Sweet summer rain! There is something joyful about the feel of warm rain on your face, especially if you’ve been cooped up all day in the office.
I had to get out, even if it meant missing at least one of the World Cup games on this particular evening.
And this really did turn into a run of two halves – starting this out-and-back adventure in overcast but bright conditions which persevered until literally the moment I turned around to head back, when the heavens opened.
The rain was refreshing but, despite my waterproof running jacket, I was soaked to the skin; that kind of rain that makes your shorts stick to your legs. I was happy to be experiencing such elemental fun, which was just what I needed after a challenging few days.
Rather than heading out from home to run my regular route, I decided to pop down to Drumnadrochit to check out the newly opened section of the Great Glen Way.
Highland Council recently completed the project, working with Bunloit Estate and Highlands Rewilding, to create 3.3km of new off-road path, taking walkers, wheelers and cyclists using the Great Glen Way off the minor road that leads to Grotaig.
It is part of a long-term aim to remove more of the road sections of the long-distance route by creating a safer way that is more enjoyable for visitors and locals.
Starting at the Loch Ness Hub in the village, I began my run heading south along the pavement alongside the A82. The Great Glen Way is not very well signed in the village itself, but you just keep following the main road past the shops and the petrol station until crossing the River Coiltie on the Borlum Bridge.
Turn right past the picnic benches here, where there is a Great Glen Way marker post – the route is well signed from this point on.
Where the public road bends left away from the river, the route goes straight ahead on the estate track, which it follows for about a kilometre before heading left up a steep hill. Passing in front of a B&B, the route then joins a grass and stone path uphill through a gate and zigzags high above the glen.
It’s here where the new path begins, as you pass through a pedestrian gate, forking to the right. I couldn’t run much on this stretch, as the new path bends sharply as it climbs steeply up the hillside at Clunebeg Wood, where 25,000 trees have been planted from local seeds.
Passing through a gap in a stone wall, the gradient eases as the path then goes through a lovely patch of older pine trees, which have already dropped their needles on the new surface, softening its appearance.
The new path has been built to a high standard by Hitrak Ltd, specialists in upland path building, ensuring it is sensitive to the local environment. Around 10,000 people walk the full 79 miles of the Great Glen Way between Fort William and Inverness each year, with many more taking in shorter parts of the route like this one.
New interpretation panels are also being planned to share information about the landscape and wildlife along the way.
Soon I was up near the top and running along a little easier now as the new path runs parallel to the road. It meets up with the older section of path that was already in use, and I followed this before joining another of the newer sections further along.
There’s a fine view to the prominent hill of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh ahead, which this evening was draped in broken cloud. Approaching from behind me, I could see a wall of rain wasn’t far away – I knew it would hit me at some point.
I was ready to turn back, but couldn’t resist continuing to see how far along the new path went. I kept going, crossing the road at one point and going through an area of restored peatland bog, where some great work sees the path edge onto one of the pools.
The path returns to the road just after Ancarraig Lodges – where a shop is advertised selling supplies to walkers passing this way.
I turned around and felt the first drops of that rain cloud hit me, so I donned the jacket I’d been carrying up the hill, stashed the camera and started the run back with a big grin on my face.
Route details
Great Glen Way, Drumnadrochit to Ancarraig and back
Distance 9 miles / 15 km return
Terrain Newly constructed off-road path, plus estate tracks and pavements
Start/finish Loch Ness Hub, Drumnadrochit
Map OS Landranger 26; OS Explorer 416
An evening run from Drumnadrochit to Ancarraig on the new section of Great Glen Way
Click here to see the route in OS Maps