The Great Glen Cycle Route 11
Route facts
Waterways:
Caledonian Canal »
Distance: 29 miles / 46.4 kms
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Energetic
Suitable for: Everyone
Starts at: Drumnadrochit
Ends at: Inverness
This last leg, though long, is full of interesting trails to keep you interested. You'll be confronted with ever-changing landscapes as you make your way to Inverness and the end of your journey, for now.
From the centre of Drum make your way to the junction of the A82 and the A831. Turn left here onto the A831 for just over a mile. As you pass a garage look out for the sign for the A833, signposted "Beauly".
The road climbs very steeply, one in six in places, until it start to flatten out. The landscape now is desolate and very bleak. But as you start to descend, the countryside becomes greener and more inviting. After about three miles of gradual descent, look out for a sign on your right for "Foxhole one and a half miles". Turn right and climb up to the first junction and continue to climb for another half mile or so. Look out for three white buildings on your right called "Moniackmhor". Just past them on the right is a road signposted, "Drumnadrochit via Loch Ness" - this is the road you want. It goes to Abriachan which is about three miles away.
The next two or three miles are mainly down hill on gently undulating roads. When you pass a turn on your right the road goes into some woodland. You are now appraoching a crossroads signposted Abriachan to the right and Blackfold to the left, 4 miles.
Turn left past a house and telephone box, and the road climbs steadily for about 2 miles. The gradual ascent takes you past some new bungalows and then Blackfold. The latter is just a few buildings at the side of the road. Be careful now as you go over a cattle grid and then the road starts to descend sharply for the next three miles.
As the forest road ends you find yourself at the side of the very busy A82(T). Turn left onto this for the last three miles into Inverness. The road is flat but there are no verges and it will be busy. Start to look out for the Beauly Firth on your left and the impressive Kessock Bridge in front of you as you approach Inverness.
As you cross the Caledonian Canal for the last time, you follow the signs into the centre of Inverness. Cross over the River Ness and you are in Bridge Street. The Tourist Information Centre is on your right.
Getting there
Parking: There's parking at both start and end points.
Public transport: Transport links are good.
Other stages
The Great Glen Cycle Route 1 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 10 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 11
The Great Glen Cycle Route 2 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 3 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 4 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 5 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 6 »
The Great Glen Cycle Route 7 »
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