This enjoyable loop leads through varied and quiet countryside, taking in three lochs, each with a distinct character, on the south of Loch Ness.
Bog Factor
Mix of quiet minor roads, tracks and paths with one section tending to be boggy and prickly with gorse.
Layby just east of Loch Duntelchaig between Preas Dubh and Dunlichity.
No public transport to the start of the walk.
NH647321
Park in the layby just east of the outlet of Loch Duntelchaig, between Preas Dubh and Dunlichity. Start the walk by heading west towards Loch Duntelchaig and walking along the road northwest, running along the shore of the loch. After 400m turn right to head through a gate onto a track, signed for Duntelchaig. The grassy track leads uphill through the trees. Keep ahead at a junction, then at a turning area, and finally as another path joins in from the left. After 2.3km the track reaches a minor road - turn left along this.
Follow the road, passing a large farmhouse called Mains of Bunachton on your right. The road has good views over the gently undulating farmed countryside and down to Loch Bunachton. After a kilometre along the road turn right through a farm gate (Private Fishing sign) and head down the rough track. Keep ahead through a gate; the track deteriorates to a path and is often very boggy, and further on becomes somewhat overgrown with gorse (avoided on the right if necessary). Eventually the path reaches the far end of Loch Bunachton. This small loch is very peaceful and is popular with grebes and other birds as well as fisherman. The path heads left of the loch, reaching a track - turn right along this.
After 900m, shortly after passing under the power lines, turn right onto another track. After 150m turn right again onto a narrower track through the trees. Follow this for 1.5km until you come out on a minor road. Turn left and continue downhill to reach a t-junction. Here turn right, passing Dunlichity Church with its impressive collection of headstones in the burial ground. The church is dedicated to St Fergus and the present building was erected in 1758 although there was an earlier chapel on the site. Rumour has it that soldiers from the Jacobite rebellion sharpened their swords on the walls of the church prior to the battle of Culloden. Certainly there are strange grooves on one corner of part of the old church wall in the graveyard, but these appear so deep that any sword would have been very blunt afterwards.
Continue on the road as it skirts Loch a' Chachain, another smaller and pretty loch, good for birdwatching. Follow the minor road back towards Loch Duntelchaig, by far the largest of the three lochs on this walk.
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