Virtual Great Glen Way Challenge
Follow one of Scotland's great geological features from your own roads and trails. The Great Glen Way runs roughly 116 km (about 72 miles) from Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis northeast along the Great Glen fault to Inverness on the Moray Firth, passing the full length of Loch Ness. Route Rally turns every synced walk, run or ride into progress along this scenic Highland corridor.
- Route: Great Glen Way
- Distance: 116.4 km
- Elevation gain: 2608 m
- Scenic Highland loch corridor
- Best for: Shorter rallies of your own for walkers and cyclists, and focused three-to-six week Highland goals
Planning your challenge
A runner averaging 40 km/week finishes in about three weeks; a walker at 30 km/week takes around four weeks, and a cyclist at 150 km/week completes it in under a week.
This is a Short-to-medium route by Route Rally distance bands, the shortest of the Scottish Great Trails and a good first entry into this set.
Works well as a first Scottish trail, a quick Highland goal, or the natural complement to the West Highland Way if you want to link Fort William to Inverness.
Create your own rally for your own Great Glen target, solo or with a group sharing one leaderboard.
Why this route
- The Great Glen Way follows the Great Glen fault from Fort William to Inverness for about 116 km (72 miles), passing the full length of Loch Ness.
- As a virtual challenge you cover the distance in your own time, with daily walks, runs and rides from anywhere pushing you northeast along the lochside.
- It is the shortest of Scotland's Great Trails, which makes it an ideal introduction to the set and a manageable month-long goal.
- The route follows a clear geological line through the Highlands, linking two of Scotland's most important towns via one of its most famous lochs.
- Cyclists can follow much of the route on the Great Glen cycle path, and the relatively gentle terrain makes it accessible across all disciplines.
Highlights
- Start at Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the natural end-point of the West Highland Way
- Follow Loch Lochy and the Caledonian Canal northeast towards Loch Ness
- Travel the full length of Loch Ness along the southern shore
- Finish at Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands
Common questions
How does my activity count along the Great Glen?
There is no logging step at all. Your Strava or Apple Health activities arrive on their own and move you northeast from Fort William. A runner at 40 km a week reaches Inverness in about three weeks, and a cyclist at 150 km a week in under a week.
Do I have to be near Loch Ness?
No. Only the length of the glen is asked of you, so your local roads and towpaths carry you the whole way along it. The real corridor runs dead straight along a geological fault; your own version can wander as much as it likes, provided it adds up to 116 km.
Can I do this after the West Highland Way?
Yes. Many walkers link the two trails: the West Highland Way ends at Fort William, and the Great Glen Way starts there, effectively letting you walk from the outskirts of Glasgow to Inverness in one unbroken journey. As virtual challenges they are separate routes with separate leaderboards.
How long does it take?
At 30 km a week you finish in about four weeks. Runners at 40 km a week complete it in around three weeks, and cyclists at 150 km a week in under a week. How long the rally runs is settled by you at setup.
Start your Great Glen Way Conquest
Joining is free. Connect Strava or Apple Health once and every ride, run or walk you record syncs automatically, moving you along the route without anything else to log.