Can I combine the south shore with a return on the north shore?

Yes — but the A82 north shore is not pleasant. The best option is to use the Great Glen Way's canal towpath return for the southern half, avoiding the A82 for most of the journey.

Is the south shore track a right of way?

It uses FLS forest roads (open to cyclists by default under the Land Reform Act) and short sections of public road. There is no formal cycle route designation but it has been used by cyclists for decades without issue.

How long does the route take?

A moderate pace takes 4–5 hours moving time. Allow 6 hours including the Foyers detour, lunch at Dores, and stops. Starting at 10:00 gives a comfortable finish at 16:00 with evening light on the loch.

Can I see Loch Ness's famous monster from this route?

Loch Ness is 230m deep in places and the odds are similar from the south shore to anywhere else. There are more sightings logged from the south shore (the B862) than the north shore — draw your own conclusions.

Gravel Cycling

Loch Ness South Shore Forest Route

The quiet side of Loch Ness — forest tracks opposite the tourist road

Quick facts

Distance: 40 km (25 mi)
Ascent: 620 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Route type: Linear
Archetype: Forest Circuit
Region: Great Glen
Start point: Fort Augustus
Grid ref: NH 379 089
Parking: PH32 4BH
Midges: High
Dogs: On lead only

Best months

Surface breakdown

Forest track70%
Tarmac single-track20%
Double-track10%

Recommended bikes: Gravel bike (ideal), Hardtail MTB· Tyres: 40–45mm gravel

About this route

The A82 on Loch Ness's north shore is one of Scotland's least pleasant cycling roads — heavy tourist traffic, no hard shoulder, and the Nessie-hunters' coaches in summer make it a white-knuckle experience. The south shore forest track is the antidote: 40km of FLS forest road and estate track that hugs the opposite bank, giving the same views across the loch (Castle Urquhart is spectacular from this angle) with virtually no motor vehicles beyond timber lorries.

The route runs Fort Augustus to Dores — the same alignment as day two of the Great Glen Gravel Route but described standalone here for day-riders. The climbing is front-loaded: a stiff 280m ascent from Fort Augustus into the forest delivers you to the long ridgetop section above the loch. From Foyers northward the track descends gradually, passing the dramatic Falls of Foyers (detour off-route), before the final 8km of flatter ground to the Dores Inn and its famous pebble beach outlook over Loch Ness.

Highlights

Castle Urquhart from the south shore — the castle reads far better from across the loch than from the visitor centre car park
Falls of Foyers — 30m waterfall into a wooded gorge, 500m off the main track (lock bike)
Foyers Bay — protected bay with a pebble beach and clear water; good swim spot
Dores Inn — proper pub at the northern end of Loch Ness with cold beer and the best Nessie-spotting terrace
The forest ridgetop above Inverfarigaig — rare open section with 270° views from Cairngorms to Ben Nevis

Key waypoints

1. Fort Augustus
2. Inverfarigaig
3. Foyers
4. Falls of Foyers
5. Whitebridge
6. Dores

Cafés & pubs on route

· Loch Inn, Fort Augustus
· Foyers Bay House café (seasonal)
· Dores Inn (legendary)

Named climbs

Fort Augustus forest climb (280m)
Foyers headland climb (320m)

Notable descents

Whitebridge descent to Loch Mhor
Foyers Bay descent to shore

Route notes

The south shore track is not signed as a cycle route — use Komoot or OS Maps to navigate the FLS network. The section above Foyers briefly joins the B862 (quiet) before returning to forest. Dores is 8km from Inverness on the B862 — taxi return to Fort Augustus is around 45 minutes.

Seasonal conditions

Summer midges are fierce in the forest sections away from the loch shore — June–August is manageable in a breeze but sheltered forest sections are miserable without repellent. October is the finest month: autumn colour in the mixed woodland, no midges, and the loch is at its dramatic best under cloud.

Key hazards

FLS timber lorries have priority on the forest roads — pull off completely when one approaches
The Falls of Foyers path is wet, stepped, and unsuitable for bikes — lock the bike at the top
Limited signal between Fort Augustus and Foyers (15km)

Water sources on route

River Foyers at Foyers
River Fechlin at Whitebridge
Loch Ness shore streams

Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.

OS map sheets

OS 415

Nearest hill

Carn a' Chlamain

963m · cairngorms

View hill

Nearest bothy

Luib Chonnal

Walk-in: 6 km · glen-coe-lochaber

View bothy

Daylight Today

17h 45mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 05:12
Sunset: 21:18
Civil dawn: 04:23
Civil dusk: 22:08

NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026

Common questions

Can I combine the south shore with a return on the north shore?: Yes — but the A82 north shore is not pleasant. The best option is to use the Great Glen Way's canal towpath return for the southern half, avoiding the A82 for most of the journey.
Is the south shore track a right of way?: It uses FLS forest roads (open to cyclists by default under the Land Reform Act) and short sections of public road. There is no formal cycle route designation but it has been used by cyclists for decades without issue.
How long does the route take?: A moderate pace takes 4–5 hours moving time. Allow 6 hours including the Foyers detour, lunch at Dores, and stops. Starting at 10:00 gives a comfortable finish at 16:00 with evening light on the loch.
Can I see Loch Ness's famous monster from this route?: Loch Ness is 230m deep in places and the odds are similar from the south shore to anywhere else. There are more sightings logged from the south shore (the B862) than the north shore — draw your own conclusions.