Varied hill and shore walk with good views of Loch Ness, taking in the Falls of Foyers.
Summary
Walk on waymarked paths and tracks with some steep sections.
Terrain
Farigaig Forestry Commission car park at Inverfarigaig.
[Map of
start point, satnav coords and directions]
Start
View / Print map of this route
Buy Explorer 416 - Loch Ness
Maps
Users'
rating
1. Start the walk from the car park at Inverfarigaig, where there are toilets and a Forestry Commission information centre. This route follows the red waymarkers to Foyers and then most of the blue waymarked route back. Go past the information centre and climb uphill following the red and green markers. Soon it is possible to follow a short detour to a viewpoint - follow the sign for Loch Ness viewpoint to the right and follow to the viewpoint and seat. Sometimes you can see Roe and Sika deer in the woods here. Take care to keep to the path which follows a meandering route beyond the viewpoint eventually descending some steps to rejoin the main path just a short way up from the start of the detour. Turn right to continue up the main path or if you haven't taken the detour stay on the main path which soon becomes a track following the red markers through pine woodland.
2. At a fork keep to the left and follow the path until you reach another fork with a sign for the shore path to the right. Our route keeps to the left for the hill path. Follow the path out onto heather moorland and soon branch right at a fork following red marker posts. The path twists and turns as it follows the contours the hill side. Look out for the additional red dots on trees and stones. As it meanders up through a section of pine wood it can be easy to miss the path so keep a close eye out for the markers.
3. Once back in more open ground the path passes some large rocks outcrops that would make ideal picnic or rest stops with good views over Loch Ness and the open countryside to the South. Eventually you reach a forestry track, turn right and follow this downhill. After bending left it eventually passes an old tunnel entrance on the left. Keep straight on here to pass the primary school on the right. At the road junction opposite the church, turn left to reach the main road. At the road turn left, and walk uphill to the shop and cafe in Upper Foyers.
4. Opposite the shop take the right hand gate for the Falls of Foyers. Follow the path downhill and turn left at the junction to visit the two viewpoints for the Falls. After the viewpoints climb back up to the path junction and now continue straight ahead following the path signed for Lower Foyers. Follow the path and fence as it skirts the spectacular gorge and then goes downhill giving a view of the lower falls and following the marked Squirrel Trail and occasional blue marker posts. There are good views lower down of the two bridges at Lower Foyers and Loch Ness - the higher, stone bridge is now closed.
5. Eventually the path emerges at a gate with the Foyers Bay House Hotel on the right. Turn left and head downhill passing houses until you reach the road. Turn left to pass the medical centre and follow the road around the sharp bend. As the road bends back left keep straight ahead onto a smaller road which then curves right to pass in front of the power station building. Immediately after the fish hatchery on the left look out for a blue marker post at the bottom of a small track. Turn right up this and at the first bend turn left onto a small path. Ignore the steps down to the left and follow the path as climbs up to the main road.
6. Turn left along the road to pass Foyers Lodge and immediately after take the path to the left with a blue marker post and sign for Inverfarigaig. Climb a stile and follow the path until it emerges onto a tarred track, turn right uphill and pass an electricity sub station. Immediately after this take the marked path on the left. This has some lovely glimpses of the water through the trees and eventually reaches a house. Follow the lane past more houses and a pier from where you follow the surfaced road up to the main road. Turn left for a short distance and then turn right onto the Errogie road to return to the car park.
Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing?
Please let us know by using the error report form.
