Stage 5 of the Great Glen Way covers 23.7 km from Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit, with 669 m of ascent and 684 m of descent. The highest point is 302 m. Allow about 7 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Backpackers' hostel (the former Loch Ness youth hostel) on the shore of Loch Ness at Alltsigh, about 6.5 km after Invermoriston, just below the trail on the A82, where the official 6- and 7-day plans stop. Dorms and private rooms, breakfast and a small shop; guests must be 16 or over.
Bed and breakfast on the Clunebeg Estate by the River Coiltie, next to the trail on the edge of Drumnadrochit; the adjacent Clunebeg House has a suite and family rooms. Book by phone or email.
29-room hotel with en-suite rooms next to the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, about 1 km from the trail. Its website gives no phone or 2026 dates; the phone is from OpenStreetMap, so confirm before you go.
Independent hostel in Coiltie Farmhouse, East Lewiston, about 300 m from the trail, with five dorms, a double, a twin and two family rooms. Bar and log fire; book online.
Campsite at Borlum Farm on the edge of Drumnadrochit, close to the trail, with a 4-acre tent field, showers, toilets and laundry; shops are 800 m away. Booking required.
Traditional inn from 1838 in Lewiston, Drumnadrochit, with individually styled rooms plus the Bunk Inn, a nine-room bunkhouse for walkers on the Great Glen Way. Restaurant and bar with real ales; book direct.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed, not confirmed" appear on a public listing (OpenStreetMap, Scottish Canals or walkers' trip reports) but could not be confirmed on their own website. Gairlochy and South Laggan have only a few beds, and many campsites and some B&Bs close from October to March: book ahead, especially from May to September.
Emergency: call 999 or 112 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue (Coastguard on Loch Ness). Urgent medical advice: NHS 24 on 111. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.