Foyers from Inverfarigaig (approx. 6 miles)

This walk is available to download as an e book in Kindle format from Amazon - take the route description with you on your mobile device.


Maps: Explorer 416 - Inverness, Loch Ness and Culloden. map
Start & Finish: NH 522 237 - Farigaig Forest Car Park.
Route: A very varied walk providing splendid views of Loch Ness. Much of the route follows forest tracks, but there are some sections that include narrow, indistinct paths, steep gradients and very uneven surfaces. Whilst on the paths we saw more deer than walkers (in fact we only saw one other person walking).
Links to route files: .gpx (from OSMaps - for many handheld devices)
More info: route profile
Refreshments: We stopped for refreshment at the Waterfall Cafe . There was also a pub at Lower Foyers.
leaving Farigaig Forest Car Park. Leave the car park following the track which leads uphill, away from the road.
following signed path to Locj Ness Viewpoint Follow the track until you see the sign for Loch Ness Viewpoint - turn right to follow this path.
Loch Ness Viewpoint There will be better views of the loch further into the walk - but we still paused for a rest on the bench (other places from which you can view the loch don't have this luxury)!

Continue to follow this path (marked with yellow markers) …
Farigaig Forest - rejoining South Loch Ness Trail … until you descend to re-join the main track where you turn right.
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail Follow the wide forest track.
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail After about half a mile from re-joining this track there is another view of the loch where there is a clearing for the overhead power cables.
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail Where the main track bears to the right continue ahead, following the blue waymarkers with the squirrel logo (these are South Loch Ness Trail markers).
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail The track becomes narrower …
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail … and it was in this area that we came across the first deer - not sure who was more startled, us or the deer!
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail In places the route was well marked with both the South Loch Ness Trail markers and the forestry commission markers with red rings (not sure which route these were for).
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail But in some places, between markers the path became so narrow it wasn't easy to follow!
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail After a stretch that is fairly level, the path climbs.
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail At the top of these steps …
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail … the path bears sharp right (not obvious - we missed it here and had to re-trace our steps to pick up the correct route).
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail The route continues around a rocky outcrop - there's even a chain handrail to help you round the narrowest bit!
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail The path becomes easier to follow again …
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail … though it's still quite narrow, but soon …
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail … descends to meet a much wider forest trail. Turn right …
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail - hydro-electric maintenance tunnel … to follow this track.
Farigaig Forest - South Loch Ness Trail On your left you pass this intriguing tunnel entrance (protected by CCTV and alarms) - from research after we'd completed the walk, I think this must me a maintenance tunnel for the hydro-electric scheme.

Continue along the broad track, passing round a metal gate before joining a surfaced driveway. Continue ahead for a short distance …
meeting the road at Foyers … to join the road. Turn left. At the sign for the Craigdarroch Inn we were tempted to turn right - but we knew that the café further up the hill was open - and not sure about the pub, so we opted to continue walking along the road and up the hill.
the Falls of Foyers - entrance After refreshment at the Waterfall Café we crossed the road to the viewpoint and entrance to a network of paths. For those who haven't visited the Falls, it's worth detouring from the route and taking the path down to the falls (the only problem is that you have to climb most of the way back up to re-join a path to Lower Foyers). As we had visited the Falls on the previous day, we took the path to the right of this commemorative stone.
the Falls of Foyers Whether you make the detour to view the Falls or not - here's a picture! On the stepped path that leads down to them are lines from a poem by Robbie Burns, inspired by his visit (reputedly written in pencil on the spot):

Among the heathy hills and ragged woods
The roaring Fyers pours his mossy floods;
Till full he dashes on the rocky mounds,
Where, thro' a shapeless breach, his stream resounds.
As high in air the bursting torrents flow,
As deep recoiling surges foam below,
Prone down the rock the whitening sheet descends,
And viewles Echo's ear, astonished, rends.
Dim-seen, through rising mists and ceaseless show'rs,
The hoary cavern, wide surrounding lours:
Still thro' the gap the struggling river toils,
And still, below, the horrid cauldron boils.

Since the inception of the hydro-electric scheme which takes water from the stream above the Falls - they are never as dramatic as they once were!
path to to Lower Foyers We followed the sign pointing the way to Lower Foyers.
path to to Lower Foyers This dog-legged across the road to the pub…
path to to Lower Foyers … and through gaps in fences.
path to to Lower Foyers Sometimes with waymarkers to make sure you're on the right path - but as long as you keep heading …
Lower Foyers - former aluminium works … downhill, you'll eventually emerge by the former aluminium works (now housing enlarged hydro- electric generators).
Lower Foyers - former aluminium works Walk along the roadway between the loch and the former aluminium works, now heading back towards Inverfarigaig.
footpath to Boleskine Road and Inverfarigaig Take the path on the right signposted for Boleskine Road and Inverfarigaig via Loch Ness shore. At the top of the steps turn left to follow the path which gently climbs for just under half a mile.
footpath to Boleskine Road and Inverfarigaig Climb the short flight of steps pictured to meet the road. Turn left …
footpath to Boleskine Road and Inverfarigaig … and walk along the road for just less than 200 metres. Take the narrow path leading away from the road on the left (the sign is a few metres further along the fence). The path leads gently downhill, over a stile …
footpath to Inverfarigaig via loch shore … and through woodland. It was on this section of path that we came across another group of deer
footpath to Inverfarigaig via loch shore The path meets a road. Turn right to follow this for just over 400 metres, until you pass an electricity substation on the left.
footpath to Inverfarigaig via loch shore At the other side of the substation follow the path on the left, down steps and then more gently to …
footpath to Inverfarigaig via loch shore … the loch shore. Continue along the path …
footpath to Inverfarigaig via loch shore … as it turns away from the loch and ascends to meet the access road to a scattered group of houses.
rejoining the road at Inverfarigaig Turn left where this meets the main road close to the car park. Follow the road back to the starting point.

All text and images ©Graham Dean, June, 2016.

Back to: