottish food for the moment? Mix it up by going to Aspendos. This Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant serves a variety of foods that will please all of your senses. Try their Saksuka or Sucuk Izgara as an appetiser. For their main dishes, they serve lamb, chicken, steak, and fish as well as many vegetarian options. Kind staff and cuisine traditions thousands of years in the making will have you returning again and again.

At the foot of the Greig Street suspension bridge, right on the edge of the River Ness, is the River House Restaurant. A comfortable and classy atmosphere with fantastic views over the water is one of the staples of the River House along with its wide variety of seafood and shellfish. Here you can experience some of the finest seafood Scotland has to offer from oysters to bass to langoustine. You will leave having truly experienced the taste of the sea.

This historic restaurant was converted from a Victorian railway station. It was here that the trainee commandos started their epic training for World War II by marching from the station to Castle Commando. Now you can “dine on the line” and eat locally-sourced ingredients like Scottish meats and Lochaber fish. If you aren’t hungry, just pop in to the bar and grab one of their malt whiskies or Scottish artisanal gins.

Perched on the very end of Loch Ness, with stunning views over the water, is one of Fort Augustus’s favourite restaurants, the Boathouse. The Boathouse features a selection of authentic Scottish dishes as well as Mediterranean specialties. They pride themselves on providing fresh ingredients that will make your palate dance with flavour.

Head on down to Fiddler’s if you are looking for traditional Scottish comfort food. Their award-winning haggis is a must-try for newbies to Scotland! They aim to please, so there is something for everyone here. Enjoy a fresh salad, a hearty pasta, savoury venison, and more! Don’t forget to ask about their dessert menu, which includes whisky sponge cake and boozy ice cream.

Located on the edge of Spean Bridge Village is the charming Coire Glas Guest House. Nearly surrounded by trees and with a gorgeous view of the ski slopes of Aonach Mor, this guesthouse is the perfect place to rest after a long day of walking. Comfortable rooms in a variety of sizes are designed to provide you with a relaxing end to the day. Try curling up in the guest lounge with a good book, you will feel your stress melt away. Be sure to enjoy a delightful breakfast in the dining area in the morning before you head out.

The Lovat is an award-winning, eco-conscious hotel located on the loch-side village of Fort Augustus. It is the only 4-star hotel in Loch Ness and an excellent upgrade choice on your walking holiday. Each of their rooms is designed with 4-star comfort as the forefront principal, ensuring that each guest can relax in luxury. Their ban on palm oil products and effort to maintain an environmentally friendly hotel makes The Lovat a popular destination for those who both want to explore the beautiful highlands and preserve the natural environment.

Glenmoriston Arms is a traditional Scottish hotel in the village of Invermoriston. This hotel is “a stone’s throw from Loch Ness…a world away from your daily cares.” Relax in the warm sun of the bar garden as you sip an ice-cold beer or explore the surrounding Highland village. Quaint rooms with all the usual amenities are waiting for you here, along with the opportunity to visit their fabulous restaurant and bar where you can learn what it is like to be a true Scot.

Old fashioned charm meets the modern world. Greenlea Bed & Breakfast was built in 1810, the first house on the Village Green in Drumnadrochit. Once a site for cattle sales, this adorable cottage has been transformed into a quaint location that walkers love to spend time in at the end of the day. Comfy rooms and a full Scottish breakfast are all a part of the package. Additionally, Greenlea is within short walking distance of fantastic local restaurants, shops, and other amenities.

From Edinburgh:
If you choose to fly into Edinburgh, you will have to transfer to the Waverly Railway Station first thing. You can do this by taking the Airlink 100 from the airport to the station. From here, you will need to transfer to Glasgow before continuing to Fort Williams. You can take the ScotRail train from Edinburgh Waverley Station and transfer at the Glasgow Queen Street Station. From here, you will take the Mallaig ScotRail train to Fort William Travel Centre.

From Glasgow:
If you are flying into Glasgow, you will need to transfer to the Glasgow Queen Street Station. This can be done by taking the 500 Airport Express Bus from the airport to Cathedral Street. Here you will transfer to Glasgow Queen Street Station. From here, take the Mallaig ScotRail train to Fort William Travel Centre.

To Edinburgh:
When departing from Inverness, you can transfer to Edinburgh to connect with other trains or flights. Depending on your departure time, you have a variety of options. You can take the bus from the Farraline Park Bus Station to the Edinburgh Bus Station. It will take approximately 4 hours to reach Edinburgh. Another option would be to take the Edinburgh ScotRail train to Edinburgh Waverly Station. It takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes; however, there are limited departure times for this train.

