John o'Groats Trail: Inverness to Culbokie

Summary

The John o' Groats trail begins at Inverness Castle. It follows the river out of the Highland Capital before crossing the impressive Kessock Bridge. Leaving the busy roads behind, it skirts the flanks of Ord Hill, giving some fine views. It then continues across the pastoral landscapes of the Black Isle, passing Munlochy Bay and then passing the village of Munlochy. It visits the Clootie Well before a section of quiet lanes and tracks lead to Culbokie and the end of the first stage.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Informal route which is partly waymarked; mix of pavements, minor roads, forest tracks and woodland paths. Short section on busier road, some muddy or overgrown stretches.

Public Transport

Inverness has excellent bus and rail connections. Culbokie also has a bus link back to Inverness.

Start

Inverness Castle. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 24km / 15 miles
Time: 6 - 7 hours
Ascent: 450m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH666450

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

The trail begins from the front of Inverness Castle, where there is a fine statue of the Jacobite heroine, Flora MacDonald. Facing the castle from the monument, pass the building on the right hand side and then fork right down the wide ramp, passing to the right of the IMAG Inverness Museum and Art Gallery to reach the High Street. Cross at the crossing, then turn left to follow the pavement down to the banks of the River Ness. Do not cross the busy bridge, instead turning right to follow the pavement downstream beside the river. Pass but don't cross the suspension bridge, then when the road bends right keep ahead on the riverside cycle path. This soon leads under the busy A82 road bridge, and then emerges back on a road at another road bridge.

Stage 2

Again do not cross, instead going straight across the road onto the quieter road opposite (footpath sign for Kessock Bridge). Go left when this meets Shore Street - a busier road. Pass under the railway, and keep straight ahead at a small roundabout. Further on note Cromwell's Tower on the opposite side of the road - this is all that remains of the great fort here completed in 1682, and it now seems oddly incongruous in this industrial area. Follow the road as it curves right, coming alongside the Beauly Firth and passing the Longman Hide. Follow the road, with the Kessock Bridge now close ahead. Before reaching it turn right on a road (cycle path sign for Kessock Bridge). Follow this road until a sign for Cycle Path 1 indicates a turning on the left. Follow this between industrial units, then as it reaches a bank below the A9 turn left to head up steps to the walkway alongside the road. Now turn left along this walkway, crossing the Kessock Bridge.

Stage 3

Look out for dolphins in the waters far below. On the far side of the bridge keep on the pavement until there is a marked crossing point with an island in the middle of the road - cross the A9 here, with great care. On the far side bear left to take a narrow path between fences ascending into trees. At the top of this section ignore the first turning on the right, but bear right at the second which is more like a T junction straight afterwards, heading up steps and through the trees. There are great views back over Inverness. Keep on the path as it swings left and continues climbing, eventually emerging at a narrow track / wide path. Turn right along this, now following blue waymarker posts. The route undulates easily amidst the trees. Ignore a footpath to the left (though it leads to a fine viewpoint), and later a signed path that descends off to the right.

Stage 4

Eventually the route emerges from the trees, giving excellent views over the Moray Firth and the idyllic hamlet of Kilmuir down by the shore - there's a welcome bench. Keep on the almost level track as it contours round the northern end of the hill - continue until a path diverges to the right to a nearby gate in the deer fence. Please shut the gate after going through. Continue straight ahead on a rough track. Reaching a clearing, keep right and follow an often muddy track with a deer fence soon appearing on your left. When the track meets a tarmac road, turn right. After a few minutes walk, turn left at a wooden signpost to head up a wide path along the edge of a wood(ignore the right branch into the woods).

Stage 5

Ignore another path forking right uphill. When the track reaches a gate with a stile alongside, cross the stile. The path can become impeded by gorse further on - if this is the case - use the gate instead of the stile and head along the field edge. Both routes soon rejoin. Further on, go through a pedestrian gate (not the stile to the right) and continue on a rather confined path between two fences, with fields on your right and woodland to your left - walking in the field to the right may be easier. Further on there are views over Loch Lundie over to the right. Ignore a stile into the woods on your left. Instead keep on through yet another gate; eventually the route descends to pass through two farm gates and reach a minor road. Turn left along this, then take the second lane on the right ('Craigiehowe Mains'). At a junction follow the tarred lane which goes left. At Craigiehowe Mains stay on the main track ahead (slightly left).

Stage 6

Keep ahead at a cross tracks. Further on the track fords the small Drynie Burn and curves to the right, gently uphill, with views across Munlochy Bay. Passing through further gates, the track becomes grassy and little used. When it forks take the right branch, passing between gorse bushes, and continue the grassy trod down to the shores of Munlochy Bay. This part of the route can be submerged at highest tides, but if so you can divert into the field to the left; otherwise, continue round by the loch shores. There follows a beautiful section with lovely views across the bay and its birdlife. Below Bayhead the track starts to become waterlogged; watch out for the way markers to avoid this on the left side, a rough section across the slope. This marked path crosses a fence at a stile and eventually emerges onto a farm track.

Stage 7

Keep ahead until the B9161 is reached; turn right along this, crossing Littlemill Bridge; the road is very busy and there is no verge so great care is needed - luckily the village of Munlochy is soon reached. As the main road curves right, the John o'Groats trail turns left along the minor Littleburn road, alongside the Allangrange Arms (there is a shop a very short distance on the main road if needed). Follow the minor road, eventually passing the offices of Highland Birchwoods. Turn right onto a good path into the woods just beyond. Ignore a smaller path forking left, instead continuing on the main path which soon curves left, keeping on top of a bank; there are some red markers. Keep on the main path ignoring further branches on either side; eventually it bends sharp right and continues alongside a burn. When a footbridge is reached turn left to cross it.

Stage 8

Follow the path as it climbs uphill and eventually meets a track. Turn right here, following the track to a parking area for the Clootie Well. Two paths leave the parking area - take the left one, signed for the Clootie Well, which curves round the left side of a hillock. There are many colourful rags hanging from the trees, and the path soon passes the Clootie Well. A cloot (or clout) is a rag, and this place is part of an old tradition where pilgrims would come to hang a piece of clothing belonging to someone who is sick, in the hope of curing their illness. Immediately after the well head left down to the road and go straight across up the farm lane opposite. Continue to a t-junction, then turn right, and then left when a minor road is reached. This road is followed straight ahead, ignoring any turnings. After 3.25km along the road look out for a track on the right signed for Greenleonachs and Mount Eagle.

Stage 9

Turn right along this track, at first along the edge of the woods, then curving right to pass into them. Turn left at a track junction, then keep straight ahead on a path when the main track bends right. Keep left at the next fork. When this meets another path keep left, passing round a gate to reach a house. Keep right of this down the lane, with great views of mighty Ben Wyvis in the distance on a clear day. Keep straight ahead when a minor road is reached, and keep along this road when it bends right. After another 450m turn left onto a path into the trees - it starts at the 'Blind Summit' sign. The path continues through the woods until it meets a track; turn left here, then immediately right. Now keep ahead on a track until a gate is reached, with the Culbokie road just beyond. Turn left to head into the village, which has an inn (not always open) and a shop.

Next stage: Culbokie to Alness

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