Loch Ness trail set to be a monster pull
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A DECADE-long project to create a trail around the most famous body of water in the Highlands has been completed, setting the scene for another major visitor boost.
The work on the south side of Loch Ness means walkers, cyclists and horse riders can safely make a complete circuit of the world-renowned loch.
It’s hoped the trail will capture the public imagination like the NC500.
The completion of the last major section between the Glendoe Hydro works entrance and Loch Tarff marks the culmination of a project which began nine years ago, to create a 55km trail between Inverness and Fort Augustus using a mixture of existing minor roads, paths, forest tracks and newly constructed trails.
The new trail will connect with the Great Glen Way on the north side of the loch to create the LochNess360°, which local public and tourist bodies hope will attract more visitors to the area.
VisitInvernessLochNess (VILN) chief executive Graeme Ambrose said: "It has been a long journey to get to this point. The 3.6km section between Glendoe and Loch Tarff has been particularly challenging and would not have been possible without funding support from SSE, Highland Council and the Scottish Government and European Union totalling £250,000, as well as the full support from Glendoe Estate over whose land the trail has been constructed. The opening of this section opens up the South Loch Ness Trail to more walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders and, particularly on this section of the trail, to those of limited mobility."
Mr Ambrose added that the creation of the LochNess360° trail will bring new opportunities for businesses, communities and deliver major economic benefit to the area in the long term.
"It will achieve this because it will attract visitors who may spend up to six to seven days completing the full circuit," he added. We know from feedback that there is already substantial interest from key European markets, particularly Germany, and VILN hope by spring 2019 to confidently go out to markets and promote it. As part of the promotion we plan to launch a major new three day running/walking/cycling event in 2020."
