This circular walk climbs through forestry plantations along the route of part of one of General Caulfeild's great military roads. In places there are views over Fort Augustus and the Great Glen, but also large pylons and forestry tracks.
Bog Factor
Clear footpaths and forestry tracks.
Bunoich car park, Jenkins Park, 0.5km from Fort Augustus centre.
Bus to Fort Augustus.
NH377096
From the centre of Fort Augustus take the A82 towards Inverness and take the first turning on the left signed for Auchteraw up a steep hill. The Bunoich car park is by the junction just beyond. Park here, and begin by turning left to walk along the road (signed Auchteraw) past the play and skateboard park. Follow the road straight to where it forks; the main road branches left here, but our route goes straight on - with a footpath sign for Glenmoriston by the Old Military Road. Go up the road, keeping straight ahead past a gate to follow a track into the forest. Soon a junction is reached with a wooden signpost - turn right onto the Old Military Road.
These days the road is just a path, but was originally used to drive cattle to Glenmoriston and onwards to market further south. After 1725 the route was developed by General Wade as part of a great military road - the northerly continuation of the road over the Corrieyairack Pass, and which led eventually to Bernera barracks on the west coast. The path climbs up through silver birch and pine woodland via a number of wide zig zags. As the path levels off there are glimpses of 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.
When you reach a track at a bend, turn left onto the track to continue the walk through pine plantation with good views in places as the track traverses the side of the hill. As well as the Great Glen below, the view stretches to the Loch Lochy Munros ahead. You will pass under the large power lines coming from renewable power schemes. Keep straight ahead on the main track as it starts to descend.
Keep on the main track when it swings left (ignoring the track on the right), eventually passing back under the powerlines. Lower down, at a wide bend where the main track swings back to the right, take the track leads off to the left.
This is then followed all the way back to the turn off for the Military Road, passing a couple of small waterfalls along the way. Continue ahead at the sign to pass the gate (ignoring the blue waymarked path to the right) and follow the road, keeping straight ahead at the junction to get back to the start.
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