This moderate walk makes a circuit around attractive Loch Oich utilising the Great Glen Way along the eastern shores and the Invegarry Link higher above the loch on the western side.
Easy paths or tracks throughout, with some ascents and descents on the west side of the loch.
Buses reach Invergarry from all directions.
Invergarry post office.
Route closed 5 Dec 2022 until Dec 2024 for forestry felling on south side of Loch Oich
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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 Way Invergarry Link route.
The track winds uphill, soon passing a transmitter mast. Further on, 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 do not turn off towards Kilfinnan, instead carefully crossing the busy road and continuing along the verge on the far side. 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.
Branch right off the road (GGW marker) by the no entry signs at the exit from the Water Park. You are now on a path/cycle track, with lovely wild flowers in 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. The old Invergarry Station is being restorted.
Continue along the cycle path. Originally the Great Glen Way took a path closer to the lochshore down to the left; further on it is possible to divert onto sections of this path if you wish. The route continues for several kilometres, passing through the fine native woodland of the Letterfeirn Nature Reserve.
Eventually the route passes the abandoned cottage at Letterfeirn itself; there is a bench here and some composting toilets and it makes a great spot for a picnic, looking across to the ruins of Invergarry Castle and the impressive Glengarry Castle Hotel. Continue on the path or the cycle route; eventually both rejoin to head through an old railway tunnel with bat boxes at each end. Towards the end of the loch the route goes over the bridge across the Calder burn.
At the end of the loch the route 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. Turn off right onto a path just beyond here. You are now back on the Invergarry Link route. The narrow but well made path undulates pleasantly through the conifers. It also winds left and right and never feels too much like a straight forest plod.
Go straight across a new track. Further on the path eventually joins a track and comes close to the A82 at one point before heading higher once more. Keep on the main track at all times; it is marked with blue thistle posts. As you reach Glen Garry the view opens out a little and the route curves west away from Loch Oich. Look out for a marker post indicating where to turn off onto a clear path on the right. Go straight across another new track. Follow this path as it winds to and fro downhill, entering Invergarry next to some new houses. Turn right along the road to return to the post office and the start.
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