The Trail of the 7 Lochs is a circular route so there is no designated starting point. For the sake of argument I have started this talk-round at the Forestry Commission Exhibition Centre at Inverfarigaig, as there is good parking here and toilets as well as an interesting exhibition. There is parking suitable for horse trailers by the phone box just past the junction with the B861 on the Dores – Foyers Road.
For those who want to ride the full Trail with horses, you might think about riding it as two loops (a figure of eight) basing yourself at Drummond Farm where you can get stabling, turnout and parking. B&B accommodation is available in Dores as are bar meals at the Dores Inn and there are self-catering log cabins at Drummond Farm itself, though these may only be booked by the whole week (sat – sat) during the high season.
Starting from Farigaig Centre and riding as two loops returning to the Centre, the first loop was 41.09 km. and the second loop was 65.30 km. Taking out the short road section from just after Torness (map ref. 577279) to Inverfarigaig (8.4 km.), ridden in both loops, the total distance for the actual trail would be 89.57 km.
We have tried to mark the Trail with white stones (about 10 ins. Diameter) on each side of a turning, but many of these have been removed or upturned. We will also be using some plain square fence posts with our logo on them as below.
You must therefore take a map with you and a compass (in case of inclement weather) and have the skill needed to use both of these. As the weather can change quickly, please make sure you have adequate foul weather gear with you and a basic first aid kit and provisions.
From the Forestry Visitor Centre head up the hill at the back of the building and follow the markers left, right and left again, then up the hill which will give you stunning views up Loch Ness. Carry on over the hill with a lovely loch on your left and down to the Glenlia road. Turn right and then almost immediately left at the footpath marker to Stratherrick. Cross the burn and then go up the narrow track bearing right. Follow this to the forest road and then go left and immediately right again onto another narrow path which is also way marked with Forestry way markers with yellow tops which you can follow till you come out on to the tarmac road again.
Turn left up the road and after about a kilometre; turn right at North Muirnich at the entrance into the forestry up the gravel road known as the Vennel. At the end you will come out onto a tarmac road. Turn left and follow the road past the Boleskine Church and on to the Garthbeg crossroads. Go straight over the road and follow to Garthbeg Farm. After crossing the bridge go through the deer gate on the right of the steading and after approx 50m go left then right and follow round the edge of the quarry, keeping on the 'track' to a gate. Go through the gate and bear right towards the fence line. Cross the fence on to the 'hill track'.
Follow this track through two gates and when it peters out into a boggy area just before Migovie, bear right towards the stone wall and go through the galvanised gate and keep bearing right to pass on the south side of the house at Migovie and onto their drive. Follow the road over the cattle grid and on to Wester Aberchalder. Go over the bridge past the house. This has metal sheets on it and if you have a horse you may want to lead over it.
Turn right after the bridge and over another cattle grid. At the right-angle bend in the road keep going straight ahead on the track then next right to Ballindalloch. Just before the house go through the gate on the left into the field and follow the fence round the front of the house and through another gate onto a grassy track. Keep left at the Y-junction in the gorse and follow the track which takes you on in front of Farraline house and out to the tarmac drive. Turn left on the drive and carry on to the junction with the B862. Turn left and then take the next road junction on your right.
Follow the road up the hill past Newlands and then take the next track, straight on where the road turns 900 left, on your right over Torshelly. Follow this track to the house then on to the grassy track straight ahead and through several gates till you come back on to the tarmac road.
Turn left and then go left in through the next forestry entrance.
From this point it is not very suitable for cycles or unfit walkers as there is a lot of long heather. You would be better off using the road alternative until you get to Loch Duntelchaig. It is probably not suitable or worthwhile for cycling off-road until the forest road into Leiterchuillin Wood .
Turn immediately right and follow this track parallel to the road for about a kilometre. Turn right and come down onto the road. Turn left again and keep straight on through Torness and over the bridge on the road. Go through the cattle grid gate and then turn right on to the hill. Follow the markers round the side of the cottage fence and up old track to the new piece of track which goes through a bridleway gate in the fence and then up hill for about 100 m. Bear left and follow the faint track above Loch Ceo Glais, which is marked with white electric fence posts and orange tape, to the end where you need to go through the gate and cross the burn.
This section of the Trail can be very wet and boggy so may be better avoided during winter months. Thereis also a burn at the end of the loch which can get quite deep. To avoid this section rather keep to the road after the cattlegrid and follow the north side of the loch.
If you are there during the period of March 20 to May 20 you must now go through the gate on your left after crossing the burn and straight up to the road through another gate in order to avoid the lambing/calving areas. It is very wet about halfway up to the road. Now turn right on the road and take the next turning on your right to rejoin the route at Loch Duntelchaig..
After crossing the burn go about halfway up the hill (crossing some quite wet and boggy ground). Take your own line but I would suggest if you have a horse to get off and lead until you gain the harder ground. Take a line of about 2 o’clock and follow the markers just below the road and then down on the left-hand edge of the trees to Loch Duntelchaig. Turn right along the road and after the causeway turn right again onto a fairly rutted track. Go up here and, at the cattle feeding clearing, follow the line of an old stone wall over to the fence and then left along the fence and left again back to the track. Carry on through the new gate in the fence and follow track back to the road.
Again in lambing/calving season this gate will be locked and you will have to use the road instead.
Follow the road past Dalcrombie Farm and Ballachar and over three cattle grids and then take the forest road on the left into the Leiterchuillin Wood and up past Loch a’Choire. Keep left at the junction and go up and over the hill. It is a fair climb but well worth the views from the top. Carry on down the other side, passing Leiterchuillin House on your left and out past the Scottish Water Sluice at the end of the loch and onto the road.
Turn left on the road and then take the next forestry entrance on your right into Duntechaig wood. Head up the hill and the track narrows to a path. Horses please do not ride on this footpath but rather make your own track in the heather so that you don’t erode it. It is only a short distance to the top, (very soft, boggy, heathery, and not good for bikes). Go through the gate and turn right at the t-junction onto the bigger track. Follow this down to the end and come out onto the tarmac road.
Turn right on the road and go through the cattle grid gate. Take the next forestry entrance on the left into Tordarroch Woods, keep left at next Y-junction and follow track to t-junction. At the t-junction turn left and follow this track right around Loch Bunachton, through three gates and out on to the road, track rutted, boggy and flooded from loch to road. Turn left on the road and then turn right onto track just opposite Mains of Bunachton. At Y-junction at ruin keep right and carry on to gate into Loch Ashie Woods. Keep left at the first junction and after about 900 m turn right and follow sandy track for a bit more than a kilometre passing under the electricity cables, between a couple of large spooky rocks and then keep left to go round the side of a gate (gate padlocked, no apparent passage) and left to the bridge over the water run-off from Loch Ashie. Turn right over the bridge and ride up the road past the Water Treatment Plant.
(Not suitable for bikes until forest road, stay on road). Just before the gate onto the road turn right over the heather and through the double gates and out onto the moor. Bear left up towards the fence and then follow roughly inside the fence to the right and exit the moor through the gate opposite the drive down to Drumashie Farm. Turn right along the road and then take the second turning on your left down the forest road between the fields (do not go down the road to the farm). At the end of the fields, go through the double gates straight ahead into the wood. Follow the track down, ignoring the first and second tracks joining from your left. When you come to the t-junction at the bottom of the wood turn left (map ref. 642397) and follow this main track all the way to the end, stay on the main track and ignore all left or right side tracks for about 5 km. You come out of the wood and keep
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