To start the route from Fort William, follow the Neptune's Staircase route (using either the outward or return leg) to the Caledonian Canal at Banavie. Continuing from the bottom of Neptune's Starcase...
Road bike riders should cross the swing bridge, then take the next right turn onto the B8004 signposted Gairlochy.
Riders on mountain / hybrid / kids bikes turn right just before the swing bridge, and ride along the right hand bank of the canal for the next 6 miles on the traffic free towpath. After 5 miles you will see a white bridge over the canal, ignore this one and continue to the left turn over the swing bridge at gairlochy, then turn immediately right to rejoin the route along the B8005 to Achnacarry and Clunes.

After 3.5km (5.5 miles) at grid ref NN184 871, turn left on the estate road, past the Clan Cameron Museum at Achnacarry. After another kilometer, turn right and cross the wooden bridge with great
views of Loch Arkaig and the river. Turn right again and on to the B8005 heading East, pause to enjoy the spectacular Chia-aig Waterfall. continue along the road trough the "Dark Mile" - a wooded
valley steeped in history. At the row of wooden houses which is the hamlet of Clunes the road swings round to the right but you should turn left here at grid ref NN201 886 onto the forestry track.

Section 2 - Clunes to Laggan (14.5km, 9 miles)

and head North East along the shore of Loch Lochy to Laggan.
Take care as this is a working forest, observe any warning signs or diversions.
Trees are not ususally felled during the growing season (when birds are nesting) so in spring
and summer there is unlikely to be much disturbance. At Laggan Locks grid ref NN283 963
There is a chance to stop for refreshment at the pub-in-a-barge! to get there, turn right at the holiday
chalets to go down to the locks, then cross over one of the gates. This is also the route to take if you
are staying at Laggan Youth Hostel - after the lock gates, carry on to the main road, turn left and cycle a kilometer or so to the hostel
Back on the road, continue to North Laggan, bear left alongside the A82 for a few metres then
left again onto the forestry track at grid ref NN300 985. Laggan has a convenience store located opposite the historic 'Seven Heads Well' on the shore of Loch Oich, a handy picnic spot at grid reference NN304 989. Just take a short detour of 500 metres NW along the A82 from the cycle route at NN300 986 before carrying on up the forest road to Invergarry.

Section 3 - Laggan to Invergarry (4.8km, 3 miles)

Follow the forest track from Laggan at grid ref NN300 985. The next 3 miles (5km) are steeper and rougher, graded "red" so take your time, the views are worth it. Take care on the descent towards Invergarry. When you reach the tarmac minor road turn right (East) and cycle for 500m (1/3 mile) until you meet the A82, turn left over the bridge and then left again into Invergarry where there is a hotel and tearoom close to the start of the next section.
If you plan to stop in here, see our Invergarry page.


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Image Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50 000 scale maps by
permission of Ordnance Survey(R) on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
(C)Crown copyright 2006. All rights reserved. Licence number 100045700