This moderate walk makes a circuit around attractive Loch Oich utilising the Great Glen Way along the southern shores and the Great Glen Cycle route higher above the loch on the northern side.
Summary
Easy paths or tracks throughout; there is a fair amount of up and down on the northern side of the loch.
Terrain
NH301010
Grid ref
17km/10.5 miles
Distance
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Buses reach Invergarry from all directions.
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Pronunciation
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1. There is parking by the tiny post office on the A87(T) road (to Skye) in Invergarry. The walk begins just beyond the post office, where a signposted path (marked 'Tomdoun') on the left indicates the way down to an iron suspension bridge. This gives good views of the foaming river. Cross the bridge and turn right on the far side, along the river bank. Just after passsing through a wrought-iron kissing gate, turn left and follow the field boundary. At the top of the field the path curves right and goes through a gate onto a minor road. Turn left, cross the cattle grid, and then turn immediately right onto a rising forest track. You have now joined the Great Glen Cycleway route, although when we were last here the signs had been removed – watch out for speeding approaching mountain-bikers!
2. The track winds uphill; keep on the main route as it bends right. At one point the trees and rhododendrons thin out to give a fine view over Loch Oich with Loch Ness beyond, to the left. This is the highest point of the this section; further on the track soon forks; keep on the left fork which slopes gently downhill. Eventually it emerges onto the main A82 road near the turning for Kilfinnan. Turn right along the A82 (but not turning off for Kilfinnan), taking great care as the road is dangerous with the speeding traffic as you follow it round the bend and crossing the Caledonian Canal via the Laggan swing bridge. Over the bridge, take the turning on the left signed for the Great Glen Water Park. After passing a short section of Loch Oich don't turn into the Water Park itself, but keep right on the tarmac road; for the next few miles you can follow the 'blue thistle' Great Glen Way markers.
3. Branch right off the road (GGW marker) by the no entry signs at the exit from the Water Park. You are now on a gravelly track, with literally hundreds of purple orchids in the summer. The track follows the line of the old railway from Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus that was built between 1896 and 1903. It was intended to eventually make a cross-country link to Inverness but this never materialised; the line closed to passengers in 1933 and was last used during World War Two before being dismantled. Pass through a gate, and turn left off the railway when you reach a marker post; the path slopes down to the shores of Loch Oich.
4. The route now follows the southern shore of Loch Oich for several miles. This section is a delight, with plentiful views out across the Loch, and delightful scenery along the path itself as it passes through the fine native woodland of the Letterfeirn Nature Reserve. After a couple more kilometres the path passes the abandoned cottage at Letterfeirn itself; there is a bench here and it makes a great spot for a picnic, looking across to the ruins of Invergarry Castle and the impressive Glengarry Castle Hotel. The path now becomes a track, still along the loch shore at first before climbing slightly and passing over the railway which has entered a tunnel. Towards the end of the loch, turn left off the track (signed GGW) to head back onto the railway and over the bridge across the Calder burn. Immediately over the bridge, turn left and follow the path which doubles back to the shore of Loch Oich.
5. The path now follows the northeastern shore of Loch Oich, with good views back down the length of the loch. As the loch ends the way follows the Caledonian Canal to reach the A82 at Aberchalder Swing Bridge. Turn left, crossing the bridge. It is worth detouring from the far side to have a look at Oich Bridge, which is maintained by Historic Scotland. This beautiful double-cantilevered bridge was built by James Drudge in 1854 and is now happily free of traffic. It isn't possible to continue across this bridge, so if you have detoured, you must return to the A82 and cross the River Oich on the modern road bridge instead. Continue on the pavement as the road rounds the corner and passes a car park and telephone box. Turn off right onto a path just beyond here. It is signed as a cycle route to Invergarry.
6. The narrow path undulates pleasantly through the conifers – look out for speeding mountain bikers coming the other way! It also winds left and right and never feels too much like a straight forest plod. Cross a footbridge at one point, and further on the path joins a track; turn right here, as indicated by a painted boulder. The track comes close to the A82 at one point before heading higher once more.
7. Keep on the main track straight ahead at all times; as you reach Glen Garry the view opens out a little and the route curves west away from Loch Oich. Once above Invergarry the track ends at a turning area; just before reaching this, you should turn off onto a clear path on the right. Follow this path as it winds to and fro downhill, entering Invergarry beside the Invergarry Hotel. Turn right along the road to return to the post office and the start.
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