A lovely walk with stunning views of the hills of Lochaber

[Brassinthebraes]

I love this walk! The path which is accessible via two kissing gates and a larger gate(key available from the Spean Bridge Spar shop) offers a lovely mix of downhill, flat walking and gentle climbs. I accessed the path from the world famous commando memorial and its car park, easily spotted off the A82.

The commando memorial

The signpost is clearly visible below the car park and leads you downhill through grazing land on a very clearly defined path. You cross a very well maintained bridge

The well maintained bridges

and walk past newly planted oak trees and meander down toward the High Bridge ruin.

The High Bridge

The views here are spectacular with vistas on to Aonach Mor, Nevis Range, Ben Bhan, the Grey Corries and Ben Nevis.

The stunning views

The bridge itself was the scene of the opening shots fired in the 1745 Jacobite uprising. A commemorative panel vividly tells the dramatic story.
You continue along the path on what was the branch railway line joining Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus.

The railway line

and the magnificent, and also ruined, railway bridge comes into view.

Railway Bridge

Another well worded panel tells of the historical significance of this bridge.
The path then takes us along the mighty River Spean

River Spean and the Railway Bridge

and then uphill towards a gloriously situated bench dedicated to the engineer, mountaineer and philanthropist Alan Reece whose input was vital in the construction of the path. Here the views open up once again to the Grey Corries and Aonach Mor as well as Kilmonavig Church and the old Spean Bridge Primary School.

Dr Reece’s Bench

The path then ends at the kissing gate on the A82 allowing you to wander into Spean Bridge, or join the road back up to the Commando Memorial Car Park or indeed turn around and enjoy the path in the opposite direction.
A wonderfully interesting walk on a great path with extraordinary beautiful views.