Cycling Around Inverness

Most visitors to Inverness will want to make a trip out to Loch Ness. The busy A82 on the north side of the Loch is best avoided by cyclists. The south side of the Loch offers quiet country roads and an easy to ride, easy to navigate route from Inverness with options to extend the ride if you've got more miles in your legs!

The first couple of miles out of Inverness are not usually busy but the cars can be fast. At Scaniport, two miles from Inverness, turn left for a quieter, more scenic route. There is a path which links to the school at Aldourie and from the school there's a path all the way to Dores. You can refuel at the excellent Dores Inn, explore the beach and look out for the monster! From Dores you can continue along the banks of Loch Ness or head up the (big) hill for amazing views over the Loch and an alternative route back to Inverness and a long freewheel at the end.

This trip is traffic-free, flat follows paths through islands on the River Ness and the towpaths of the Caledonian Canal. Not surprisingly it's the favourite route for day trips and especially popular with families.

Follow the Great Glen Way signs through the Ness Islands until you reach the Caledonian Canal. Turn left onto the towpath to Dochgarroch. This is a really scenic stretch as you cycle between the canal and the river. At Dochgarroch the canal and the river meet Loch Dochfour. The Highland Lassie floating restaurant is a great place for lunch or snack. An Talla gift shop and cafe shouldn't be missed either. This is also the departure point for Jacobite Cruises on Loch Ness.

Take time to explore the tracks by the river and Loch Dochfour. Return along the same path to the swing bridge then cross the road and follow the towpath on the far side of the canal past the marina and Muirtown Locks to Clachnaharry.

The Clachnaharry Inn serves great food and they have won awards for their selection of real ales. Behind the Inn is a footbridge over the railway line. Either carry your bikes over the bridge or lock them up and set out on foot to the sea lock where the Caledonian Canal enters the Beauly Firth. Follow either side of the canal to return to the Islands and Bellfield Park.

This is the longest (18 miles) of our day trips and there's a climb for a couple of miles as you leave Inverness but you're soon clear of the town and enjoying views north to Ben Wyvis and east to the nairn valley. Visits to the bronze age site at Clava and the visitor centre at Culloden Battlefield are recommended. This route can easily be extended to include a trip to Cawdor Castle too.

This route passes through the outskirts of Inverness then climbs steadily for three miles towards Culloden Moor. The views north over the Moray Firth are worth the effort. As you reach the top of the climb, turn right on to very quiet backroads across the River Nairn. Continue past the railway to the bronze age burial mounds and standing stones at Clava.

From Clava you get great view of the impressive Culloden railway viaduct. Re-cross the river Nairn and climb the short steep hill to Culloden Battlefield, home to a great visitor centre. The route returns past the battlefield with a long freewheel into Inverness.