Abriachan Forest Trails

The Abriachan Forest Trails offer a superb and varied walk through community-owned woodland and open moorland above Loch Ness, developed by the Abriachan Forest Community Trust since purchasing the land in 1998, with hidden tree houses, carved benches, and reconstructed historic huts scattered throughout.

The route starts from the Abriachan Forest car park, reached via a steep road up from the A82 near Abriachan Nursery, west of Loch Laide. From the car park, waymarked paths lead past a play area, wildlife hide, and reconstructed Iron Age and Bronze Age huts before climbing gradually, with a signed detour down to an underground reconstruction of a whisky still, hidden well enough that "you could be an excise officer" trying to find it. Continuing on the main track — signed for the Great Glen Way — the path climbs steadily with views back across farmland and forestry to Ben Wyvis in the north.

At a signed junction, the path for Càrn na Leitire climbs across open moorland on an excellent trail; a short detour to the cairn at the 434-metre summit gives a wonderful viewpoint before the route continues gently downhill. Further waymarked junctions lead past the reconstructed shieling — a traditional summer hut once used by shepherds and crofters, with turf walls and a heather-thatched roof, offering a welcome shelter in poor weather — before pine trees reappear as the barren moorland is left behind, and the route rejoins tracks back towards the car park.

This is a genuinely family-friendly network of trails, with something to discover at every turn, though the longer loop taking in Càrn na Leitire involves real ascent and descent across open moorland — those simply wanting a short wander can explore the trails immediately around the car park in well under an hour.

Parking at Abriachan Forest is free, with toilets and picnic tables on site; there is no direct public transport, though the trails connect to the Great Glen Way for those arriving on foot from Inverness or Drumnadrochit.