Fort Augustus – Down the Locks to Loch Ness and the Pepperpot
About 3 miles on foot.
Five locks carry the Caledonian Canal down through the middle of Fort Augustus to Loch Ness.
This level walk of about three miles follows the canal to the shore of the loch, where a small white lighthouse called the Pepperpot stands at the water's edge, then comes back by the towpath above the village.
- Time
- About an hour and 20 minutes: about three miles, level.
- The path
- Level gravel and tarmac towpath beside the locks, and a gravel path to the lighthouse.
- Where to start
- The Riggs car park on the A82 in the middle of Fort Augustus, PH32 4DD: first 30 minutes free, £3 up to 4 hours, £4 up to 10; charged 8am to 6pm, 1 March to 31 October.
- When to go
- All year: the towpath is open in every season.
- Dogs
- Welcome on the towpath under control, on a lead where others are passing.
- Children
- Level and easy, with locks and a lighthouse to see. The lock sides are open drops.
- Toilets
- Public toilets in the village, and at the Caledonian Canal Centre beside the locks.
- Before you set out
- The towpath is shared with cyclists. The Caledonian Canal Centre beside the locks has a café, a shop and toilets, and opens 8.30am to 3.30pm in winter.
The walk
Park at the Riggs, the main car park in the middle of Fort Augustus, which charges from 1 March to 31 October. The canal is a few minutes' walk away. Five locks lower the Caledonian Canal through the village. The walk goes down beside them to the shore of Loch Ness, with the old abbey's grounds on the opposite bank.
At the canal mouth stands the Pepperpot, a small round white lighthouse with a green window and a black door. Beyond it lies the whole length of the loch. The way back follows the towpath on the south side of the canal, by the edge of the golf course, and returns to the village beside the main road. It's about three miles, level, and takes an hour and 20 minutes.
For a longer walk, the north towpath goes on to Kytra Lock, among trees: five miles there and back. Keep children back from the open lock sides. From mid October to March the wind off the loch is cold, and the stone is slippery when wet or frosted.
If it rains
It's level and firm underfoot in any weather, but there is no shelter on the towpath or at the canal mouth. The Caledonian Canal Centre beside the locks has a café indoors.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Lovat Hotel in Fort Augustus.
For further reading, before you go.