River Beauly and Lovat Bridge circuit

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Summary

This lovely circular walk takes in a beautiful stretch along the River Beauly, with wonderful wild flowers in the early summer. The return route is peaceful and particularly good for autumn colours.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Easy to follow paths, tracks and minor roads with no hills

Public Transport

None to start, but you could start the loop from Lovat Bridge, reached by walking along the pavement beside the busy road from Beauly, which has buses and a train station.

Start

Fishermen's car park on south side of the River Beauly at Black Bridge - available by courtesy; there is a layby opposite if full or chained off. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 8km / 5 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 35m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH497440

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (8)

Stage 1

There is a a fishing car park - and a layby opposite - just south of Black Bridge on the minor road between Kiltarlity and Kilmorack, 4km SW of Beauly. From here walk across the bridge over the River Beauly, with a view to the hydro-power station upstream. Immediately after the bridge turn right, past a gate, onto a track running parallel with the river through woodland. Ignore a track heading down to the river on the right and continue for 200m. Here the main track bends left, but the walk continues straight ahead. There are glimpses of a quarry to the left. Keep ahead on the main path, ignoring a path on the left, continuing through the woodland with glimpses of the river down to the right. Eventually a fence is reached - go through the metal gate and straight ahead across the more open area, with woodland on your left.

Stage 2

Soon another fence is reached - go through the gate ahead. The path then emerges onto a track opposite Cruives Lodge. Turn left and follow the track, soon rejoining the riverbank giving good views of the weir. Follow the track until you reach a red sandstone house. Keep to the left of the house, then turn right along the track which curves back towards the river bank. There are often people fishing either from the bank or thigh deep in the water. Keep on the track, passing some majestic oak trees and a fishing hut on your left. Keep ahead when a track leads right to the river.

Stage 3

There are good views of the red sandstone turrets of Beaufort Castle on the opposite side of the river. As the track bends to the right, back to the river, an unmarked but clear path goes straight ahead through the bushes. You can continue along the track until it ends by the river before taking a path that joins with this footpath. Continue along the path until it reaches a fence and gate - turn left here to avoid entering a private garden.

Stage 4

The path runs along the edge of a field - with the house and garden off to your right. Eventually turn right to cross the driveway and take the path opposite. This runs along the far side of the garden and returns to the riverbank. Turn left, crossing a small wooden bridge and joining track. Turn right onto the track and continue through into Croiche Wood. In spring these woods are carpeted with bluebells providing a lovely contrast to the bright green of the new leaves on the trees. Keep to the main track, ignoring a grassy track which leads right to the river. The track eventually curves towards the river bank and passes along an extremely picturesque section of the river with a fishing lodge on the left.

Stage 5

Near the edge of the woodland the track curves sharp left away from the river just before powerlines. Keep straight ahead here on a small path which passes under powerlines to rejoin the track beyond. Eventually the track passes some houses, and there's a view of Lovat Bridge ahead. Continue until the track merges with another track from the left and continues ahead towards fir trees. When you reach the fir trees and a square stable building, turn left along a track, passing to the left of a house.

Stage 6

When the track reaches a minor road turn left and follow the minor as it skirts woodland and passes through pleasant farmland. Keep on the tarmac road ignoring two turnings to the left. After approximately 1.5 km, on a straight section of road, look out for a right turn onto an initially muddy track (if you reach the fish farm buildings you have gone too far). The track soon becomes a path; when it forks, keep left alongside the fence. Soon afterwards the path meets the outward route. Turn right and retrace the first section of the walk to return to Black Bridge.

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