Inverness to Dingwall
Follow Route 1 north from the centre of Inverness along the River Ness to Kessock Bridge. A cycle track on the west side of the bridge takes you over the Beauly Firth to the Black Isle – which, despite its name, is not an island. As you cross the bridge, you can see the village of North Kessock far below. Once over the bridge, you have a choice of routes.
Route 1 heads down to the left, but you can continue on the cycleway alongside the A9 to reach the Tourist Information Centre and the Dolphin and Seal Centre, open June-September. The centre is one of the best places in Europe to observe dolphins and seals in their natural habitat. You can listen to the dolphins through the unique underwater microphone system and learn about the marine environment.
To reach North Kessock, follow the Route 1 signs left down the hill and enjoy a pleasant cycle by the shore through this old village, which has a café, a pub and a shop. At the western end of the village, Route 1 heads uphill for a bit and then under the A9 to join a cycle track for 0.6km and then a minor road for about 3 and a half miles to Tore. As you head along the route, you’ll see a sign for the Black Isle Brewery, a little over a mile detour from Route 1 if you’re interested in beer-making. (This road also leads to the Cromarty Ferry (open in summer only) if you want to do a circuit round the Cromarty Firth.)
Use the cycle path to circumnavigate the Tore roundabout, turn sharp right through a narrow opening at the west side and pass some houses before joining a traffic-free cycle track that runs for almost 3 miles to where it crosses the B9169. Another stretch of quiet road leads down to near Conan Bridge – red kites are frequently seen circling overhead this section. From Conan Bridge, there’s another stretch of cycle track leading over the bridge and to the roundabout at Maryburgh, where you cross the road and take a right turn along a stretch of traffic-free road which takes you almost into the centre of Dingwall.
Natural attractions:
- River Ness
- Beauly Firth
- Black Isle
Visitor attractions:
- Kessock Bridge
- Dolphin and Seal Centre
- North Kessock
- Black Isle Brewery
Route submitted by: Sustrans
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Route map
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Key route details
- Region/Area:
Northern Scotland
- Distance:
14 miles
- Time needed:
2-3 hours
- Classification:
Medium
- Traffic:
Mixed
- Surface:
Tarmac
- NCN Route:
National Route 1
- Start:
Inverness city centre
- Finish:
Dingwall
- Maps and guides
-
Aberdeen to Shetland NN1E £8.99
Choose another route
21/05/09, at 11:37 AM
The mapped route is incorrect and does not follow the described route between Tore and Maryburgh
The map or description does not show the cycle track parallel to the A9 from the Kessock Bridge to the N.Kessock junction