Drumnadrochit, Divach Falls, Urquart Castle and Loch Ness

From Drumnadrochit the walk climbs by road, paths and woodland tracks to Balmacaan Forest, which in the mid 19th century, was the biggest of the Scottish deer breeding forests and the biggest in Europe. An entire village was moved to make way for the animals. There are marked paths for those who want to extend their walk in the forest, where there is a great variety of trees. As well as giant firs, some of the biggest in the world, there are also wellingtonia, walnuts, cypresses and noble firs.

The forest road takes you into Glen Coiltie past a strange slatted wood building. This was the deer laager where animals were skinned and hung. An ancient stone bridge, and a steep lane lead to the Falls of Divach, where the water flows like gossamer down a near vertical rock face. There is a woodland of stunted oaks; their moss covered trunks and branches draped with lichens and polypody ferns, bear witness to the unpolluted air of the Highlands.

The steep floor of the Glen above the Divach Burn, through which the zigzag path leads to the falls, is thickly covered with bracken, moss and course grasses. Attractively situated above the falls is Divach Lodge, the Edwardian villa retreat of Point, which juts out into the loch. On the way you walk down the main street of the village of Lewiston, which has long, low white cottages with dormer windows and multi coloured woodwork, typical of restored Highland villages.

Continuing down to Loch Ness the walk arrives at Urquart Castle which is a dramatic sight when first seen from the road above it. From inside the castle, especially from the top of the tower house, there are clear views up and down Loch Ness. It was these views, commanding the Great Glen route, which linked the North Sea coast with the Atlantic and the domain of the Lord of the Isles, that gave this castle an important strategic role in the turbulent history of the Scottish Highlands.

From Urquart Castle the walk returns to the start by a gentle meander alongside the A82. Take care when walking beside the traffic.