Stage 3: Alness to Tain


Old Mill

Distance | 14.6 miles / 23.7 km     Status |  Green 

The third stage of the JOGT is entirely walkable by the average fit walker. There are no obstacles. About 2/3 of the walk is on quiet back roads and 1/3 is on good forestry plantation tracks. All of the stage is marked. The route goes along a quiet rural roads for several miles, then through a long section of forestry commission land before a final road section into Tain.

Challenges
Road walking, even on quiet back lanes such as on this stage, can always be dangerous. Walk on the right except at right curves. Please also note that like much of rural Scotland, ticks may be an issue in areas of long vegetation.

Stage End Information
Tain is close to but bypassed by the A9 and is served by the buses that connect to Wick, John O’Groats, Thurso, and Inverness. It is also served by the Inverness-to-Thurso/Wick rail line. From the Tain rail station, walk up hill into town. When you reach the High Street, turn right and you will see the Royal Tain Hotel where the stage begins. Tain is a medium-sized town with several hotels, pubs, and shops, including a full-size supermarket at either end of town. There is a museum of the history of Tain, but the biggest tourist attraction, the Glenmorangie Distillery, is just north of town (and on this stage route).

More information
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/alness-tain.shtml