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Day Trip from Camerons Cottage to Glen Affric

A car journey of approx 56 miles / 2 hour trip.

Leaving Camerons Cottage turn right onto the single track road and drive along the B852 with the Loch Ness shoreline on your left.  Pull into one of the parking bays and view Urquhart Castle on the opposite shore. About 9 miles on is the village of Dores where the road is joined by the B862. Drive past the Dores Inn on your left and continue towards Inverness. At the roundabout on the outskirts of the city drive straight on to the City Centre.

River Ness can be seen on your left. Pass Chalky's newsagent on your right and take the next left turn down to the loch ness cottage- River Ness in InvernessRiver Ness. Follow the A82 Loch Ness Trail signs. Turn left at the traffic lights and go over the bridge following the sign A82 Beauly/Ft William.

Get in the right hand lane and go straight on at the traffic lights. At the next set of traffic lights turn right into Kenneth Street passing the Salvation Army on the right hand corner.

Continue to the next roundabout and take the second exit signposted A862 Beauly/Dingwall/Moray Firth Tourist Route North.

Continue through 3 sets of traffic lights to the next roundabout and go straight across and pass over the Caledonian Canal. On your right is the Muirtown Locks where boating craft wait before proceeding along the loch ness cottage- the Caledonian CanalCaledonian Canal and into Loch Ness.

At the next roundabout carry straight on following signs to Beauly. The road runs along the shoreline of the Beauly Firth for some time before heading inland. Now you are out of Inverness and it is a pleasant easy drive with green fields and farmland on either side. Pass through the tiny hamlets of Bunchrew and Inchmore.
You may wish to turn off left and visit the Moniack Wineries & Forest Walk.

 Soon you will see a signpost ‘Visit the Scenic Glen Affric' and go over the River Beauly bridge. Just after this turn off left to Cannich onto the B831 [do not carry on the B862].

loch ness cottage-River BeaulyDrive along with the River Beauly on your left for about 15 miles to the village of Cannich. Here the road begins to twist and climb gradually. At Cannich go over the single track bridge and carry straight on passing the Glen Affric Hotel on your right and following the river on your left. Just after the Fasnakyle Power Station on your left there is a right turn marked Glen Affric. Drive carefully for about 8 miles along this single track road with passing places as it is a busy road in the Spring & Summer.

Pass through dramatic woodland scenery - one of the few original Caledonian Forests to be seen. Pull into the car park on your left signposted Dog Falls for a relaxing picnic lunch and a choice of river walks - or just sit and contemplate. Do watch out for the hungry chaffinches and robins - they may even be cheeky enough to land on your table.
Pine martens appear at night to finish off any food scraps dropped on the grass.

loch ness cottage-scenic loch viewsThe road gradually twists and climbs allowing fantastic views on your left down Glen Affric passing the lesser known, but very picturesque, Loch Beinn Mheadhoin and on to Loch Affric. At the end of this loch is a well laid out car park with toilet facilities open inloch ness cottage-River Affric in Glen Affric the tourist  season.

There are various colour coded walks available -our favourite is the circular walk through the shady forest down to the River Affric which feeds into Loch Affric.
Take a pleasant stroll along by the side of the river and watch it cascade over the rocks. Look out for the dipper birds sitting on the rocks and then diving into the water and walking underwater upstream 'hoovering' up the passing insects.

To return home - drive back along the single track road to Cannich and turn right to Drumnadrochit on the A831 [A82].At Drumnadrochit you can  turn right or left onto the A82. IF YOU TURN LEFT at Drumnadrochit on the A82 about 100 metres on the left is the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre - well worth a visit. Travel along the A82 with the shoreline of Loch Ness on your right, leaving the loch and eventually crossing the Caledonian Canal. You are now entering the centre of Inverness. Keeping in the right hand lane pass through 3 sets of traffic lights and over the River Ness. Follow the road round to the right passing between the imposing Town House and the not so imposing McDonalds. Turn right at the next set of lights up the hill signposted Dores.Pull in to the Dores Inn for refreshments and a walk along the beach and then take the right fork B852 towards Foyers and back home to Camerons Cottage.

IF YOU TURN RIGHT you will pass Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness which is well worth a visit and then onto Fort loch ness cottage-Urquhart Castle on loch nessAugustus where the boats wait to go through the Caledonian Canal.  Go over the swing bridge in Fort Augustus and take the next left - B862 -just before the bend. This road will take you right back to Foyers and home to Camerons Cottage.