PRINT VERSION

Walk For Fun
e:  info@walkforfun.co.uk

Walk Corpach Basin. Neptunes Staircase. Fort William. Scotland

Directions To Get Here

By Road

Fort William is 2.5 hours north of Glasgow and 1.5 hours south of Inverness, on the A82

from the East there are several routes off the A9, from Aviemore,  Drumochter and  Perth

Corpach is aprox 4 miles from Fort William on the A830 follow Mallaig signs

Kilmallie Hall is on the left hand side as you drive through the village

By Rail

daily services to and from Inverness and Fort William connect the Highlands with Aberdeen

Glasgow, Edinburgh and all other major UK cities

The Caledonian Sleeper service operates from London Euston

Call National Rail Services on 08457 484950

By Bus

Scottish CityLink & National Express operate coach services to Fort William

Call Scottish CityLink on 08705 505050 for Scottish routes

National Express on 08717 818181 for all other UK routes

THE WALK

Distance  4.5miles         Time aprox 2 hours

Parking & Toilets      Kilmallie Hall, Corpach

Refreshments at Corpach & along the way at

The Moorings Inn & The Lochy Family Pub

Conditions      Canal  Towpaths, mostly level

total climb 20mt at the locks on steps or slope

1 lock to cross, 1 tunnel under canal ( optional )
 

Start  from the car park at Kilmallie Hall, turn  left  go down hill towards Corpach Railway Station STOP LOOK & LISTEN

cross  the track. just bear right a little after you cross the track then  cross  the canal by the Lock
 

turn left  and follow the canal past another lock until you reach a  blue  sign bear  right  and go down the path

through some Sycamore trees (photo) towards the foreshore and pass an over flow for the canal (photo)
 

Follow the path until you pass the Football Ground, at the end of the fence turn sharp left  cross a grass area

between the football ground on your  left  and houses on your right
 

head towards a playground road sign, just past this climb  up  the rough path to the canal towpath

continue with the canal on your  left  until just before the Benavie Canal Swing Bridge you will see a sign and a path
 

going down to the right  take this path down to the road, then bear  left  follow the signs on the lamposts

when you reach the level crossing  STOP LOOK & LISTEN cross  the track, the signs are still on the lamposts
 

then turn  left  and head towards the Benavie Swing Bridge, at the Bridge  stop  take care  cross  the main road and join the towpath

towards Neptunes Staircase, (photo) you can then climb the Staircase by the steps (take care and supervise your children)
 

or stay on the slope, there are 8 locks in total ( it takes aprox 1.5 - 2 hrs for a boat to negotiate the locks)
 

about 200mt past the locks a metal gate is accross the towpath  go through  this gate and continue on the towpath

for aprox quarter mile, the wire fence on the  right  changes for a short distance to a fence with wooden planks
 

then back to a wire fence, you will then come to a gate lying at an  odd angle  to the path (photo) go through this gate

the path  doubles  back on its self and goes  down  a narrow rough path to 2 secret tunnels that go  under  the canal (photo)
 

one has a stream running through it the other is for walking  cross  the stream on the cobbled area (ford)

and carefully go through the tunnel, water drips through the roof just to remind you what is above
 

the path then climbs  up  to the towpath on the other side of the canal, bear  right  and continue along the Towpath

with the canal on your  left  you will soon arrive back at Neptunes Staircase, continue until you reach the main road
 

stop  take care  cross  the road to the level crossing gate  STOP LOOK & LISTEN cross  the track onto the towpath again

follow the path for about almost 1 mile to the Corpach Double Lock (photo)
 

then follow the road back to the car park at Kilmallie Hall the Toilets are inside the hall
 
 
 

Disabled & Less Agile Ramblers

Part of this easy walk is over Rough Ground and may not be accessable to all

However most parts are suitable for all including wheelchairs on the level towpath areas

from the start at Kilmallie Hall turn  left  out of the car park go down past Corpach Station

towards the Canal turn  left  along the front of the Cottages follow the Towpath with the canal on your  right

this will give you a nice level walk, just as far as the Level Crossing about 2 miles there and back

alternatively instead of parking at Kilmallie Hall, park at the car park for Neptunes Staircase

the sign is on the A830 just past the Benavie Swing Bridge this will give you easier access to Neptunes Staircase.