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.

Short-to-medium 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 actually count?

Connect your activity tracker to Route Rally and every kilometre you log adds up automatically. Your marker moves along the route as new activities sync, with nothing to upload and nothing to enter by hand.

Do I have to live near the route?

Not at all. Walk, run or ride wherever you usually train. The route is a virtual target, so your local roads, treadmill miles and weekend hikes all push you further along the Great Glen.

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 well under a week. You set the end date when you create the rally.