Caledonian Canal – Neptune's Staircase loop from Laggan Locks

Bike touring routes & trails

Caledonian Canal – Neptune's Staircase loop from Laggan Locks

Hard

4.8

(11)

240

riders

Caledonian Canal – Neptune's Staircase loop from Laggan Locks

05:19

62.7km

540m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 27, 2026

Tips

Includes movable bridges

Check opening times.

After 19.0 km for 32 m

After 43.7 km for 32 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

5.11 km

Great Glen Way

Highlight • Trail

Has to be one of the most spectacular trails I've ever cycled. The smooth gravel and breathtaking views.

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9.63 km

View of Loch Lochy

Highlight • Viewpoint

Difficult to describe and photos are just a snapshot of this magnificent scenery.
You have to experience it yourself, and rain is part of it.

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19.0 km

Gairlochy Bottom Lock, Caledonian Canal

Highlight • River

10 miles flat ride from Neptune’s Gate. There are benches to stop and refresh. You can either backtrack to Neptune’s Gate, or cross the canal and ride back to Neptune’s Gate on sealed road it’s a few inclines. Or you can ride 11 miles to Laggan....or keep going to Fort Augustus or Inverness. There is an old lighthouse also. This is part of Loch Lochy. Worth a trip! 🚲

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21.2 km

Moy Bridge

Highlight • Structure

Still hand operated.

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28.5 km

Caledonian Canal

Highlight • Monument

Connecting Inverness and Corpach, the Caledonian Canal stretches 60 miles (97 km) through some of Scottland's most stunning scenery through vast lochs like Loch Ness and magnificent glens. Only one-third of the canal is actually man-made as it flows through many lochs en route.

Built in 1822, the canal was used to transport goods until 2005. Today, it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and attracts many visitors each year.

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28.8 km

Neptune's Staircase

Highlight • Structure

This is the start (or end) of the Caledonian Canal which links the lochs of the great Glen with locks, and also part of the Great Glen Way walking and cycling route.

The flight of eight locks raise the water level on the Caledonian Canal by 62 feet (19 m), and takes boats approximately 90 minutes to navigate this short stretch. This is the longest flight of locks in Great Britain.

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