ACTIVE OUTDOORS: Run to Loch Ness beach makes fine loop from Holm

Published: 18:30, 19 June 2023

Along the riverside path after the usually wet crossing.

People travel from all over the world to see Loch Ness, so given it’s only a stone’s throw from Inverness, it seems sensible to enjoy it as a local too!

This loop is one I have enjoyed as a run and on the mountain bike, and in these current dry conditions it is made slightly easier on the sometimes-flooded riverside path.

I’ve often thought that with a few more paths to link things up, and one or two improvements here and there, it would make a great trail to promote between the centre of Inverness and Dores beach.

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As it is, a good place to start is at a small parking area beside the Holm Burn, just off the Torbreck road. There’s room for half a dozen cars here, at a push, and there’s further parking available further down the road close to Cullaird Wood.

Bona Lighthouse across the short stretch of water that links Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour.

From the Holm Burn car park, cross the small road bridge and turn right down a track, then very soon go left to reach a field. Follow the well-used route through the field to the edge of some new housing, keeping left between an old beech tree and the houses.

A stone and earth path makes its way through the woods behind the last line of housing – for now at least – and eventually passes through a gate. Keep straight ahead and follow the path until it comes to the parking area further down the Torbreck road, which you cross to enter the woodland opposite.

Very soon fork right and follow a path until a clearing for a line of pylons, where you go right to reach the cycle path beside the Dores road. Almost immediately opposite, there’s a very small gap that enters another area of woodland opposite.

Go through here and find a trace of a route that descends round the edge of a steep drop to bring you down to a good track near some fishing lodges. Keep left and follow the riverside track beyond.

This is a lovely peaceful spot where you can get close to the water. A little after a fishing hut, the track comes to an end but the route continues if you bear right slightly and follow the edge of the water closely. Often the next steps are tricky to take with dry feet, and occasionally this bit can be impossible to cross, but in recent weeks there hasn’t been any water up to this level at all.

Passing Aldourie Castle through the grounds of the estate.

A lovely path continues through the trees alongside the river, battling bracken in a few places, and comes out on a track close to Ballindarroch. Go right here to keep parallel with the water, passing a pier before entering another area of woodland.

The water to the right is now part of Loch Dochfour, and the forestry track rises slightly away from the shore. Keep right where the track is joined by another one from the left and enjoy the views over the water as you approach Loch Ness, with the small lighthouse opposite which was part of Thomas Telford’s original plans.

Bona Lighhouse, first built in 1815 as a house and later converted to an inland lighthouse, acted as a beacon to guide vessels into Loch Dochfour from the north end of Loch Ness.

Our woodland path reaches the road-end at Aldourie here, and you follow that past houses then away from the water again, climbing slightly. A little further up the road, you can join a track to the right on the estate, passing within eye-shot of the castle.

After the old stables, a gate enters the Aldourie Woods and you keep to the main track ahead, which drops towards Loch Ness before curving around Torr Point to reach Dores beach, which was looking fabulous in the bright summer sunshine.

The view down Loch Ness from Dores beach.

After splashing some of the cold water from the loch onto my face to cool down, I was ready for the big climb that was to come.

There are many options for the return, but I decided to take the most direct uphill route to reach our return trail. So, after heading out through the car park for the Dores Inn, cross the road and follow the road up the hill diagonally to the right.

Between a couple of houses, a clear path can be seen climbing up across a small bare patch of land into the trees above. I won’t lie – it’s a long and steep slog up here, and I certainly had to walk a good few bits of it, though Meg was able to keep running all the way.

At last, you reach an obvious vehicle track much higher up, where you turn left then look out for a small marker for the Trail of the Seven Lochs directing you off the track and onto a path on the right-hand side.

There are great views from up here, and this path meanders wonderfully to reach the McBain hill, where you go straight across then follow the South Loch Ness Trail all the way back across the moors and through Cullaird Wood to meet the outward route at the Torbreck road.