Caledonian Canal – Neptune's Staircase loop from Gairlochy

Bike touring routes & trails

United Kingdom

Scotland

Highlands

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge And Achnacarry

Caledonian Canal – Neptune's Staircase loop from Gairlochy

Moderate

5.0

(26)

218

riders

Caledonian Canal – Neptune's Staircase loop from Gairlochy

02:18

27.1km

90m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 28, 2026

Tips

Includes movable bridges

Check opening times.

After 50 m for 32 m

After 142 m for 32 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

29 m

Gairlochy Lock

Highlight • Structure

Views down the Caledonian Canal.

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112 m

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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2.32 km

Moy Bridge

Highlight • Structure

Still hand operated.

Translated by Google •

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9.61 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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10.4 km

Neptune's Staircase Locks

Highlight • River

Barrages from Neptunes Staircases guide the boats over the difference in height

Translated by Google •

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12.7 km

View of Ben Nevis and the Corpach Shipwreck

Highlight • Viewpoint

Mind the ticks

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12.8 km

View of Loch Linnhe

Highlight • Beach

17.3 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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