Drumnadrochit to Inverness
Drumnadrochit to Inverness
Distance: 19.88 miles/ 32 km.
The longest stretch of the route between major settlements is often split in two by walkers by breaking at Abriachan, where a small amount of accommodation can be found. Alternatively transport can often be arranged to and from the half way point, either by taxi or through your accommodation provider, allowing for a second night in Drumnadrochit or Inverness.
The walk out of Drumnadrochit involves a mile long stretch of pavement beside the busy A 82 road. As the speed limit for most of this stretch is 60mph, please be aware of the traffic, especially if you’re carrying large rucksacks.
A steep climb on a winding path through the woods up to Craig Nay joins with a forest road leading to Abriachan, site of Abriachan Forest Trust, the first community woodland in the UK to be bought from the Forestry Commission. After section of road walking the route passes back onto forest track, following an old section of Drove Road. This network of tracks throughout Scotland was used in the 18th and 19th centuries to drive livestock from pasturelands all over the Highlands to the cattle markets of lowland Scotland and beyond.
Beyond the forest, the route comes out onto a wide view of the City of Inverness. Following the route down the hill leads through the Ness Islands and along the River Ness to Inverness Castle where the Great Glen Way ends.
Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, is a small city containing a wide selection of shops, cafés and restaurants, B&B’s, Hotels, as well as a hospital and railway and bus stations with services to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
