Glenfinnan

Published on Thursday 6 April 2006 01:39

A WALK up the glen which saw the raising of the Prince's Standard in August 1745, signalling the last, ultimately doomed push to restore a Stewart monarchy. Less than a year later, in April 1746, the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie lost on the field of Culloden. Following this, the clans were banned from wearing the kilt, a ban only overturned after a campaign by the Highland Society of London later in the century.

Distance/Time:

Five miles. Allow up to three hours.

Where to park:

National Trust for Scotland visitor centre by the side of the A830, 17 miles from Fort William.

Refreshments:

Cafe at the visitor centre. Prince's House and Glenfinnan House hotels in the village are open to non - residents. During the summer, a converted dining car next to Glenfinnan railway station offers homebaking and teas.

Other things to do:

Fort William is the outdoor capital of the UK and offers a range of activities such as boat trips, mountain biking and walking/climbing up Ben Nevis.

The walk:

From the visitor centre, cross the road to reach the base of the monument to the Jacobites, erected in 1815, and drop down to the shore of Loch Shiel. Return to the road, turn left and cross the River Finnan. On the other side of the river go right, along a track, at a sign for Glenfinnan Lodge. Ignore another track going left and pass some farm buildings to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, carrying the West Highland Railway. Built at the end of the 19th century, it appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Harry and Ron's flying Ford Anglia is nearly hit by the Hogwarts Express. In summer, catch your own version of the Hogwarts Express on a steam train along the railway line between Fort William and Mallaig. Keep on the main track under the viaduct and up into Glen Finnan. After passing a cottage, it is worth walking to the middle of a wooden bridge on your right to look back at the viaduct and beyond to the hills around Loch Shiel. Continuing along the river, the track rises slightly to give the first view of the lodge at the end of the glen, beyond forestry plantations. Above the lodge is Sgurr nan Coireachan which rises to 3,136ft. The track meanders along the valley, passing the plantations. A few hundred yards after crossing a small wooden bridge, you reach a second one. The track then splits with a rough track on the right going the seven miles to Loch Arkaig. From the bothy, about 50 yards down the track, it is possible to cross the stream and climb up the side of the forest to find a track leading back down - or just retrace your steps and enjoy a different perspective of the glen.

Map reference:

OS Land-ranger 40, reference 908807.