Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal Walk

Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal Walk

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Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal Walk

7 Days Starting and ending in Inverness

Visiting: Inverness, Great Glen Way, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Foyers, Dores, Caledonian Canal, Beauly Firth

Tour operator:

Exodus

Tour code:

W06LN

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

Medium, Low, Leisurely / Moderate

Age range:

18 to 99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:
English
Interests:

Cultural, History

Activities:

Hiking, Trekking

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Our 6-night self-guided walk explores the remote, southern side of Loch Ness where shady forests, tumbling waterfalls and rolling, heather-clad moors provide a misty backdrop to some of the most spectacular hiking in the Scottish Glens. It's a timeless and kaleidoscopic landscape and the place to visit if you want peace, tranquillity and an 'escape from it all' experience.The walking is relaxed, with few serious climbs, taking in: the serene Caledonian Canal, a section of the Great Glen Way, pretty Beauly Firth and a wealth of lochs and rivers whose glassy waters mirror the seemingly endless sky. Plant and birdlife are prolific, and there's a high probability of spotting deer too.

Highlights

  • Rich Scottish Highlands clan culture and history

  • World-famous Loch Ness: wild, beautiful and slightly mysterious

  • Superb bird-spotting: ospreys, red kites, peregrines, buzzards, magnificent golden eagles

  • Dramatic gorges, brooding lochs, tumbling waterfalls, breathtaking views at every turn

  • Red squirrels, red deer, pine martens and even dolphin sightings!

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Inverness

Location: Inverness

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa

Meals Included: Breakfast

Arrive in the wonderful waterside town of Inverness, the cultural capital of
the Scottish Highlands.

Day 2 : The Great Glen Way 13Km/8Mi/3Hr Or 19Km/12Mi/4.5Hr

Location: Great Glen Way

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: The Lovat

Meals Included: Breakfast

After a transfer this morning, from Inverness to Invergarry, set off along a
section of the Great Glen Way, overlooking Loch Oich, to the historic Bridge
of Oich. Continue along the Caledonian Canal towpath to Fort Augustus, at the
southern tip of Loch Ness.

Day 3 : At Fort Augustus

Location: Fort Augustus

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: The Lovat

Meals Included: Breakfast

Spend the day in Fort Augustus, walking in the surrounding woodland or taking
a boat trip on the world-famous waters of Loch Ness to visit Urquhart Castle.

Day 4 : South Loch Ness Trail To Foyers 17Km/10.5Mi/5Hr

Location: Loch Ness

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Craigdarroch Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast

Follow the South Loch Ness Trail with spectacular views of the wild and
timeless Highlands. Pass through the village of Whitebridge and on, through
shaded forest, to Rabbie Burns' famous Falls of Foyers.

Day 5 : Foyers To Dores 15Km/9.5Mi/3.5Hr Or 19Km/12Mi/5Hr

Location: Foyers, Dores

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Best Western Inverness Palace

Meals Included: Breakfast

Head up through the Boleskine woods to Inverfarigaig, with stunning views of
the crags of Dun Deardail; from Fair-Haired Lad's Pass down over Loch Ness to
the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Take a short bus ride back to Inverness.

Day 6 : Caledonian Canal And The Beauly Firth

Location: Caledonian Canal, Beauly Firth

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Best Western Inverness Palace

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take in the Ness Islands, ancient Craig Phadrig, the sea locks at Beauly
Firth and perhaps even spot some dolphins dancing in the waters! Loop back to
Inverness to explore its shops, cafes and castle.

Day 7 : Leave Inverness

Location: Inverness

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leave Inverness

What's Included

  • 6 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation

  • All Breakfasts

  • All luggage transfers

  • Route directions and maps

What's Not Included

  • Room upgrades

  • Travel insurance

  • Single supplement

  • Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

Food

Accommodation

Everywhere you'll be staying has its own unique appeal: a Victorian former mansion; a Highlands country inn and a riverside hotel in the heart of Inverness.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    No vaccinations are obligatory.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this Operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
John Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I went cycling in Albania...

19-Aug-2023

I went cycling in Albania with exodus as my first holiday with them. Such a well organised and wonderful experience where I met multiple fellow travellers who have been advocates of them for many years. You can't argue with happy repeat customers and I'm planning my next adventure with them soon

Rob Burridge (Google Reviewer)  

I'v just come back from...

17-Jul-2022

I'v just come back from an amazing Wildlife & Wilderness trip in Botswana and I highly recommend Exodus Travels. Our guide Brian, was extremely knowledgeable on both the wildlife and history of Botswana and neighbouring countries. The other three staff, Abbis, Chief & Mr T, who accompanied us through out our 2 week trip, put in the hard work and made sure our camp was always prepared and that we we're well fed and looked after. The tour took us to some beautiful places and we saw some amazing wildlife, and on several occasions this was due to Brian's knowledge of the area and wildlife behaviour. Exodus have been very quick to respond to any queries I had, and the whole experience ran smoothly. I was also pleased to hear that during lockdown they provided staff with food packages 👍. I'd normally go on self organised trips, however, with this trip, the tour and guide Brian took us to places not possible otherwise and showed us things that we would'v missed out on. All of which were the highlights of the tour.

Daphne Partridge (Google Reviewer)  

After 14 roup adventure holidays...

26-Nov-2023

After 14 roup adventure holidays with Exofus we would not hesitate to recommend them as an excitingholiday company. They take you off the beaten track but offer great support and expertise :)

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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