Allt na Criche – A Steep Forest Climb to a View over Loch Ness
About 1.8 miles on foot.
A mile north of Fort Augustus a burn, or stream, called the Allt na Criche comes down a wooded hillside in a run of small cascades.
Forestry and Land Scotland's waymarked trail climbs beside it through birch, pine and spruce to a view over Loch Ness. It's a mile and three-quarters, steep, and takes about an hour.
- Time
- About an hour: a circuit of a mile and three-quarters, steep.
- The path
- Firm gravel with long steep slopes and several flights of stone steps.
- Where to start
- The Allt na Criche car park, signposted on the left of the A82 about a mile north of Fort Augustus; nearest postcode PH32 4BL.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. The burn is at its fullest after rain.
- Dogs
- Under close control.
- Children
- Short but steep: fine for children who are happy on a hill path.
- Toilets
- None at the trail. The nearest public toilets are in Fort Augustus, about a mile away.
- Before you set out
- Check Forestry and Land Scotland's alerts for the forest before setting out after a storm.
The walk
The Allt na Criche car park is signposted on the left of the A82, about a mile north of Fort Augustus. The trail starts beside it, at a wooden post cut with its name and a board with a map. It's a short walk and a steep one: a circuit of a mile and three-quarters that takes about an hour.
The path climbs through birch, pine and spruce beside the burn, which comes down the hillside in a run of small cascades. Red squirrels, pine martens and red deer all live in this wood. The reward is the view over Loch Ness, with the stone towers of Fort Augustus Abbey at its head.
Look for Cherry Island close to the shore, the only island in the loch. The path is firm gravel, with long steep slopes and several flights of stone steps, so wear boots with a good grip. From mid October to March the steps and the shaded gravel stay wet or icy.
If it rains
The trees give some shelter and the burn is better for the rain, but the stone steps and steep gravel are slippery when wet. In low cloud there is no view from the top: keep it for a clearer day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Lovat Hotel in Fort Augustus, a mile away.
For further reading, before you go.