Dininv one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Dininv here.

I know this route well but have only walked parts of it because I preferred to walk the John O'Groats Trail route via Munlochy and Culbokie on the Black Isle. The slow ways route would take c4.5 hours to walk. Most of it is pretty accessible and on tarmac road but, there is a steady climb up from Redcastle and a piece of rough track then up to the A835.
1) Walk out of Inverness is straightforward, Castle then out along the East bank of the River Ness. There is a slight headache when you get to the A9 Black isle Bridge above you, you have to turn right, just before the bridge, 100m then there is an unmarked path, on the right that takes you to the steps to get on the bridge, as of Oct 2022 this was substantially but not completely blocked off by a building site and unmarked.
2) Black Isle Bridge is impressive and high and you have to watch out if they are doing repairs because the pedestrian bridge sometimes gets blocked, also, its a bit nervy to climb it in high winds and very exposed. Fantastic view from the walkway (beware fast pushbikes) though of Inverness & Beauly Firth.
3) North Kessock coastal walk - North Kessock, pub, toilets and one shop. Only an occasional bus service and hardly any on a Sunday but, a nice view across the Firth and a tarmacked road all the way along to woods at Redcastle then it becomes an uphill trek inland across to the main Inverness-Dingwall road. This is a busy A road and difficult to cross with fast traffic however, there are good tarmac pavements along the road for use by cyclists/ walkers. Not really pleasant walking though as exposed, uphill, often windy and big traffic thumping past you.
4) The climb up from Redcastle reaches a peak at Newton Kinkell and you will then start to get great views across to the West, of Ben Wyvis and other highland peaks, from here the road descends in a straight line almost, down to the main road bridge near Conon Bridge which you'll have to cross, not so bad this bit.
5) After the bridge, at the road traffic island turn right and its a straight walk, parallel to the railway line, into Dingwall about a mile or so. Dingwall is well connected to Inverness by bus and train.

Personally, I wouldn't use this route if I wanted to go for a walk because there is a lot of traffic on the A835 and its fairly exposed in some places though, the Black Isle bridge is impressive and there are good views across the Firth and again later, towards the Highlands. One big advantage is that there are opportunities to get on and off the buses on the main road to Tore and Dingwall. Not much in the way of toilets though apart from at Dingwall or North Kessock.
Sort of parallel to the route is the John O'Groats trail, which I walked in 4 sections Inverness - Munlochy-Culbokie - Alness, during 2022. This was a more interesting, marked trail over fields and things and along trails sometimes, rather than along roads with cars. Shops at Munlochy and Culbokie. I did this in sections because my walk endurance isn't much more than 4.5 hours these days. This way was much quieter and protected by trees for a lot of it though, there is an equally steep climb up out of Munlochy to the top of the Black Isle itself. From Culbokie I walked across the, exposed and very long, Cromarty Bridge across the Cromarty Firth where I was a bit close to heavy traffic but it did cut the corner in walking north to Alness.
I've given it 3 stars because both routes are a bit more for committed walkers rather than for a gradual stroll and both can be exposed to Highland weather as well as a bit close to heavy traffic in places.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.