Inverlochy Castle Hotel is a luxurious Country House Hotel with 18 rooms set withing private grounds 4 miles north of Fort William. As well as enjoying the relaxed, tranquil atmosphere of a bygone era you can also enjoy fine dining at 'Albert and Michel Roux Jr at Inverlochy Castle', an AA 3 Red Rosette restaurant. As well as offering traditional country sports, Inverlochy Castle Hotel is also well positioned to explore The North Face of Ben Nevis, or enjoy a more tranquil walk in Glen Nevis, maybe to An Steall falls, one of the finest short walks in Scotland.
Ghardail Loop
Details
A pleasant walk through coniferous plantation and into the hills around Kingairloch. The walk passes by some unroofed sheiling huts and an abandoned settlement.
Larch, pine and spruce plantation support an understory of bryophytes, including Common Tamarisk-moss(Thuidium tamariscinum) and Sphagnum and Polytrichum species. Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), St John's worts (Hypericum spp), tormentil (Potentilla erecta), heather (Calluna vulgaris), bell heather (Erica cinerea), violets (Viola spp) and patches of foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) brighten the edges of the plantation in Spring and Summer.
Ideal microclimates are also afforded for mosses and liverworts by the numerous small watercourses on route that traverse sections of the plantations.
Look out for raptors in the hills, ‘conifer specialists in the plantations’ and dippers and otters in the boulder strewn River Ghardail, as well as for the tracks and signs of pine marten.
The route includes some open heath section affording lovely views of the surrounding hills. The heath flora is variously hued through the season with purple moor grass (Molina caerulea), heather (Calluna vulgaris), bell heathers (Erica tetralix and E. cinerea), bog myrtle (Myrica gale) and bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) and devil’s-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis).
Route Details
1. Park in the car park and take the track ascending into the plantation. The track ascends steeply at first through larch, pine and spruce plantation, some of which emerge evocatively from within stone-walled enclosures. The path also abuts open heath on occasion.
2. Where the track diverges, take the left path, which descends at first.
3. When the path diverges by the river Ghardail, take the right path leading to the wooden bridge and head towards the hydro-electric power station. The other path leads to a ford across the river.
4. Take the left path just before you reach (south of) the hydroelectric power station which heads across a lovely section of heath.
5. At the junction and signpost, either turn left to continue down the hill on the Ghardail loop, or take a short detour to the Ghardail waterfall.
If taking the detour follows the track, crossing a wooden bridge on route until the track ends at another wood bridge overlooking a series of small waterfalls. Take time to enjoy the lovely views on route. Return by the same route.
The Ghardail loop heads down hill along the track.
6. At the road, turn left and follows the road back to the car park. The road follows the river, Abhainnna Coinnich and is fringed by heath and plantation.
Location
starting grid ref:
NM837535
Links to useful information
grade:
- moderate
terrain:
track and path
length:
4km or 5.75 km (2.5 or 3.6miles)
Type:
- circular
Safety
Route details and information are provided in good faith. All walking is potentially dangerous and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly dressed and equipped, have a map and compass, have checked and planned your route in advance and are able to navigate effectively. Maps displayed on these walking pages are intended as an overview of the walk and are NOT suitable for navigation. Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect landowners and residents' privacy. Always check the weather forecast and let others know if you are walking in the hills.
