Inverness Cottage to Inverness Walk
Introduction
This walk followed on in due course from the St Cyrus to Ardnamurchan walk completed in 2015, described separately and uses the same walking from our house, Inverness Cottage to Kinlochleven. I walked mainly alone on the first part with daughter Jayne & her friend Jane helping me through the difficult bits.
On this Inverness walk section from Kinlochleven, John & Margaret Adams walked most of the way with me.
We did this Inverness walk in the same way as the Ardnamurchan walk, that is in bite-size stages that could be done within a day, Monica was again happy to drop us off at the start of the day & pick us up at the end, often meeting up with us for coffee and maybe lunch. Having started the earlier part of the walk on the 4th October 2014, I set out again this time on November 21st 2018 picking up the trail at Kinlochleven but the earlier parts are included for completeness.
Day 1, October 4th 2014
St Cyrus to North Craigo via Morphie and Marykirk, 5 miles (5miles total)
An easy start, a short day; I walked through the village and out on the track to Morphie and onward to Marykirk. The day was fairly non descript, dry but the earlier rain had caused flooding of the main Marykirk road and so our plan to have a pub lunch at the Marykirk Hotel was scuppered. Instead we diverted to the Hillside Hotel and Monica picked me up after I had finished that section
St Cyrus Beach from the cliff path
Day 2, 6th October 2014
North Craigo to Trinity roundabout, Brechin via Logie Pert, 5 miles (10 miles total)
Another easy day and a wet one.
Day 3, 30th November 2014
Trinity roundabout to Milden Lodge, Glen Esk, via Edzell, 10 miles (20 miles total)
Getting into my stride even though my wrist, broken earlier in the month was gnawing away still. The day was cold but dry. After Edzell I took the minor road to the west of the river Esk. The road became a track and then a path.
Day 4, 17 December 2014
Milden Lodge to Invermark car park, Glen Esk, 7.5 miles (27.5 miles total)
Crossing the river back to the (now ) southside. I walked on to Dalbrack, crossed back over the river and took the road to Invermark car park.
Day 5, 23rd December 2014
Invermark to Glen Clova Hotel via Inchgrundle, 10 miles (37.5 miles total)
From here on the walk started to get interesting and this stretch, for me was hard. it was cold and dry, icy on the high ground with indistinct or no paths, sat nav essential, but it was one of the hill routes I really wanted to do. Jayne my daughter walked with me and found the walk easier than I. We set off as the sun rose just after 8am and walked through till dusk at 3.30 pm. Coming off the high ground and down via Loch Brandy we felt good, the photo shows Jayne as we were ready to climb from Inchgrundle.
Jayne at Inchgrundle
Day 6, 4th January 2015
Glen Clova Hotel to Glen Doll car park, 2.5 miles (40 miles total)
This was a very short little filler section, Monica came with me and we had coffee and mince pies en route.
Day 7, 13th April 2015
Jock’s Road, Glen Doll to Auchallater, 13.6 miles (53.6 miles total)
Jock’s road is an old Drover’s road and it was another route I wanted to do. Jayne and her friend, Jane came with me, they were younger and fitter than I but I was the guide. I knew we would need a good amount of daylight and hopefully good weather, that’s why we left it until April. We set off very early and arrived in Glen Doll to find it snowing and I dithered. We had coffee in the Hotel and encouraged by the ladies, we set out. The snow continued and higher up the path disappeared under 6 inches of snow. Nevertheless we continued, again sat nav was essential. Over the top the snow was icy spindrift and we had a hasty lunch break sheltering behind some rocks. The path never reappeared until we dropped down into the Lochallater valley. The going then was easy on a track. At the Lodge at the far end of the loch we passed by an official looking black Range Rover, it was blocking the track. We didn’t realize until we were at the end of the walk who’s vehicle it was, but the eagle – eyed ladies soon recognized Prince Charles driving with several of his “ heavies” with him.
Jayne and I on Jock’s road
Day 8, 14th July 2015
Auchallater to Spittal of Glenshee, 14.4 miles (68 miles total)
Dry first thing in the morning, heavy rain set in as I approached the café at the top of Glenshee. Here, Monica and I had soup and sandwiches and we met James Baxter, we didn’t know him at the time but he is a seasoned hillwalker, skier, kayaker and has written several travel books. Most interesting because he too was walking from Scotland’s east coast to Ardnamurchan Point but he was doing it in one trip, staying in bothies, tent or the occasional hotel. I stayed in touch with him, following his progress.
Day 9, 18th August 2015
Spittal of Glenshee to Kinnaird, Pitlochry via Enochdu, 16 miles (84 miles total)
A beautiful morning followed by a very wet afternoon. A long day but good nevertheless.
Looking back towards The Spittal of Glenshee
Day 10, 14th September 2015
Kinnaird to Frenich, south Loch Tummel, 12.2 miles (96.2 miles total)
We were staying for 3 days in Pitlochry, the weather was good, walking on the south side of Loch Tummel
Loch Tummel
Day 11, 15th September 2015
Frenich to Kinloch Rannoch via Schiehallion Road, 13.9 miles (110.1 miles total) Another good day skirting Schiehallion.
