A 360-degree trail around Loch Ness – for walkers, runners, cyclists and horse-riders – has been completed and tourism chiefs say it will create a major economic boost for the area.
The final two mile stretch between Glendoe and Loch Tarff, which links the South Loch Ness trail between Inverness and Fort Augustus, was officially opened yesterday by Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael.
It will link up with the Great Glen Way on the north side of the loch to create a loop of more than 70 miles.
Graeme Ambrose, chief executive of Visit Inverness Loch Ness, said yesterday that, even if a quarter of the number of people doing the Great Glen Way took on the Loch Ness 360 each year, it would generate “hundreds of thousands” of pounds for local businesses.
Loch Ness trail could tap strongly into French and German markets
Mr Ambrose said the route, which will be fully branded and signposted for the start of next year’s tourist season, has already drawn interest from various international markets.
He revealed that the German media collectively published about 100 articles on the proposed route in the space of a week after the story was picked up there in April.
He said: “There’s been massive interest in Germany, including journalists from the likes of Der Spiegel (a national weekly news magazine) – and there will be two or three more journalists coming over here to see it.”
Mr Ambrose added: “Based on our confidence in international markets, we would expect the Loch Ness 360 to grow quickly and become a major attraction.”
He also said that they plan to launch a three-day running, walking and cycling event on the trail in 2020 which would become an annual event.
The original idea to develop the South Loch Ness trail, a mix of minor roads, forest tracks and constructed trail, was mooted in 2009 but the route at this time stopped at Loch Tarff, about six miles short of Fort Augustus.
The trail was launched by tourism chiefs in 2011 but it soon became clear that, if the extension was done, there would be major economic benefits.
Last year, power giant SSE extended the route over challenging terrain up to the entrance to the Glendoe hydro works, leaving just two miles to construct the final link.
The £250,000 of funding for this last section has come from SSE, Highland Council and the Scottish Government and European Union and it has been constrcuted by Hitrak.
Between 30 and 40 people attended yesterday’s ribbon cutting at Loch Tarff.
Dick Beach, of the Fiddler’s Restaurant in Drumnadrochit, described the opportunity from the Loch Ness 360 as “exciting” and believes it will bring “substantial benefit” to the local economy.
