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Day Walks: Ranger Guided and Self-Led
The Road to the Isles is an area rich in scenic beauty and offers many opportunities for exploring the landscape on foot. Here is our selection of walks you can take when visiting the region and an explanation of some Gaelic placenames.
Ranger
Guided Walks
A programme of local walks operates each year during the summer
(April - Sept).
Maximum 12 people on a walk. Must be booked in advance.
Contact Angus Macintyre, Coastal Ranger for the Sound of Arisaig
Tel/fax: 01687 462 983
Email a.macintyre@tiscali.co.uk
Programme of walks 2008
Other walks may also be available so contact the Ranger for Information
'SNIPER'S VALLEY' (Grade D) About 6 hours.
Stretch your legs past the tumbling waters of Allt a Bhuindh to the shoulder of An Stac, then dine on the special view of Loch Ailort and the Small Isles. This, the longest of the season’s walks, involves a fairly stiff climb, and so a fair degree of fitness is required. Proper footwear and clothing are essential as is sufficient food and liquid for a full day. Meet at the Lochailort Inn on the A830 at 10am.......................................3rd June
'KINLOCHMOIDART & THE FAIRY HILL' / Charcoal and the Devil's Staircase (Grade B) About 2 1/2 hours.
Enjoy a gentle historical/magical wander on the old road above the loch, whilst appreciating the skills and successes of our forebears. Meet at Kinlochmoidart pier (NM696 728) on the A881 at 11.30am........................................17th April, 10th June
'ARISAIG, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE' (Grade C) About 5 hours.
Coastal and hill walk from Arisaig to Borradale via Ghaoideil. A good walk over paths and sheep tracks, passing the hidden croft and the Arisaig House Hotel, wartime billet of the SOE Commandos. Fairly easy walking with much to see, including the 'Cup and Ring Stone' and Prince Charlie's Cave, with a spectacular view of the Sound of Arisaig. Take packed lunch and suitable clothing. Walking boots advised. Meet at the “Land Sea and Island Centre” in Arisaig on A830 at 11.30 am........................................10th April, 15th May, 12th June, 8th July, 7th August, 2nd September
'LOCAL HEROES' /Cairns, Cockles and Clubs (Grade B) About 3 hours.
A pleasing walk to a panoramic viewpoint, followed by an educational stroll along the beaches spotting the different seashells. Hill and coastal walk from Camusdarach via the Garramore Cairn to Traigh. Easy initial climb, then walking on beach. Wonderful views. Meet at Glenancross Car Park on B8008 between Morar and Arisaig at 11:30 am........................................22nd July, 12th August, 9th September.
'CAVES and CLEARANCES' (Grade C) About 3 1/2 hours.
Coastal and hill walk around the Rhue peninsula via the 'Soap Cave' and 'Port na Murrach' passing the sheilings and the Cairn of Deep Sorrow. Enjoy the hidden coves of dazzling sand, and drift into the minds of the people of the clearances. No paths in the hills, fairly hard going. Meet at Rhu Pier at end of Rhu road at 11:30 am.......................................22nd April, 1st July, 14th August, 11th September
'SEA and SAND' / Smirisary and the White Beach (Grade B/C) About 3 hours.
Look back into the hardships of old crofting life, see the results of change in the 20th century. Pleasant coastal walk to the ruins of a comparatively recently abandoned crofting village, continuing along the coast to a lovely white sandy beach, returning along a well defined track to the starting point close to Glenuig. Meet at the Glenuig Inn on the A861 (turn off the A830 at Lochailort) at 11:30 am.......................................27th May.
'DUKE'S WALK' /Loch of the Caves (Grade B) About 2 1/2 hours.
A shorter walk along the shores of Loch nan Uamh. Feel yourself in Prince Charlie's shoes as you gaze out from the secret cave, then reach back into the iron age as you relish the view. Meet at Borrodale Farm (limited parking) 3 miles East of Arisaig on A830 at 11:30 am. Walk is weather dependant.......................................29th April, 5th June, 15th July.
'FIVE LOCHS' /Bogs, Bridges and Burns (Grade C) About 3 1/2 hours.
A lovely hill walk giving views of the Small Isles and tramping the heather past the sparkling waters of five hill lochs.
Heather covered hills and some wet/boggy ground. Proper footwear and clothing essential. Take packed lunch. Meet at Glasnacardoch, one mile south of Mallaig on the A830. 11.30am.......................................15th April, 1st May, 26th June, 5th August.
'BRINACORY & LOCHAN STOLE' /Old Schools and Stunning Vistas (Grade C/D) About 4 hours.
Follow the old County road to a school of past ages, then take to the hills to experience the view of a lifetime. Please note that a reasonable degree of fitness is required for this walk. Meet at Bracorina on the B8008 (turn off the A830 at Morar) at 11:30 am.......................................11th April, 29th May, 31st July, 4th September
'ROSHVEN & COMMANDO ROCK' /Graves and Garnets (Grade B) About 2 1/2 hours.
Drift through the multiple environments in an investigative wander through this remarkable corner of the Moidart Peninsula. Meet at Roshven Farm on the A881 2 miles from Lochailort at 11:30 am.......................................20th May, 24th July, 23rd September.
