Garve on the Black Water: Trails and Historic Bridges

Garve lies on the Black Water River. River trails and bridges shape the ways to explore the village and its surroundings: from the paved stone path in the village to the Two Bridges Trail, with its peat-filled pools and rushing rapids. There is also a history of cattle droving and military roads. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Garve, the trail lengths and surface conditions can help you decide which excursions will shape your holiday days.

River Trails and Trail Lengths

The older core trail data describes the Village River Path in Garve as a 0.5-kilometre paved stone path; the 2024 village map also lists the route. The older core trail data describes Tor Breac as a 1.4-kilometre core trail on a forest track; the 2024 village map also lists the route. The older core trail data describes the Silverbridge Circuit as a 3.6-kilometre route combining paved sections with an earth path; the 2024 village map also lists the route. These trails therefore differ in both length and surface, from a short paved stone path to a longer route with varied surfaces. The details offer a practical guide when comparing different walks and trails for your holiday days.

Garve is home to Wyvis Natural Play Park. The riverside path between Silverbridge and Wade’s Bridge runs beside the park and is a scenic attraction in the Garve area. This means you can include a named spot in the village and a river path in the surrounding area in your explorations, without conflating the two.

The Two Bridges Trail follows the Black Water River between Wade’s Bridge and Silverbridge. Peat-filled pools and rushing rapids shape the landscape along the way. The trail is 3.3 kilometres long, with about 1½ hours allocated for the route. Its terrain includes moderate and steep slopes, as well as sections of uneven, rough earth and rocky ground. The length, estimated time and ground conditions together provide a useful guide for planning your day.

Cattle Droving and Military Roads

The history of the trails is also part of the area’s character. Silverbridge is part of an old route used by cattle drovers travelling to markets in the south. Little Garve Bridge offers a different historical perspective: it was built around 1762 as part of the military road from Contin to Poolewe. The bridge is a well-preserved example of an 18th-century military road bridge of national significance. On an excursion, you can encounter two distinct links to historic routes: cattle droving to the markets and the construction of a military road.

Another natural highlight is Ben Wyvis National Nature Reserve, near Garve. It offers views across the Highlands and unique mountain habitats. Alongside the river and trails, this adds views and mountain habitats as a focus in their own right. There are also many opportunities for horse riding in the Garve area.

Getting Here and Choosing a Location

The A835 runs through Garve and connects Inverness with Ullapool. Garve railway station is served regularly by the line to Kyle of Lochalsh. Buses in the Garve area also run to Dingwall and/or Inverness, as well as to Ullapool, Gairloch and Lochcarron. If you’re planning to travel by train or bus, check the timetables for your specific travel dates. This will help you factor transport links into your choice of base.

The Little Garve car park is about 2 miles north of Garve and is signposted from the A835. Together with the varied trail lengths and surfaces, this provides practical starting points for planning: will your stay focus mainly on the river trails, the history of transport routes or nature experiences? Choose your holiday rental based on which of Garve’s facets you’d like to discover during your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Plockton, Dingwall, Letterfearn, Nairn, Lybster, Forsinard, Dundee, Halkirk.

For the broader travel overview: Highland.