Jenkins Park, near Fort Augustus

LOCH NESS AREA


Summary :	A circular walk through forestry plantation with many open views over Fort Augustus and surrounding countryside. Part of it follows one of General Wade's military roads. The walk can be linked by part of the Great Glen Way to the walk at Allt na Criche.
Terrain :	Clear footpaths and forestry tracks.
Grade :		Distance :	6km/3.75 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	1.5 - 2 hours
Start :	Jenkins park, 1km north west from Fort Augustus	Grid ref :	NH37095
Map :	View an OS map showing this route Buy Explorer 400 - Loch Lochy online	Ascent :	219m
GPS Route/ Waypoints :	Open this walk in QUO 2 Tell me more Open this walk in GPX format (compatible with Memory map etc)	Open in Virtual Highlands Tell me more Open this walk in Google Earth Tell me more
Public Transport :	[Click for timetables - choose Area 3]

1. From the Tourist Information Centre in Fort Augustus take the A82 towards Inverness and then take the first turning on the left signed for Auchteraw up a steep hill. Turn left after the play park (signed Auchteraw), and follow the road straight on past a telephone box - park on the left, opposite houses, near the end of the road. You can also walk this route easily from the main car park in Fort Augustus. Start the walk by going through the gate at the end of the road and following the track for a short while.

2. Very soon take a path to the right signed for Invermoriston via Old Military Road. The path climbs up through silver birch and pine woodland via a number of wide zig zags. As the path levels off there are good views down over Fort Augustus and the Caledonian Canal and the hills south of Loch Ness. Keep following the path which crosses a small wooden bridge.

3. When you reach a track to the left take this turning and continue the walk through pine plantation with good views in places as the track traverses the side of the hill. You will pass under the large power lines coming from two hydro schemes further away. Keep on the main track ignoring a turning to the right heading uphill. The track begins to descend and passes some cleared areas of bracken and gorse with good views back to Loch Ness.

4. The downhill track reaches another track, turn left here to start heading back. Ignore an uphill track on the left and continue, crossing back under the powerlines. At a wide bend in the track, a less clear track leads off to the left, take this track which has broom growing on either side and follow it all the way back to the original turn off signed for Glenmoriston. On the way ignore one track turning to the right and another to the left. The track crosses below a small waterfall on the Allt na Fearna.

5. When you get back to the original turn off you can either go straight down to the gate and back to the start point or you can take a boardwalk and path to the right which takes you down to the Auchteraw road. Children will particularly like this detour but care should be taken in wet conditions as the wooden boardwalks can be slippery. If you take this route you need to turn left when you emerge on the road and walk along the road through lovely beech woods to the telephone box at Jenkins park and the parking place.

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Route profile

View Accommodation for this area:
Hotels in Loch Ness and Fort Augustus area
B&B around Loch Ness and Fort Augustus area
Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit self catering cottages
Dores and Foyers self catering cottages
Hostels in Loch Ness and Glen Affric