The Great Glen Way – Corpach to Fort William

Due to having a vehicle dropped off in Corpach and needing to pick up something in Fort William lead to me walking part of the 1st stage of the Great Glen Way.

Starting in Corpach, it is good to know that there is a public toilet in Kilmallie Hall, and a Co op if you need to pick up any supplies before you start off. Also in the car park of Kilmallie Hall is Hi-Bike where you can hire ebikes. This involves downloading an app to take on hire of the bike and there are drop offs along the way in Coal, Inverlochy and Fort William. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the app to work for me, so I walked the route, but it is possible to cycle too.

From Kilmallie Hall I walked down to the Corpach Basin at the start of the Caledonian Canal. From there I crossed one of the locks to the shore side. You great views of Ben Nevis from here. Once on the shore side of the canal look out for the blue sign that says Great Glen Way Fort William and the thistle marker. This takes you along the shore past the Kilmallie Shinty Park and to the start of the village of Coal (a large housing estate). The walk continues along the shore of Loch Linnie with houses of Coal behind. There is seating along this section if you want to look out onto Loch Linnie with Lochaber GeoPark information boards. At the end of the shore section, you walk up Glenmallie Road and turn right and follow the flood protection path along the side of the River Lochy to Soldiers Bridge. Crossing the bridge, you get nice views to the ruin of Inverlochy Castle. Not to be mistaken for the luxury 5 star hotel of the same name!

The Castle is closed of to the public but to can walk around the fence of the perimeter fence. Just beyond the castle is The Highland Soap Company headquarters, with s visitors centre, shop and café.  A good stopping place for some refreshments.

From here head back to Soldiers Bridge and now follow the signs to Fort William long the side of the side of the River Lochy with railway and Village of Inverlochy on your left handside. From here I stopped following the path as I need into go into Inverlochy, where I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Jacobite Steamtrain.

To continue to Fort William you cross the River Nevis at the bridge and follow the path along the back of An Aird and the Fort William Shinty Park and this takes you to the round about at the Old Fort.

Walking from Corpach to the Highland Soap and back is a nice round trip and would take approx. 1hour each way and is 4.2 miles round trip. Lots of lovely views of Ben Nevis and a nice and flat walk.

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