The final section of the Great Glen Way is generally easy walking through farmland and forestry which some good views for short sections over Loch Ness and the mountains to the north. The walk can also be done from Inverness as a day walk with two buses leaving Drumnadrochit for Inverness in the late afternoon.
Summary
Well made paths, forestry tracks, minor road and one section of pavement alongside the A82. Short steep sections.
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Drumnadrochit is fairly well served by buses. Inverness has all types of public transport.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. From Drumnadrochit the Great Glen Way heads along the A82 towards Inverness for the first short section. Follow the road past the post office and bus stop and then over the bridge and round the corner, passing the Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness Hotels on the left. There is a pavement on this section of the busy A82. Keep on the pavement as the road leaves Drumnadrochit and heads east alongside Loch Ness. There are good views over to Urquhart Castle. Opposite Temple Pier turn left up a signed track. The pier here was the scene of an attempt by John Cobb in the speedboat, Crusader, to set a new speed record in 1952. Although Cobb died tragically when the attempt ended in an accident, he did become the first person to travel over water at over 200 miles an hour. Immediately after the information board take the steps up to the left and go through the gate and follow the path around the back of the house. After a section alongside the road, head through another gate and then uphill and then 2 more gates before entering woodland.
2. When the path comes down to a track go straight across and carry on through the woods bearing left off the track through another pedestrian gate uphill onto a narrower path, then through another gate and alongside a field with good views of the loch. At a double set of gates continue straight ahead and eventually enter another woodland. The pines here have been thinned to try and increase biodiversity. Follow the path uphill and over a bridge and climb steadily uphill. When a junction is reached turn right and soon you can detour to a lovely viewpoint for the loch below. Continue up the path, crossing a stream on stepping stones before emerging at the end of a forestry track.
3. Amongst the trees are the remains of a Canadian lumbjack's camp from the second world war. Thousands of Newfoundlanders, or Newfies as their adopted home called them, volunteered to come here to help provide timber for the war effort. Keep on the track as it continues to climb and crosses a felled area. Once back in the trees a short steep climb is rewarded by another viewpoint to the right and then the track continues climbing at a gentler rate. Eventually a gate is reached, go through this and continue on the track, keeping to left where the track forks, with the right fork heading for a farmhouse.
4. Cross the open moorland on the track and go through another gate with a climb afterwards. From here there are good open views to the mountains of the Cairngorms and the small hills on the south side of Loch Ness. Follow the track, ignoring a track joining from the right and a footpath which leaves to the right, and pass a small lochan on the left. Soon afterwards the highest point on the Great Glen Way is reached, marked by a post. Although it is not all downhill from here, there is very little climbing for the rest of this walk. When you reach a signpost for Abriachan Forest Walks you have a choice. The right hand route make a scenic diversion, passing a reconstructed iron age fort and visiting a picnic area with toilets. This route which adds 0.5 km to the overall distance is described here, but if you are short of time or tired continue on the track which eventually turns right onto another track and meets up with the scenic diversion.
5. If taking the diversion, turn right and follow the track for a short distance before turning left at a sign for Carn na Leitire. After a short climb a viewpoint with a lovely carved bench is reached, On a clear day numerous mountains can be seen to the north from here. Continue straight ahead at the junction signed for Great Glen Way and soon the path heads downhill with views of Loch Laide ahead. Pass another carved bench and a couple of steep downhill sections and then keep straight ahead when a path joins from the left. At a crossroads turn right towards the reconstructed iron age house.
6. The house has been built on the site of an iron age settlement by the Abriachan Forest Trust. Keep straight on at the next junction and at the next turning, with a treehouse straight ahead (which can be explored if you have time) turn left through the trees to pass the big forestry building on the left and emerge into the car park. There are picnic tables and toilets here. Rejoin the main Great Glen Way by heading left near the toilets and then right onto the track to head gently downhill towards the road. Cross the road and go through the gate opposite onto a path signed for Inverness. This clear path crosses farmland and passes a cafe and campsite at Tomachoin, before heading between gorse bushes to emerge at a minor road where you turn left.
7. Follow the minor road for 4 km, passing a number of houses. Eventually the Great Glen Way turns off onto a specially made path to the left which is signed. Follow this over open moorland with good views. Go straight across when it reaches a track and soon go through a gate into the forest. This section is one of the last remaining breeding strongholds for the endangered black grouse. At a junction don't go straight on but follow the main track as it to the left and then pass through another gate. Continue through more mixed forest on a narrower path with glimpses of the Cromarty Firth down to the left. Eventually the path emerges onto a track at a metal gate. Keep straight on here and then very soon take the signed turning to the right and pass a large pylon and reach a small reservoir. Go through the kissing gate to the left to cross the bottom of the reservoir before the path bends to the right and emerges onto a track heading downhill. Turn left here to follow the track downhill with good views over the City of Inverness in places. Ignore the steps up the left which lead to the newly planted forest at Dunain.
8. At the bottom of the hill go through a kissing gate and turn left to go round the side of the building and then onto the driveway to the road. Turn left onto the road and follow it for 100 metres. Then turn right into the drive for, Great Glen House, the Scottish National Heritage HQ. Pass between the building and the car park and go straight ahead onto a path heading downhill between fields. Follow the path as it curves to the left, ignoring a path to the right, pass a large fir tree and then turn right to head down between houses, crossing over a road on the way. Once past the swings, the path bears left to reach an underpass, turn right after this to head alongside the golf course and then up onto the Caledonian Canal bank. Turn right along the canal until the swing bridge where you turn left. Cross the main road after the bridge and turn right to follow the path alongside the road behind the leisure centre. This soon reaches the banks of the Ness, turn left here and cross the first pedestrian bridge to reach the pretty Ness Islands. Follow the footpath through the islands and onto the far bank of the river where you turn left to reach the centre of Inverness. There is a marker for the end of the Great Glen Way at this point.
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