Schiehallion
Day 12, 16th September 2015
Kinloch Rannoch to Rannoch Station via south Loch Rannoch, 17.3 miles (127.4 miles total)
This day was spectacular, sunshine and blue skies, not even a breeze. The surface of the Loch was like a mirror for the 10 or so miles I walked along it’s shore.
Loch Rannoch
Day 13, 29th September 2015
Rannoch Station to Glencoe via Rannoch Moor, 15.5 miles (142.9 miles total)
The good weather continued, I was so lucky to be able to cross the moor under these conditions. I met Monica for lunch break at The King’s House Hotel then continued to the lower end of The Devil’s Staircase in Glencoe.
Buachaille Etive Mor from Rannoch Moor
Day 14, 20th November 2015
Glencoe to Loch Leven via Devil’s Staircase and Kinlochleven, 12.1 miles (155 miles total)
For late November the weather was pretty good, a little snow on the high ground, rain later on as I finished the day halfway down Loch Leven.
Buachaille Etive Mor from the Devil’s Staircase
Day 15, November 21st, 2018
Kinlochleven to Fort William, via the last part of The West Highland Way, 12.78 miles (167.78 miles total)
It was a cool overcast morning which developed into heavy rain in the afternoon.
Day 16, November 22nd, 2018
Fort William to Gairlochy via The Great Glen Way, 9.44 miles (177.22 miles total)
A cold clear but overcast day walking on the canal side, Monica walked the first hour with me.
Day 17, October 26th 2020
Gairlochy to Clunes via The Great Glen Way, 4.38 miles (181.60 miles total)
John & Margaret walked with on this & the next 5 stages, it was a very pleasant afternoon, mainly dry & sunny through deciduous woodland along the shores of Loch Lochy.
Day 18, October 27th 2020
Clunes to Invergarry via the Great Glen Way, 13.30 miles (194.90 miles total)
With John & Margaret, it was a fairly wet day on a wide track through a coniferous wood, we met Monica for lunch at South Laggan lochs. Later in the afternoon we saw quite intensive logging operations
Day 19, October 28th 2020
Invergarry to North of Fort Augustus via the Great Glen Way, 11 miles ( 205.90 miles total)
A very wet day walking with John & Margaret on winding forest paths in the morning. We met Monica for coffee at the bridge of Oich. Continuing on the canal towpaths we had to make a detour because of high un-crossable water at the first weir. After that it was a very interesting trek on the towpath which was on a narrow spit of land between the canal & the river Oich. At a second weir, the water was deep enough to make Margaret have to cross by straddling the fencing crossing the weir, see photo. Almost at Fort Augustus we were waylaid by a Sustrans survey chap; we got wet & cold. Nevertheless we continued to meet Monica for lunch at Fort Augustus after which we continued walking for an hour to the pick up point a mile or so north of the town.
Day 20, May 25th 2021
Fort Augustus North to Invermoriston via the Great Glen Way, 5.3 miles ( 211.2 miles total)
With John & Margaret, a wet start but cleared later. A good forest path, stayed at the Inverness West Premier Inn
Day 21, May 26th 2021
Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit via the Great glen Way, 14.8 miles ( 226 miles total)
And Inverness West to Inverness centre, 1.9 miles ( 227.9 total)
Wet initially, dried later, walked with John & Margaret. A long steady climb then met Monica for a late lunch. This was a pleasant walk through open woodland. Stayed at the Inverness West Premier Inn. Had a beer at the Black Isle bar & ate at the Mustard Seed Inverness. Woken at 01.30 am by the fire alarm, stood in the car park till 02.00 am.
You will have noticed that we took the last short section out of turn, that was deliberate because we knew that the following day’s walk would be long enough without adding the last section. Two years earlier in May 2019, Monica & I had walked this section before when we were there with Tim & Avril Warren. Following John Adams’ recommendation we ate at the Rocpool that time.
This final section, mainly by the river sometimes on the islands in the river, is one of the nicest city walks you will find.
Above, Digs for the night?
Day 22, May 27th 2021
Drumnadrochit to Inverness West, 18 miles ( 245.9 miles total)
Walked with John & Margaret, dry & sunny later. After a short stretch of walking on the main A82 we walked through woodland & then open countryside. We met Monica for lunch. All in all, a long day & tired limbs but job done. Stayed at the Inverness West Premier Inn. Had our celebratory beer at the Black Isle bar, then ate at the Rocpool, Inverness. Final section to Inverness centre is in the previous day’s section above.
Here’s to the next one (beer, or walk!)
An earlier expedition to scout the forthcoming route. Tim, Monica & Avril with Buchaille Etive Mor in the background.
In a nutshell
245.9 miles in 22 days over 43 months.
John O’ Groats next!