Day 5, The Great Glen Way: Drumnadrochit to Inverness





I got to Drumnadrochit on the Friday. I had arranged to meet my wife and children here, where we spent the weekend looking at the usual tourist attractions. We stayed at the BCC Hostel some six miles from Drumnadrochit. There is a campsite, hostel and hotels in the town 
I got back on the Great Glen Way early on Monday morning. Since I was meeting my family in Inverness I had no need for some of my camping gear, so it stayed in the car. I also said goodbye to my boots and put my Keen Newport sandals on again. The distance to Inverness is about 18 miles. It starts heading out of Drumnadrochit along a footpath beside the A82. After a mile or so it heads off into the woods. It rises sharply and I wondered if I was in for another day of slogging up hill. The track evens out and  it turns into quite a pleasant walk through Abriachan, where there are toilets and a play park. If you have the time there are also a range of shorter walks around the forest, and a hide if you wish to do a spot of bird watching. Abriachan park is about 12  miles from Inverness and also offers a simple campsite if you wanted to split this last section into 2 days.
Campsite Outside Abriachan
After this there is an element of road walking before the path heads off into the forest once more. A section of the route has been closed for tree felling but they had put a diversion in place.
Diversion Track


The diversion takes you along a forest road that the logging trucks use to transport the tress out of the woods. Once clear of the diversion you get the first glimpse of the outskirts of Inverness and civilisation. The Great Glen Way takes you past a couple of housing estates before sending you back along a narrow track beside a field. This track ends up beside a golf course and then the Caledonian Canal again.
Nearing The End

It's The Canal Again!

The walk through the outskirts of Inverness is pleasant and one of the highlights is crossing over the Ness River and walking through Ness Island. It is a nice place for people to walk and have a sit by the river. The old fashioned lamp posts and string lights make it feel like walking in a different era. Once past Ness Island, it is a case of following the river to the castle and the end of your journey.
Ness Island

The Castle

The End

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