Sluggan Bridge, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire

Park in the centre of Carrbridge in the main car park and walk along to the famous Pack Horse Bridge from which Carrbridge gets it's name. Here take the road up towards Carrbridge railway station and after passing some houses on the way, go under the railway and then under the A9 road where traffic speeds past overhead. The tarred road continues up the Strath with fine views over to the hills surrounding the Slochd. After about 2 km look out for a track going off to the right of the road with a cycle track signpost. This drops down gently through birch woods before levelling out. The path winds in and out of hillocks and soon the impressive structure of Sluggan Bridge comes into view.

Sluggan Bridge crosses the Dulnain River on the old General Wade Military road (constructed c1729) 4.5km upstream from Carrbridge. Wade originally crossed the Dulnain with a ford which was later replaced in the 1760s with a two-arch bridge. This was swept away during the great flood of the 3rd of August 1829, to be replaced by the current large single span bridge in the 1830s. The bridge has undergone a major repair in 2001 - 2002, by Sustrans as part of the National Cycle Network.

Once across the bridge, there is a obvious track leading off to the right past the remains of an old building. After about 300 metres, it crosses a forestry fence by a style and makes its way through a stretch of pine forest. At one point, another track joins from the left, but keep following the path as it winds through the young forest. Suddenly, it pops out of the forest into an area of open hillside flanked by the river on the right. Follow the track back towards Carrbridge, taking care when crossing the main A9 Inverness to Perth road. Once back in the village there is a choice of hotels or café's in which to enjoy a well earned cuppa.