Banavie to Gairlochy

Cycle or walk Banavie to Gairlochy

Distance 7 miles oneway
Time cycle 1.5 hours
Time walk 3+ hours

This is a great cycle or walk along the towpath from Neptune's Staircase to Loch Lochy. Begin at the carpark at Banavie. Cross over to the opposite side of the canal via the swing bridge or lock gates and follow the towpath the 6 miles to Gairlochy. The hill views, including the Nevis range, are spectacular, and there are great views of the river and some interesting trees and woodlands along the route. There are also a  number of interesting water management features to look out for. 

Keep a look out for the sign for the Shengain Aqueduct, which can be accessed via a short detour. It consists of 2 archways, which accommodate the river, and a 3^rd spans a minor track. Continue back on the towpath until the Loy sluices are reached. These sluices were designed as an overflow system to allow excess water to be drained from the canal to the River Loy below. A bit further along there are more interpretation boards providing information on the building of the aqueducts and canal. Just past the information point there is a farm track on the right where it is possible to go down and view the Glen Loy Aqueduct. This is the largest of the aqueducts on the Caledonian Canal. It has 3 arches over 76m long; the central arch spanning 7.6 metres to accommodate the River Loy, and the side arches spanning 3 metres each for pedestrian and animal use. Up to 100 men worked on its construction in the summer of 1806, using local timber and stone.

The hill views, including the Nevis range, are spectacular. There are great views of the River Lochy with its shingle banks and islands as it runs parallel to the canal from Loch Lochy into Loch Linnhe.   There are many interesting woodlands along the route, with great specimens of old oak, beech, Scot's pine, birch, hazel, sycamore, holly and hawthorn.

Continue along the towpath to reach Moy Swing Bridge and Bridge Keeper's Cottage. The bridge is now the only original cast iron swivel bridge, which opens one half at a time, by hand. This bridge is unique on the canal and was constructed in pieces in North Wales before being assembled on site in 1821. In order to open it, the keeper has to open the south leaf first and then row across the canal to open the remaining section - a time-consuming job that is still carried out today.

A little further on, the Moy Burn flows into the canal. Instead of building a further aqueduct at this point, Jessop and Telford decided to allow the burn to flow into the canal, with an overflow on the other side. A series of waterfalls and pools were designed to trap stones and gravel to control the amount of debris entering the canal. Look out for the 5 arched inlet, built in 1813 on the opposite bank.

Its just a short journey from here to Gairlochy locks, where it is necessary to cross over the road way and then continue on passed a Telford House, Gairlochy top lock, and then on to the pepperpot lighthouse. This is a lovely peaceful spot with magnificent views along the length of Loch Lochy.

 4 aqueducts
Upper Banavie -single arch (mount Alexander?)
Shengain - 3 arch accomodating the road and river
Muirshearlich
Glen Loy - largest with 3 arches

Loy Sluices

Moy Swing Bridge
Moy Burn - flows into the canal with an over flow weir on the otherside.
Gairlochy - a regulating lock built on solid rock
Pepperpot lighthouse

Other published walks



Gairlochy to Moy walk

Aqueducts walk

Gairlochy to Moy Bridge

Walk Gairlochy to Moy Bridge

Distance 2.8 miles
Time - 1 to 1.5 hours

Corpach to Banavie

Neptune's Staircase and Corpach

Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.5 kms

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours walk

Map

This walk starts at the carpark at Banavie with easy access to the infamous Neptune's Staircase, named after the Roman God of the sea. This impressive flight of 8 locks lifts boats 20 m over a distance of 500m, and is considered to be the single most impressive engineering feet on the canal. Its also a great viewpoint for the northwest side of Ben Nevis. Begin by walking up the nearside of the staircase to the mooring area at the top. You can cross over via the lock gates and return down the other side. There are a number of interesting buildings along the way: Look out for the bow fronted former lock keepers houses, Telford, c.1815; and the old smiddy - now a gift shop and cafe.

To walk to the sea lock at Corpach you need to cross the busy main road and railway line. TAKE CARE. From here you follow the canal out to Corpach, an interesting basin with a pepperpot lighthouse and other lockside buildings. The towpath is good on both sides of the canal, with great views of Loch Linhe and Ben Nevis. 


Points of interest:
Neptune's Staircase + associated buildings - old smiddy,joiners shop, Telford houses
Swing bridge
Corpach - Gateway to Great Glen - basin cut from solid rock
Trees
Pepperpot lighthouse
Dramatic Views - Ben Nevis, Loch Linhe

Entrance from Banavie carpark. Great view of Nevis in the background.

Swing bridge

Corpach sea lock

Cycle Fort Augustus to Aberchalder Bridge

Fort Augustus to Aberchalder Bridge.

Distance 10 miles

Duration 2 hours cycle 

Walk - 4 hours

map 

This is an enjoyable 10 miles cycle, there and back along the towpath from Fort Augustus to Aberchalder Bridge. Start from bottom of Fort Augustus flight of locks and cycle along the road to the towpath at the top of the flight of locks. The towpath is wide and perfect for cycling, and the views are stunning.  There is also a pleasant grassy path on the otherside of the canal (southside) which can be taken as part of a circular walking route. After a mile or so the opposite bank becomes quite rocky and 'natural' looking. The River Oich flows close by and you can see the forestry walk along the river bank. Follow the towpath for about 2 miles until you reach Kytra, a most picturesque and secluded lock. Another 3 miles on and you reach Collochy, and the Aberchalder swing bridge a short distance further on. Stop here and admire the Bridge of Oich.

It is possible to cross over at Cullochy Lock to avoid a weir between this point and the bridge.

This route could be divided up into shorter walking routes eg; 

Fort Augustus to Kytra 5 miles return

Br.of Oich to Cullochy 1 mile?

Br. of Oich to Kytra.5 miles return

Parking is available at the Pay & Display carpark in Fort Augustus, or at the other end at the Bridge of Oich carpark by the swing bridge.

Points of interest

Fort Augustus - locks and buildings, Canal heritage centre

Kytra - built without inverted arch.  Remote and isolated spot for lock keepers  and families, who were allowed to keep cows & chickens and grow there own produce. Some steamer passengers used to disembark here and take the lovely tranquil walk to Fort Augustus (date?)

Weirs

Cullochy - workers house story- last of the original locks to be built - built like kytra without arch directly into rock. 

Aberchalder swing bridge and Bridge of Oich

Wildlife - I spotted an eagle at cullochy!

Views - nevis range, river