Short and Simple Walks Around Loch Ness
Glimpses of Highland Scotland for the Stroller not the Strider
Oct 23, 2009
Those who visit Scotland on a driving holiday are often pressed for time. It’s one thing to look longingly at the hills and wish – but it’s just as easy to stop, stretch your legs and spend half an hour or so taking in the views and the heritage. The walks listed below are all readily accessible from the roads running along the north and south shores of Loch Ness.
There are walks listed from four separate locations. Some locations have several options, and detailed maps can be picked up from local tourist offices. All the walks are short (the longest being less than two miles) and most are easily undertaken. Waterproof footwear is always a sensible idea but none of them require proper walking boots.
Woodland Walk and Waterfalls at Invermoriston
Invermoriston is a small village on the north shore of Loch Ness, where the road cuts off from the Loch towards the Isle of Skye. The village has a shop and various catering outlets. This short circular walk (around half a mile) starts from the (free) car park next to the village hall and is well signposted.
The walk follows the River Moriston through the woods before cutting back through the trees. An old summerhouse perched on the edge of a low cliff offers views of rapids tumbling underneath two road bridges. The older of the two was built by Thomas Telford and completed in 1813, while the current main road was completed in the early 1930s. This walk is especially stunning in autumn.
History and the Caledonian Canal in Fort Augustus
At the southern end of the loch, Fort Augustus offers the visitor a wide range of places to stop and eat as well as much to see and do. For those with limited time there are two short, easy walks which offer views of the village and the hills. Park at the main car park near the tourist information centre. There is a charge in summer but parking is free for the rest of the year.
Two easy walks stand out for those pressed for time. For the first, cross the road from the car park and head towards the village centre. Immediately across the bridge, follow the road down to the mouth of the River Oich (wonderful views of the Loch) then back up the Caledonian Canal past the moored cruisers. This short circular walk offers wonderful views up the loch
As an alternative, turn right on leaving the car park, crossing the river to the canal. Turn right and walk up the towpath. The route takes you past the flight of locks and quickly gives views towards the mountains of the west coast. Extend the walk by strolling along the canal for as long as you wish before returning the same way (this section of the towpath goes on for five miles).
Walks Around the Falls of Foyers
On the south side of the loch, the village of Foyers is famed for its waterfalls, although the flow is controlled by a hydroelectricity scheme and is therefore variable. The village has a shop and café and there are hotels which welcome non-residents. Roadside parking is free. Foyers is on a steep slope and although the paths are generally good there is always some climbing to do.
The paths leave from the gate opposite the shop and all of them go through the pinewoods where, with just a little luck, you can see red squirrels scrambling among the trees. The simplest of the walks is down a flight of steep but well-made steps to the upper and lower viewing platforms for the 140 foot Falls of Foyers.
For a longer alternative (roughly a mile and three quarters) turn right at instead of left in the woods opposite the shop and follow the waymarked posts down the hill towards Lower Foyers. You can either follow a circular route or go part of the way down and then turn back. Some of the paths through the wods aren’t perfectly clear, but all will eventually bring you back to the road.
Forest Walks and Loch Ness View at Inverfarigaig
Just a few miles north of Foyers on the loch side road, the walks at Inverfarigaig involve probably the steepest scrambles of those given here, though still following easily-walked paths. The walks leave from the Forestry Commission car park (signposted from the road). There are limited facilities, with a small visitor centre and public toilets. Parking is free.
The network of paths here is significant and extensive, but all can be easily shortened. The best walk for those with limited time is the way-marked route to a viewpoint above Loch Ness. The route is steep and requires sensible footwear, but the views at all times of year are well worth the effort involved.
Other Walks Around Loch Ness
These are just a few of the many possibilities for walking in the Loch Ness area. The walks can be extended if required, but the main benefit is that they give a taste of Scotland's glories to those without the time or the energy to tackle the more strenuous hill walks for which the country is famous. Further information and detailed maps are available from local tourist offices.
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