About ten miles north-east of Fort William, the road on the western side of the Great Glen runs by the shore of Loch Lochy, and turns due west into Mile Dorca (the Dark Mile), now shorn of its canopy of woodland. Then for 16 miles a rough road goes by the stormy shore of Loch Arkaig, climbs a low ridge, bearing right to Glendessary Lodge, and ends in another mile at the-single croft of Upper Glendessary.