Loch Ness 360: Dores to Inverness

The final stage of the Loch Ness 360 and South Loch Ness Trail leaves the loch behind to climb up onto a low moorland ridge which it follows towards Inverness. There are excellent views towards the Moray Firth and the distant Kessock Bridge. The South Loch Ness Trail ends at Torbreck but the Loch Ness 360 continues into Inverness (distances/times are for the full 360 route).

Terrain

Minor road and tracks, muddy in places; woodland path.

Public Transport

Dores is served by bus from Inverness. Torbreck has no public transport, but buses run along the B8082 around 1.5km away.

Start

Dores Inn, Dores. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Leave Dores on B852 towards Inverness, there is a pavement. Pass the church and graveyeard which are worth a look around if time allows. After a short while there is a good view back over fields to the waters of Loch Ness.

Stage 2

Continue until the primary school and cross the car park to follow the surfaced path around the back of the school. Continue on this across farmland to reach a minor road near a couple of houses. Turn right to pass the houses on the road and when another minor road leaves to the left (signed for the cycle route to Inverness) stay on the road which bends right, crosses a bridge and starts to climb uphill.

Stage 3

The road climbs steeply and passes the Macbain Memorial Park, a walled memorial garden and park built in 1961 by Hugston Mcbain of McBain, the 21st clan chief in an effort to re-establish a land owning link with the area. A short way beyond this, almost at the crest of the hill, take a waymarked track on the left. Go through the gate and follow the track across the open moorland, a wide elevated area of gorse, heather and livestock grazing ground with good views.

Stage 4

Keep on the main track, which is boggy in places, ignore any side tracks, eventually going through another gate. Keep straight on and soon there are views to the Kessock Bridge at Inverness and the Moray Firth beyond. The track continue through areas of birch and pine trees before it becomes a harder surfaced track at a turning area, keep straight on here.

Stage 5

The track starts to descend gradually, stay on the main track ignoring side tracks. When a corner of a track coming down from the right is reached keep straight on heading downhill. At the next fork keep right to climb uphill for a short distance before a flat section with views over farmland to the left. At another fork keep left and the track descends and turns left to cross farmland and pass a couple of houses at Cuillard.

Stage 6

Before the main road is reached turn right (to the right of double gates) to follow a path into Cullaird Wood. When a track is reached go straight across, staying on the path. Further on it leads past a woodland pond, keep right (waymarked) at a junction beyond this. Stay on the main path, ignoring branches off to either side, to eventually meet the minor road 500m west of Torbreck; this is the official end of the South Loch Ness Trail.

Stage 7

To continue to Inverness - and complete the Loch Ness 360 - turn right, following the minor road for 1.5km to a t-junction. Here turn left, following the pavement to a roundabout. Go straight on at the roundabout (signed for Lochardil) into onto Stratherrick Road. Follow this, keeping straight ahead at all junctions; it becomes Drummond Crescent before reaching a t-junction with Ness Islands Road. Turn right along this, passing the footbridge to Ness islands, and keeping left at a fork to stay on the road nearest the river. The centre of Inverness is soon reached.

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