[This walk was completed on Friday 16th May, 2025]

I cycle back to Alturlie point – well, not the point itself, but to the access road that curves around the bay. Leave my Scooty bike chained by a farmer’s gate, and heave my little rucksack on my shoulders.

It’s my last walk of this trip, and it is going to be a short one.

I was very sore yesterday from the road walking, and woke up feeling stiff and old this morning. The weather forecast if for another hot day. But this gentle walk should be fine… and it is part of a new and cunning plan, that I will explain in a moment.

Walk back up the slope to the railway line…

… and stand waiting to cross the busy A96.

At this point, I should really turn left and eastwards, to follow the A96 for a mile or two, until I come to the turn off to Ardersier and Fort George. BUT… I have decided it is too dangerous – and unpleasant – to risk my life on this horrible A96 road. (Further on, I know the uneven grassy verge disappears almost completely.)

So, here is my cunning plan. I’m going to head south and inland to Balloch along a quiet road. From Ballock I can pick up a footpath through Culloden Forest. Near the eastern end of Culloden forest, there is a minor road that will take me back to the A96. And, after a very short walk along that horrible road, I will be able to pick up another minor road back to the coast.

This is the start of the quiet road to Balloch. So much nicer than the A96!

This area is marked as “Allanfearn” on my map. Not really a village, just a tiny collection of houses. I like this one – very quaint.

Leaving the houses behind, I pass a mysterious yard. What goes on in there? No idea.

My quiet road joins another quiet road – Caulfield Road – and I turn left at the T junction. I can’t believe much traffic uses this road.

When I checked my map this morning, I could see that to my right, off Caulfield Road, there should be some sort of lane or footpath. I wasn’t sure if it was open to walkers… but here is the beginning of the route, and it looks very enticing. Definitely open to walkers. There’s a dog walker ahead of me.

So far, so good. My cunning plan is working out just fine. Although, I now realise with some regret that I could have cycled along here earlier on my way to Alturlie Bay, instead of risking my life cycling on the A96. Oh well, too late now.

I let the dog walker get well ahead of me, and then set off down this lovely route.

Come across an interesting bench beside the path. A “WALKER’S BENCH”, with two walking boots and two little dogs – Scotties, I think.

But I don’t deserve a rest. My walk has only just started!

Through gaps in the trees, I even get a lovely glimpse of Kessock Bridge. Much nicer viewed from the distance. My photograph turns out poorly because my camera decides to focus on the foliage in front of me, rather than the bridge!

My camera behaves rather oddly in hot weather. I did buy a new one a couple of years ago, but it was stolen during a break-in at my house in Manchester. (The joy of city life!)

Onwards, along this gorgeous shady lane.

Another interesting bench. “SCOUTS, be prepared”. It seems to be commemorating several years of a particular Scout group.

And, even further along, another wonderful bench. Carved from a huge block of wood, the backrest features an otter, with a fox curled up on the seat, and a rabbit and a squirrel peering over the back of the bench. Oh… and a hedgehog!!!

Sadly, I’ve nearly come to the end of this shady path. Ahead is a road, and the village of Balloch.

My walk through Balloch is uneventful, although my route now does seem to go uphill continuously. I’m tired, and glad I decided to keep today’s walk short.

At the top of the hill, just before the railway bridge and at the far end of the village, is a patch of community woodland. This is where I have parked my van.

Hello van. Always good to see you. How cheerful you look.

I’m not sleeping in my van tonight, but heading back for the final night in my rented cottage. I do enjoy the occasional night in the van, but if find spending two whole weeks of van-life is too much of an ordeal for me nowadays. So, I’ve been alternating between campsites and rented cottages.

In fact, I’ve decided to sell the van. One last excursion back to Scotland later this year… and then we will part company. End of an era.

Before I set off, I check out the start of my next walk. Here is the beginning. of the route, heading into Culloden Forest. I’m relieved to see a very clear and easy path.

But that will have to wait until September and my return visit.

I’m staying in a modern house that is furnished in a little-old-lady kind of way. In fact, it is the landlord’s mother’s house, as I guessed it might be. He came in this morning and we had a long chat. He told me his life history and took me on a tour of the garden, where he told me how he used to keep chickens – but a pine marten ate them! I think we might still be chatting now, but his wife called him away to do some jobs.

Goodbye Scotland. See you soon.

---

[Post walk note: In fact, I never got back to Scotland last year. Life gets in the way of plans. And this was my last outing in the van. Dear reader, I’ve sold it.]

Interesting benches seen = 3

Miles walked today = 2

Total distance around coast = 5,260.5 miles

Route today:

---