Oban to Fort William

A large proportion of the route from Oban to Fort William follows the original route of the Ballachulish branch of the Callander and Oban Railway.

From Oban the route follows minor roads to South Connel, where it crosses Connel Bridge and past Oban Airport. It then follows the old railway bed until just north of Benderloch, where it runs on a dedicated cycleway alongside the A828 to Barcaldine.

In Barcaldine it runs on minor roads through the back of the village, and emerges to run alongside the A828 again, before rising slightly to follow the old railway bed again, this time on the inland side of the main road. At Creagan, it rejoins the A828 to cross a bridge, and then rejoins the railway bed shortly thereafter.

Castle Stalker, near Appin Across the Appin peninsula the main route continues to follow the old railway line, but an alternative route follows the coast of the peninsula on minor roads past the Lismore ferry at Port Appin. After the routes rejoin, they follow the railway bed past Castle Stalker. At the foot of Glen Sallachan, the route rejoins the A828 as far as Duror. It follows minor roads and a dedicated path through Duror to Kentallen, from where it follows the old railway bed as far as the Ballachulish Bridge. From here it is possible to reach Ballachulish and Glencoe Village.

The NCN78 itself crosses the bridge and follows alongside the A82 through Onich to Corran, where it cross the Corran Ferry to Ardgour. Here it follows the A861 northwards along the west shore of Loch Linnhe as far as Camusnagaul, from where a passenger and cyclist ferry connects to Fort William.