Day 84: Great Glen Way - Drumnadrochit to Inverness

Day 5 on the Great Glen Way, the final leg. I’ve now arrived in Inverness at the end of the trail. 

• Date: 11 June 2024
• Start: Drumnadrochit
• End: Inverness
• Miles: 20.2
• Total miles: 1,134.1
• Accommodation: Black Isle Hostel

My dormitory last night was full of old men, and it felt like they each took it in turn to loudly snore throughout the night. That meant I didn’t get the best sleep. 

I needed to get up early however, as I had a good 20 miles to walk today. I left the hostel and walked along the roads of Drumnadrochit, passing a very exciting looking tourist attraction. 

When the path eventually left the road, it was a steep incline through a forest. I’m pretty sure this is the last huge climb I have of the entire walk. Just off the path, it looked like someone had given up on camping at some point in the past. 

At the top of the steep section, a questionnaire box has been strategically placed. I filled one in while I caught my breath and then continued up onto the hills above Loch Ness. 

I had a rest at the very top of the hill, before continuing through another forest and walking along a road for a bit. 

Inverness came into view as I left the forest, with a steep climb down to the Caledonian Canel, and through the Ness Islands, a group of islands situated in the River Ness (yes, everything has “ness” in it around here). 

I arrived at Inverness Castle, which is currently having renovation work done, so isn’t looking pretty enough for photos. This must be a big renovation, as it’s not due to be completed until 2025, and it was happening when I was here two years ago. 

The end of the Great Glen Way is situated here, so I tapped the sign and took an obligatory photo. 

The end of the Great Glen Way also marks the start of the John O’Groats Trail. I started my walk along my final trail as I headed to my hostel. 

As I completed the Great Glen Way a day sooner than planned, I now have two rest days in Inverness. I won’t be doing a blog post tomorrow, as rest days tend to be boring, but I’ll post a two day blog on Friday.