Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Neptune's Staircase
In the suburb of
Banavie
, three miles north of the centre of Fort William
along the A830 to Mallaig, the Caledonian Canal (see p.415) climbs 64ft in less
than half a mile via a punishing but picturesque series of eight locks known as
Neptune's Staircase
. here are stunning views from here of Ben Nevis and its
neighbours, and it's a popular point from which to walk or cycle along the
canal towpath.
ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND
NEPTUNE'S STAIRCASE
By bus
Stagecoach bus #45A (every 15-30min; 10min)
runs from Middle Street in Fort William to Banavie.
By bike
You can rent a bike (£15/day) at
Farr Cottage
Lodge
in nearby Corpach; from there it's a short ride
northeast along the canal towpath to Neptune's
Staircase.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Chase the Wild Goose Hostel
Locheil Crescent,
Banavie
T
01397 772531,
W
great-glen-hostel.com.
A
small, comfortable hostel close to Neptune's Staircase and
also handy for the Gre
at Gl
en Way. Has a barbecue area for
use in summer. Dorm
s
£17
The Eagle Inn
Laggan Locks, at the northern end of
Loch Lochy
T
07789 858567.
If you do choose to
cycle along the Caledonian Canal, look out for this
unusual pub, where mains like peat-smoked salmon
(£17.80) and real ale are offered aboard a wonderful
1920s Dutch barge.
Easter to Oct Mon & Thurs-Sun
noon-11pm.
Moorings Hotel
Beside the Staircase in Banavie
T
01397 772797,
W
moorings-fortwilliam.co.uk.
This
mid-sized hotel near the canal serves curries and other
pub staples in its bar, as well as classier Scottish dinners
(£30 for three courses) in the main restaurant.
Bar: da
ily
noon-9.30pm; restaurant: daily 7-9.30pm.
£123
11
Spean Bridge and around
Ten miles northeast of Fort William, the village of
SPEAN BRIDGE
marks the junction
of the A82 with the A86 from Dalwhinnie and Kingussie (see p.428). If you're here, it's
well worth heading a mile out of the village on the A82 towards Inverness to the
Commando Memorial
, a bronze statue depicting a group of soldiers, which
commemorates the men who trained in the area during World War II. he statue looks
out on an awesome sweep of moor and mountain that takes in the wider Lochaber area
and the Ben Nevis massif.
Glen Roy
hree miles east of Spean Bridge, a minor road turns north off the A86 and up
Glen Roy
. Drive a couple of miles along the glen and you'll see the so-called
“parallel roads”: not roads at all, but ancient beaches at various levels along the
valley sides, which mark the shorelines of a loch confined here by a glacial dam in
the last Ice Age.
Tulloch and around
East of Roy Bridge along the A86, just before
Tulloch
, the train line and the main road
part company. From Tulloch's small railway station, accessible only by a single-track
road and served by Caledonian sleeper services from London, trains swing south to
pass Loch Treig and cross Rannoch Moor (see p.337).
Beyond the turn-off at the Tulloch station, the A86 runs alongside the artificial
Loch Laggan
with the picturesque Ardverikie Castle on its southern shore and the
attractive walking area of Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve to the north.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
SPEAN BRIDGE AND AROUND
By bus
Buses bound for Spean Bridge depart from Fort
William's bus station a couple of times per hour, taking
15-30min to arrive in the centre of the village.
