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Scotland's Longest Glen

glean as faide

The Great Glen (An Gleann Mòr) runs 104km     (65 miles) across the Scottish Highlands from Inverness on the Moray Firth to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe.

The glen follows the line of an enormously long geological fault known as the Great Glen Fault, which bisects the Highlands and can be traced at least as far as Ireland in one direction and Shetland in the other. The fault has a very complex history and movement along the fault probably took place in different directions at different times. The rocks forming the North-West Highlands are thought to have moved at least 100km relative to those forming the Grampian Mountains on the southeast  side of the fault. The fault is likely to have been similar in character to the present day San Andreas fault in California.

 

The  rocks along the fault were pulverised and shattered by the fault movements and so have been eroded more easily by flowing water and scoured by ice. A series of long, deep sea and freshwater lochs now remain along its length. The lack of islands in the lochs of the Great Glen and the steepness of the flanking slopes testify to the efficiency of the ice in scouring out this feature, leaving sides that are both too steep and too rocky for anything but forestry.

The Glen provides a natural travelling route across the Highlands of Scotland, and is the route of both the Caledonian Canal and the main A82 road which link the city of Inverness on the east coast with Fort William on the west. 

 

The road along the Great Glen skirts the banks of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness, and is recognised as one of the most scenic drives in Britain.

A long-distance walking and cycling trail, the Great Glen Way, allows walkers and bikers to cover the complete distance in 5-6 days. To find out more visit www.greatglenway.com

 

For more on attractions and activities in the Great Glen area visit www.highland-glens.co.uk