To Glasgow:
If you wish to return to Glasgow, you can find a variety of train and flight options from this city to your home destination.

At the start of your journey, you will be in Fort William. Fort William was constructed in 1654 at the mouth of the River Ness; originally it was called Inverlochy. The surrounding towns were centred around fishing, specifically the herring industry, as was common in Scotland at the time. This incredible fort withstood uprisings for centuries, but it could not resist modernisation. In the 19th century, it was demolished to make room for a railway. Now the area is simply known as Fort William, and the fort is buried underneath the Fort William Railway Station.

This 13th century castle may just be ruins now, but once upon a time it played a vital role in defending the region. Two significant battles, the first and second battles of Inverlochy, were fought near Inverlochy Castle. The last time the castle saw any action was during the Civil War between the Scottish and the English during the 1640s. Soon after, Inverlochy was abandoned for a fort built by Oliver Cromwell. Today, you can walk among the ruins and daydream about a time when life was a bit different.

Loch Linnhe stretches 50km past Fort William but is not even 2km across at its widest point. Fed from lochs from the north and east, this area is rich in wildlife. Many photographers come from around the world to capture the stunning sunsets and up-close views of the local wildlife. If you look closely, you may even see seals sunning themselves on the beaches of the tiny islands that make their way up the loch.

Standing at a substantial 1,345m is Scotland’s tallest peak, Ben Nevis. In ancient Gaelic, this mountain’s name can be translated in two ways: the “mountain with its head in the cloud” and the “venomous mountain.” How you want to interpret it is up to you! This beloved mountain was once an active volcano that erupted millions of years ago and then collapsed in on itself. While your walking holiday will not take you up the mountain, you will get many glorious views of it.

Gairlochy is a little hamlet that you will pass through on your walking holiday. It extends only 5km from Spean Bridge up towards Achnarry and Loch Arkaig. This area is picturesque in every aspect of the word from its surrounding beech forests to fishermen havens along the canal.

Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, Neptune’s Staircase in an engineering marvel. It is the longest staircase lock in Scotland, raising the canal by 19m in less than half a kilometre. This is the ideal location to gawk at passing boats because it takes about 90 minutes for them to travel through the staircase. So take a seat, grab a snack, and enjoy the show!

Much of the Great Glen Way path extends along the Caledonian Canal. This canal was created in 1822 by the poor Highlanders who had suffered greatly from the Highland Clearances, a time that the local inhabitants faced forced eviction to make way for sheep farming. The 37-mile long canal was hand dug and is an engineering marvel. While it didn’t end up benefiting them in the way they hoped, it ended up creating a fantastic tourist destination that draws countless visitors each year.

Known as “the crossroads of the Highlands,” Spean Bridge village is literally the crossroads. It is here where visitors can choose to head north to Inverness and the Isle of Skye, east to Loch Laggan, or south to Fort William. This quaint village sees a lot of traffic and is an ideal location to grab a bite to eat, do a bit of window shopping, or visit the Kilmonivaig Church.

Located just outside of Spean Bridge village is the Commando Memorial. This memorial was erected in 1952; it honours the Green Berets who trained at the local Commandos Basic Training Centre and subsequently fell during World War II. Made up of three bronze commandos standing at 5.2m high, this statue is an imposing site. It serves as a peaceful reminder to remember those who gave their lives in the war.

Laggan is a charming little village surrounded by the gorgeous Monadhliath and Grampian mountain ranges. Here you can grab a tasty beverage from one of the small shops, enjoy a bit of ice cream, or just take a well-deserved rest. Laggan is a hot spot for nature enthusiasts who enjoy fishing, horseback riding, golfing, walking, kayaking, and more.

Loch Lochy is a large freshwater loch that makes up part of the Caledonian Canal. As you walk along the perimeter, you will be able to witness eagles soaring overhead and perhaps catch a glimpse of the fish darting around just below the surface of the water. Enjoy the stunning views and peaceful air that the loch brings to the Highland countryside.

Hundreds of years ago, Invergarry was known as the land of the powerful MacDonnell family. Here they built the Invergarry Castle which faced an eventful 150 years, from fires to local uprisings. While it lays in ruin now, the little town that popped up in its place is a central hub for those exploring Loch Oich, Loch Garry, and the Glengarry Forest.

Fort Augustus was initially named for the fort built after the defeat of the 1715 Jacobite uprising. Sadly, nothing of the fort remains today. You can, however, enjoy the little town that has taken its place. Visit one of the cultural heritage centres to learn more about the history of the highlands, take a cruise of the loch, or simply take a page out of the locals’ book by watching the boats cruise for a couple hours as you relax at a bar or restaurant.

