GGW Day 3 - Laggan Locks to Fort Augustus

Day 3 - Monday 31 March 2025

Laggan Locks to Fort Augustus (11.3 miles)

The loch side at Fort Augustus - we would see this yacht on Loch Oich later. Today we drove down to our finish point and caught the bus back to Laggan Locks.

Having alighted on the A82 we walked the short distance down the road to yesterday's finish point

The Great Glen Way marker at Laggan Locks - ahead is The Eagle Barge with a sign of activity outside. We wondered whether they had opened a day early??

No such luck - the proprietors were simply getting the barge ready to open but not until April 17th. There is a fair bit of memorabilia on the barge as in her previous life she served as a troop carrier in WW2.

Lots of craft moored up as we head out of Laggan Locks

The towpath heads into woodland which was very pleasant

Day 3 and we were still smiling - as was Fudge's Duck

The towpath passes above a set of moorings as we continue along The Caledonian Canal

Approaching the Laggan Swing Bridge - over the other side of the bridge is Loch Oich

At Laggan Swing Bridge there is the option to join the Invergarry Link Route however we did not need to visit Invergarry therefore stayed on the trackbed of the old railway line. A few days ago we would have had no option but to take the diversion as the main route was closed due to forestry operations. However, thankfully the route was now open although as can be seen on the right, the way markers had not been uncovered yet.

The old railway station at Invergarry

The 24 mile railway line between Spean Bridge & Fort Augustus had a troubled life. High operating costs and low passenger numbers meant that the various companies that owned the line failed to sustain any sort of profit. From 1933 passenger services ceased and the line was solely used for transporting coal. It finally closed in 1947 however the station platform above was rediscovered under thick vegetation and brought back to life. As can be seen, fresh track has been laid and there are plans to lay more track in the future.

One of the old wagons at Invergarry. RNAD stands for "Royal Naval Armament Depot".

Time for a bit of an arse about.............

...........however it clearly does happen!!

A small gin palace heads down Loch Oich towards Fort William

At Leitirfearn is a Trailblazer rest site with a compost toilet on the right - looks like it needs emptying.

The camping area at Leitirfearn

The route passes to the right of an old fire and chimney

Looking over to the yacht we saw leaving Fort Augustus this morning

Passing through the old railway tunnel as we approach Aberchalder..........

.....and popping out the other side

Approaching Aberchalder the path splits - we were off to the left as to the path to the right leads to the Hydro-Turbine House

Looking to the Hydro-Turbine House from the path to Aberchalder

A panorama looking down Loch Oich

The swing bridge on the A82 at Aberchalder separating Loch Oich from the Caledonian Canal

Just over the Swing Bridge is the Bridge of Oich

After the previous stone bridge was destroyed in 1849 a new bridge was needed. It required a single wide span in order to avoid further flooding therefore a replacement stone bridge was out of the question. English brewer turned engineer James Dredge used an innovative double-cantilever design for the new bridge. It differed from a normal suspension bridge in two ways: it was lighter, since the chains got thinner towards the centre and it was more stable. If the bridge broke in the middle, the two separate cantilevered sections would, in theory, stay standing.

The Bridge of Oich over the River Oich taken from the road bridge

The newer "modern' bridge over the River Oich which carries traffic via the A82

Approximately 300 yards from the swing bridge is a weir crossing. A sign warns of the dangers and an alternative route should the water level be high.