Walking in the Highlands
Scotland is renowned for its stunning scenery which is one of the reasons it attracts so many visitors to its shores each year wanting to experience this beauty first hand. It’s undeniable that one of the best ways to get out and truly take in the rugged landscapes is by walking, and with an abundance of lowland and mountain walks to choose from you’ll be spoilt by choice for which ones to do! That’s why we’re here to help and give you our recommendations for impressive walks in the local area.
Let’s dive right in and start off with the more challenging walks, you may have heard that when a mountain in Scotland is over 3000ft it is classed as a Munro and as of late the sport of ‘Munro Bagging’ has become very popular with people going out and trying to complete all of the 284 Munros. If climbing 284 maybe sounds a bit arduous (just the thought makes us feel tired!) then why not give one a go?! Not far from Inverness lies the Munro Ben Wyvis, if you’ve been into the City you may have spotted this big lump north of the River Ness. It’s only an hour’s drive away so doesn’t take long to get to and is the perfect beginner Munro for those who are not avid hillwalkers with a well-made path pretty much the whole way up the mountain. You can’t say you’ve done a Munro until you've reached its trig point so to get to the true summit of Ben Wyvis you have around a mile walk to go once at the top, this gives you ample time to take in the surrounding stunning scenery with a view stretching for miles…
If you are looking for a challenge a bit closer to the comfort of your lodge then just a few miles further down the road from you is the mountain Meall Fuar Mhonaidh, the biggest hill overlooking the infamous Loch Ness. Although the climb can be boggy (boots are definitely needed!) and a little steep in places it’s a relatively easy hill to climb and you are rewarded with one of the best views of Loch Ness and the Great Glen once at the top, a great spot for Nessie spotting!
If you want the views but not the hill walk then head to Abriachan forest walks only a few miles away towards Inverness. Choose from different routes which lead you around the hill, over the hill, and through the woods with different art and sculptures to enjoy along the way as well as some interesting information boards with history and facts relevant to that area. One of the routes takes you to a traditional bothy with views over Loch Ness, the perfect picnic spot! There are also little activity spots and playparks for kids to enjoy, so it’s a hit with Families!
If you want to visit the capital of the Highlands - Inverness - then a walk around Ness Islands and the River Ness is a must! It is such a pretty and tranquil spot so close to the heart of the bustling city. Look out for otters playing amongst the reeds on the river bed, or follow the Gruffalos trail, feeling peckish? Stop by Ness Kiosk for fresh, hot Belgian waffle with your choice of topping, YUM!
Taking you back a little closer to Drumnadrochit you can do part of the Great Glen Way, the whole route would take at least a week but you can join the path and do a small part of it from one side of Drumnadrochit to the other. Another popular Drummnadrochit walk is through the scenic countryside to Divach falls, this route will also take you up a small hill where you will have a fantastic view of Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness.
Being surrounded by such beautiful landscapes means that the list for walks could be a long one. An extremely useful website to use when looking for a walk idea is the aptly named www.walkhighlands.co.uk. Type in the area you are looking to walk in and the website will produce short walks, long walks, munro walks or flat walks! It’ll give you directions to the start point as well as a thorough description and photos of the walk itself, to top it all off, if it is a munro you have decided to go for, they have a pronunciation of every munro name at the top of the page, so you could even learn a bit of Gaelic!
