South Ness Gravel Loop | A First-Class Scottish Highlands Gravel Ride

South Ness Gravel Loop | Gravel Bike Ride from Fort Augustus, Scotland

This is an excellent 55 km gravel bike ride in the Scottish Highlands, starting and finishing in Fort Augustus at the south end of Loch Ness. With nearly 1,200 meters of climbing, this route is varied and rewarding — a perfect Highlands gravel loop with spectacular views and an amazing long descent at the end.

The ride begins in Fort Augustus, famous for its impressive canal locks and ideal as a base for a short cycling holiday in the Highlands. Early on, the route follows the red squirrel waymarkers of the South Loch Ness Trail (part of Stage 4 of the Loch Ness 360). The climbing starts soon after leaving the village, warming up the legs for a lovely ride on a surfaced gravel path to the picturesque Loch Tarff.

From there, the trail climbs towards Càrn an t-Suidhe and the Suidhe Chuimein viewpoint, offering sweeping views across Stratherrick. The route then winds down to a minor road, which it follows until it meets the main road. Here you leave the South Loch Ness Trail and continue along this fairly quiet stretch of road for just over 2 km, mostly downhill, to the Killin / Garragie turn-off.

A scenic single-track road then leads through Glen Fechlin and along Loch Killin, surrounded by the Monadhliath Mountains. After the loch, a gravel path continues to the bridge at Stronelairg Lodge. From there, it’s a steep climb up to the Stronelairg Wind Farm – definitely a hike-a-bike section for me!

Beyond the wind farm, the route passes the reservoir of the Glendoe Hydro Scheme. Just past this, the wide gravel track leads into an 8 km descent through magnificent Glen Doe, all the way to the main road. The final 2 km on tarmac offer a fast downhill run with grand views over Loch Ness and Fort Augustus.

I saw plenty of red deer up on the plateau at the wind farm. And past the wind farm the changing light made the landscape even more spectacular – dark and bright clouds and distant rain showers creating a dramatic Highland skyscape.

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🗺️ Where I stayed
I stayed in a glamping pod at the Loch Ness Highland Resort, a great base for a cycling holiday:
🔗 https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/accom/loc...

🚴‍♂️Route Details
📏 Distance: 55 km / 34 miles
🚴 Strava:   / strava  
📍 Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/2637768782

🎥 Discover more gravel cycling routes in Scotland on my YouTube Channel: Cycling in the Scottish Highlands
🔗    / pjd66  

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⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 — Fort Augustus to Glen Fechlin
4:57 — Glen Fechlin
8:56 — Steep climb to Stronelairg Wind Farm
9:57 — Stronelairg Wind Farm and Glendoe Reservoir
14:26 — Glen Doe descent

🎵 Music
'Justified And Ancient' (Alternate Album Version) by The KLF
'Porcelain' by Moby
'Another Green World' by Brian Eno
'The Earth Dies Screaming' by UB40
'Isi' by Neu!

#FortAugustus #gravelride #ScottishHighlands #gravelroutes #GravelCycling