Loch Ness Great Glen Way Section (Fort Augustus)

The Great Glen Way runs the full length of the Great Glen from Fort William to Inverness, and the section north from Fort Augustus along the western shore of Loch Ness gives a flavour of the route at its most accessible. The path climbs gently from the canal locks at Fort Augustus into mixed woodland above the loch's western shore, with regular clearings that frame views across the water towards the wooded slopes on the Inverness-shire side. The loch stretches almost 37 km in length and the sense of scale from the shore path is considerable. The village of Foyers makes a natural turning point for a 12 km return route.

This is a well-suited dog friendly walk for most abilities. The woodland sections above the loch offer good off-lead opportunity with low livestock risk, and the path surface is generally solid underfoot. The loch shore itself provides occasional water access for swimming dogs. Fort Augustus at the start has several dog-friendly cafes and pubs, making this an easy walk to build into a full day out. The canal locks in the village are worth exploring before or after the walk. Keep dogs under control near the loch edge where the bank drops steeply in places.