East Highland Way

Devised in 2007, the East Highland Way is an about 84-mile (135 km) point-to-point walk from Fort William to Aviemore. It links the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way to the Speyside Way, crossing Highland woods, river valleys, moor and lochs. The published headline rounds it to 82 miles, but its seven stage distances total 134.75 km, close to the mapped line. Allow 35–45 hours on foot over four to eight days; the route profile gives about 2,281 m of ascent. It suits fit walkers who can navigate patchy waymarks and long gaps without services. Plan around Glen Banchor’s river crossings, not just the mileage. The whole itinerary is the named route, though the eastern stretch from Feagour to Aviemore serves Cairngorms National Park.

Start in Fort William town centre. The first stage passes the town’s industrial edge below Ben Nevis, then enters mixed woodland and opens to Great Glen views; the A82 remains close. From Spean Bridge, tracks follow the Spean upstream through farms and woods, with a short pathless, boggy stretch and a stream crossing. Inverlair has no services. The longest stage, Inverlair to Feagour at 34 km (21 miles), is mostly forest track and follows Loch Laggan’s south shore, with long mountain views but few amenities. Arrange food and overnight stops before leaving.

Feagour, by the A86 near Pattack Falls, begins the park-serving stretch. The 8.5 km (5.3 mile) stage to Laggan uses forest paths that can be boggy. An optional climb reaches Dun da-Lamh, a Pictish fort on Black Craig; the through route descends through felled forest, follows part of General Wade’s military road and then the Spey into Laggan.

Laggan to Newtonmore is 15.5 km (9.6 miles) but needs the most care. In remote Glen Banchor, faint paths give way to boggy or pathless ground and several burns must be crossed. High water can make crossings dangerous or impassable. A bridge shown on some maps near Dalnashallag is reported not to exist. When water is high, use the described southern road and cycle-path alternative via Ralia toward Newtonmore instead of trying to ford. Carry reliable offline mapping and be ready to change plans.

The 23.75 km (14.8 mile) Newtonmore-to-Kincraig stage crosses open moor, old settlement remains and Loch Gynack before reaching Kingussie. Ruthven Barracks, built in 1719 after the first Jacobite rising, stands above the route. The walk then follows the Badenoch Way through Insh Marshes, where muddy ground, boardwalk and easy-to-miss turns break up the path. Hides and viewpoints look over a floodplain that changes as it floods naturally. Loch Insh’s watersports centre has a café on the way into Kincraig, a useful stop after the remote stages.

The last 16.5 km (10.3 mile) stage passes Feshiebridge, Inshriach pinewoods and Drake’s Bothy, then crosses an unbridged burn before Loch Gamha and Loch an Eilein. Its north-shore path passes old Scots pines and opens to the ruined castle on the island, the route’s most distinctive view. Pause where the castle appears and frame it with the pines. The route finishes in Aviemore, with town services and transport.

Fort William and Aviemore have rail and bus service, but transport between the central stages is limited until Newtonmore. There are no facilities at Inverlair or Feagour; plan food, lodging and transfers ahead. This is not a consistently signed trail: expect forest tracks, minor-road walking, bog and brief pathless sections. Dogs can accompany walkers under Scotland’s access rules; keep them close around livestock and on a lead in Inshriach, where capercaillie are easily disturbed. The town-centre start is near High Street, but its exact marker is not firmly established.