Day 4 - Tuesday 1 April 2025
Fort Augustus to Invermoriston (8 miles)
Back at Fort Augustus for the start of Day 4 - a relatively short day at just 8 miles. We had driven to Invermoriston this morning and left our car there and caught the bus to Fort Augustus.
On arrival we had a "Full Scottish" at the cafe inside the Caledonian Canal Centre
Morning Nessie - nice shades and we love the hat
Crossing the River Oich leaving Fort Augustus
The remains sitting in the river formerly carried the Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus branch Railway line (the Inverness and Fort Augustus Railway) over the River Oich to the west of Fort Augustus village. This railway was closed to regular passenger traffic by the London and North Eastern Railway on 1 December 1933. Sadly, only the piers now survive.
The remains sitting in the river formerly carried the Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus branch Railway line (the Inverness and Fort Augustus Railway) over the River Oich to the west of Fort Augustus village. This railway was closed to regular passenger traffic by the London and North Eastern Railway on 1 December 1933. Sadly, only the piers now survive.
Any opportunity to pose in front of a mirror
Leaving Fort Augustus the route passes the entrance to Morag's Lodge
Before reaching the A82 the route heads off to the left into woodland
Exiting the woodland, the path climbs steadily up a felled plantation
I wonder how this lone tree survived the cull?
At Grid Reference NH 38492 10608 The Great Glen Way splits into a high or a low route. The routes converge near Invermoriston and as it was a nice day we decided to take the high route which goes off to the left.
Heading through the forest on the high route
A waterfall cascading down on the Allt na Criche (Click Play to view)
After a steep climb, the route arrives at a large footbridge
Shortly after the bridge a way mark points the way up to a path on the left off the main track
Plenty of these on offer today
Nothing like the sound of a waterfall (Click Play to view)
Click Play to view
Exiting the forest onto open hillside - it was nice to be free from the confines of trees
Zooming in on Fort Augustus & the Caledonian Canal
Looking over Loch Ness to Beinn a' Bhacaidh
The route climbs gently over moorland as it heads to Invermoriston
Loch Ness & Beinn a' Bhacaidh (Click Play to View)
This is a lovely section and gives great views down Loch Ness
Loch Ness (Click Play to view)
The route reaches a rudimentary stone shelter
The view down Loch Ness from the stone shelter (Click Play to view)
Beinn a' Bhacaidh from the stone shelter
Posing with Duck at the stone shelter
The route descends to the Allt a' Mhuillin. It was here that we bumped into the only two people we saw all day.
The footbridge over the Allt a' Mhuilinn
Beinn a' Bhacaidh once more
From the stone shelter the terrain levels out before the descent into Invermoriston
An opportunity for a sit down before we descend into the finish - a large rock sits on the side of the path. Although it can't be seen from the picture, there is a bench where I am standing.
Approaching Invermoriston with the village just out of sight to the left. It was here that a fair bit of forestry work had recently taken place therefore the steep path became rougher as we descended.
A Loch Ness panorama
At Grid Reference NH 42202 15984 a path junction is reached - we had come in from the left. The Great Glen Way goes off to the right however both the forestry track and the path to the right can be used although the latter is a much more pleasant transit.
Heading through the trees on the lower path with the forestry track up above on the left
Crossing Telford's Bridge as we enter Invermoriston
The bridge was one of nearly a thousand that Thomas Telford built in order to improve weaknesses in the Highland road system. The building of the bridge commenced in 1805 however delays caused by "a languid and inattentive contractor" and an idle workforce meant that the bridge took 8 years to build.
The bridge was one of nearly a thousand that Thomas Telford built in order to improve weaknesses in the Highland road system. The building of the bridge commenced in 1805 however delays caused by "a languid and inattentive contractor" and an idle workforce meant that the bridge took 8 years to build.
The road bridge carrying the A82 over the River Moriston
The Invermoriston Falls from Telford's Bridge (Click Play to view)
Invermoriston Falls
Invermoriston Falls (Click Play to view)
Emerging on to the A82 at Invermoriston's Village Hall
We had been contacted by two local ladies, Kirsty & Catherine who had been following our progress via Spaniel Aid. They advised us that on arrival in the village that we would be in time for "Community Tuesday" and would therefore be most welcome to attend. The event is an incentive to bring the local community together to meet up to chat, relax and take part in various activities. This takes place from around noon until early evening and provides soup, cake, sandwiches, drinks plus an evening meal for all visitiors, not just local people. Angie and I were made very welcome and spent a good couple of hours chatting to lots of people and sampling the delicious cakes and sandwiches on offer.
Nice to see that the village is proud of their ship and links to the Royal Navy
Enjoying the hospitality of the people of Invermoriston - it was a privilege to be here today
With Catherine at Invermoriston Village Hall - the villagers had very kindly decided that the focus of their donations today would be for our chosen charity of Spaniel Aid.
Driving back to Drumnadrochit we stopped off at Urquhart Castle
Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart saw great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress. Control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the Wars of Independence. The power struggles continued, as the Lords of the Isles regularly raided both castle and glen up until the 1500s. The last of the government troops garrisoned here during the Jacobite Risings blew up the castle when they left. Urquhart’s iconic ruins remain, offering glimpses into medieval times and the lives of its noble residents.
Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart saw great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress. Control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the Wars of Independence. The power struggles continued, as the Lords of the Isles regularly raided both castle and glen up until the 1500s. The last of the government troops garrisoned here during the Jacobite Risings blew up the castle when they left. Urquhart’s iconic ruins remain, offering glimpses into medieval times and the lives of its noble residents.
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Day 4 Data
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Total Ascent
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Total Ascent
8 miles
47.7 miles
4hrs 10mins
1765ft (538m)
47.7 miles
4hrs 10mins
1765ft (538m)