Section 3 - Invermoriston to Fort Augustus
High Route: 13 km or 8 miles
Low Route: 12 km or 7.5 miles
For this third part of the Loch Ness 360° walk, which takes you from Invermoriston to Fort Augustus, you will follow the Great Glen Way (GGW). Look for the blue signage with a dark blue thistle along the route.
Step by Step Guide
Stage 1
In Invermoriston, walk along the main A82 road through the village. Cross the bridge (on the right you see Thomas Telford’s historic bridge). Then take a right on a small road signposted “Dalcattaig”. After a short walk along this road you will see the blue GGW marker on your left. Follow a walking track away from the road here. The path leads you uphill and then back towards Loch Ness. For a short while, you walk between a forestry track on your right and fields on your left, until you reach the sign that signals the split between the high route and low route.
Stage 2
After crossing the forestry track, the high route climbs steeply up along a series of hairpin turns and some steps. This first part of the route is through woodland. Eventually the path evens out and the view opens up ahead. You now leave the trees behind and start walking across open moorland.
Stage 3
The smooth and well-maintained undulating path makes walking easy along this part of the route. You will cross a series of bridges over small streams, as well as a picnic shelter and viewpoint. Take your time here to enjoy the amazing views of Loch Ness and the Great Glen as well as across to South Loch Ness. Can you spot “horseshoe craig”?
Stage 4
As you get closer to Fort Augustus, you will notice that the path starts to descend. Looking ahead, you now enjoy a superb view of Fort Augustus, the Great Glen and Caledonian Canal beyond. Descending further towards Fort Augustus you now leave the moorland scenery behind and enter another woodland area.
Stage 5
Follow the route downhill towards Fort Augustus along a woodland path. The path runs beside a picturesque stream with a number of waterfalls – some great photo opportunities here! After a while you emerge from the woods onto a wide forestry track, where you take a right and cross a bridge. The route continues on the other side of the track. Follow the path back into the woodland area. Here, you will also see wooden markers with a while circle, indicating a local walk, but please keep following the blue GGW markers. Follow the route downhill towards the village of Fort Augustus until you emerge on to a road in a residential area near the Inchnacardoch Hotel. Take a right here at the bridge and follow the road in to the centre of the village.
In Fort Augustus you find hotels, guest houses, a hostel, cafés, pubs and restaurants, a convenience store, public toilets and visitor attractions.
