Three lochs circuit, south Loch Ness

Delightful walk through varied and quiet countryside, taking in three lochs, each with a distinct character, on the south of Loch Ness. NOTE: Forestry Operations at Loch Bunachton mean it may not be possible to complete the circuit at present.

Terrain

Straightforward walk through varied landscape on a mixture of path, track and minor road with some boggy sections.

Public Transport

No public transport to the start of the walk.

Start

Layby at eastern end of Loch Duntelchaig between Preas Dubh and Dunlichity. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.5km / 7.75 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 193m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH647321

Maps / GPS

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Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at the layby next to the Loch Duntelchaig outlet at the eastern end of the loch between Preas Dubh and Dunlichity. Start the walk by heading west towards Loch Duntelchaig and walking along the road northwest passing Preas Dubh. Continue up the hill away from the loch and just before the crown of the hill turn right through the entrance to Braewood's gate signed for Bunachton. Follow the track until you reach a large, newly built house on the left. Before the house turn left (there should be a footpath sign for Bunachton pointing the way) and walk up beside the new house and through two gates. The path then swings right and narrows as it passes through pretty birch woodland. The path can be extremely boggy in places - a detour just to the left will keep your feet dry. Keep following this path as it climbs and then heads through pine woodland and past ruined crofts until you reach a gate and the road with a house directly opposite.

Stage 2

At the road turn left and 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 the Mains of Bunachton and before you reach the next plantation go through a farm gate on the right into a field and head down the rough track towards the corner of the plantation in a diagonal direction (the Private signs relate to the status of the track and do not affect your right to walk this route). At the corner keep left through a farm gate and continue on the grassy track. A two-strand electric fence spans the track at times - if this is in place use the plastic handles to open it and replace them once you have gone through. The track passes through another gate and down towards the far end of Loch Bunachton. This small loch is very peaceful and is popular with grebes and other birds as well as fisherman. Continue along the lochside on the track as it soon enters pine woodland.

Stage 3

After 1km following the forestry track, take a track branching off to the right. Continue on this track, ignoring the track to Creag Shoilleir (not worth the detour) on the left until you come out on a minor road. Turn left and continue downhill until you 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.

Stage 4

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 biggest of the three lochs on this walk. From the parking layby it is worth looking up to the crags on the right to spot climbers if the conditions are right.

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