Loch Ness is one of the most famous lochs in the world due to the tales of a great monster living within its depths. There are over 1,000 accounts of “Nessie” being spotted since the first photograph of her was released in 1933. With Loch Ness containing more water than all of the lakes in England and Wales combined, it gives her plenty of hiding spots. Do you think she is real? Take a boat cruise and see if you can spot her yourself!

This little Highland village is an adorable stop on your walking holiday. Across the road from the hotel is a small village shop and café where you can enjoy a delightful beverage. After you are done, take a stroll into the garden and see the sculpture in honour of the Olympic torch that passed through Invermoriston on its way to the 2012 London Olympics. If you feel like extending your stroll, take a moment to visit the war memorial, St. Columba’s Holy Well, and Thomas Telford’s Bridge.

Drumnadrochit village got its name from the Gaelic term “Druim na Drochaid” which translates to “Ridge of the Bridge.” This name isn’t easy to say for locals or visitors, so everyone just shortens it to “Drum.” This town is popular for people trying to spot the mysterious Nessie as well as those who simply want to fish and enjoy the beauty of Loch Ness. Take a walk down to the village centre, called “The Green,” and relax at one of their cafes or pubs.

As one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart Castle contains over 500 years of astounding history. This castle was passed back and forth under both Scottish and English rule during the Wars of Independence until the last troops that were stationed there blew it up when they left. You can now explore the ruins of the castle by climbing the Grant Tower, peering into the prison cell that is rumoured to have once held the Gaelic bard Domhnall Donn, or participating in the fun fact-finding quiz!

Opened over 30 years ago, the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition contains seven themed areas that will guide you through 500 million years of the historical, natural, and cultural history of the Highlands. You will learn about the fascinating environment in and around Loch Ness and about the famous Loch Ness Monster.

Inverness has a rich history dating all the way back to 500 BC. Many peoples occupied this land over the centuries, but it became more widely known in the 11th century when a new fort was built. You may know of this fort from Shakespeare’s Macbeth which was written about this castle and its patriarch, King Duncan. Like much of Scotland, the area traded hands many times over the years; eventually, the castle was destroyed. However, another castle was built in its place during the 1830s, which is now being used by the crown as a courthouse. Today, Inverness is considered the capital of the Highlands and draws an abundance of visitors each year.

Are you curious about the history of the massive Caledonian Canal that you are walking along for a large part of your holiday? Pop on in to the Caledonian Canal Centre to learn about how and why this canal came to be. At the same time, you can try their local artisan ice cream and buy locally-sourced goods.

Take a step back in time to when the Highlands were ruled by clans. Watch a 30-minute film screening of “The Clansman: Portrait of a Highland Warrior” or book a Clansman show in advance. During this show, they will teach you about the clan system and the local culture. You will learn everything from what they ate, why they wear kilts, how they used their deadly weapons, and what it meant to be a clansman.

Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Have you read all the books and seen all the movies? Then you must know about the famous train that takes all the students to Hogwarts. This train was inspired by a Scottish train, and you can take the journey for yourself. Starting from Fort William, the West Coast Railway takes you on a journey through the Scottish countryside to Mallaig. Arrive a day early to your walking holiday and have the opportunity to unleash your inner wizard.

Fishing is a beloved pastime in the Scottish Highlands, and many people enjoy this leisurely sport while they visit. It is possible to fish along the banks, in the lochs, on the river, and by the Caledonian Canal. However, there are some strict rules and regulations for fishing in the Highlands. Make sure to do your research before grabbing that fishing pole.

What greener place to golf than the beautiful countryside of Scotland? There is a golf course in Fort Williams, four in Inverness, and one in Fort Augustus. Keep your swing loose at the range, practice with a short round at the nine-hole course, or play a full round; there is something for everyone along the Great Glen Way. It’s time to tee up and hit a long drive in one of the most stunning golfing landscapes in the world!

As you walk along the gorgeous lochs through the Highlands, you are probably wondering what it would be like to sail across their glassy waters. You can experience this by taking a boat tour of one of the lochs. You can also take sightseeing cruises to get an up-close look at whales, dolphins, and other magnificent sea creatures! There are many tour companies in the area that offer boat cruises depending on what you want to see and which loch you want to explore!

Over 4,000 paddlers love coasting along the smooth waters of the Caledonian Canal each year. Some even take on the long-distance route by paddling from end to end over three to five days. We aren’t suggesting you go that far since you are already walking it, but you can take some time to get out on the water!