'GLEN BEASDALE & SIDHEAN MOR' (Grade D) About 5 hours.
Climb from the peace of the glen to lunch by "Lochan Feith a Mhadaidh", then gaze on the panoramic vision from the high peak of "Sidhean Mor". Meet at the Canteen Railway Bridge, second bridge after Beasdale Station travelling south at 11:30 am......................................28th August.
'THE PRINCE'S WALK' /Footstep of the Prince (Grade B) About 2 1/2 hours.
Walk in the footsteps of Prince Charlie in the wooded grounds of Kinlochmoidart and lunch by the river. Meet at the Woodland Walk car-park at Kinlochmoidart at 11:30 am.....................................3rd June, 16th September.
'GLASNACARDOCH SHORE' (Grade C) About 3 1/2 hours.
A circular walk from Glasnacardoch above the coastline to the Silver Sands, returning via the radio mast and the 'Lily Pond'. Meet at the Glasnacardoch Road end, 1 mile before Mallaig, at 11:30 am....................................17th June, 26th August, 30th September.
'DEEP WATERS & THE POOL OF SILENCE' (Grade C) About 3 1/2 hours.
Climb to Loch Eireagoraidh for lunch, then circle round Beinn nan Caorach and back by Loch an Nosterie. Meet at the Glasnacardoch Road end, 1 mile before Mallaig, at 11:30 am....................................29th July.
'ARISAIG TRIANGLE' (Grade C/D) About 4 hours.
Climb the three Arisaig peaks, Sasunnaich, Creag Mhor and Albanaich. Meet at Arisaig Railway Station at 11:30 am....................................1st April, 19th August, 18th September.
Bring your own snack or packed lunch and suitable clothing. Walking boots advisable. Walks are graded according to the following codes:
- Grade A: Low level and tarmac paths.
- Grade B: Uneven paths at low level.
Kinlochmoidart & the Plate Rock (2.5 hrs), Duke’s Walk (2.5 hrs); Local Heroes (2.5 hrs); Smirisary and the White Beach (3 hrs).- Grade C: Rough/boggy ground and hills , with a reasonable level of fitness required.
Five Lochs (3.5 - 4 hrs); Arisaig Past, Present and Future (5 hrs); Caves and Clearances (3.5 - 4 hrs) .- Grade D: Higher hills with longer walks. A good level of fitness required.
Brinicory and Lochan Stole is Grade C/D (a good 4 hrs!). Sniper’s Valley (6 hrs).Self-led Walks
All references here are to the Ordnance Survey Landranger 40 Map - Loch Shiel.
It is very important that this map is used whenever a walk is embarked on, as well as wearing suitable walking boots and protective clothing. Always tell someone where you are going and your expected arrival time.
Self-led and guided walking tours can be arranged through various operators in this region.The walks are graded a), b) or c) in the following way:
a) short easy walk
b) walk of modest length which includes some uphill walking
c) challenging walk which is longer and/or over more rugged terrain and may include some stiff climbs.1 - Walks from Glenfinnan
1.1 There is a private road along the East side of Loch Shiel which gives stunning views down the Loch. It is necessary to go down and back to Glenfinnan. (Grade a)
1.2 There is a track leading up Glen Finnan under the viaduct and over to Loch Arkaig - a distance of about 10 miles but reasonably easy walking. (Grade a)
1.3 Two miles up the track in 1.2 is the bothy at Corryhully. If you branch left up the Allt a'Chaol Ghinne burn and on to the Gleann Doun you can make a circuit by following the undefined track back southwards tot he road via the Allt Feith a Chatha. (Grade c)
1.4 Starting from the road (A830) a challenging walk can be had around the North side of Loch Beoraid. Follow the Allt Feith a Chatha up to the East end of Loch Beoraid. Cross over to the North side of the river and walk along the Loch. This is rough going and boggy - Cross over the Meoble river and follow the track southwards back to the road near Lochailort. (Grade c)
2 - Walks from Lochailort
2.1 There is a well defined walk up towards the West end of Loch Beoraid and then on via the River Meoble to the shores of Loch Morar where it is possible to be picked up by Ewan MacDonald and taken to Morar by boat. (Grade b)
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2.2
Ardnish Walk. This well known walk across Ardnish starts at the new car park/Lay by near Polnish House and climbs up around the lochs on top and down to the Peanmeanach bothy near the beach on the West end of the peninsula. (Grade b) |
3 - Arisaig walks
3.1 Borrodale-Scamadale-Arisaig.
This walk commences on the track opposite Borrodale Farm and follows Borrodale burn up on to the top. The track is marked by cairns at various places and leads North towards Loch Morar. The descent at Scamadale is quite steep. Return via the track at the foot of Creag Mhor to Kinloid and hence Arisaig. (Grade c)3.2 Druimindarroch-Prince Charlie's Cairn.
Follow the track North-east from the bay towards Arisaig House and then East past Prince Charlie's cave and across the field in front of the Hotel. Past the old fort on the headland and along the coast to the Beasdale Burn and the road and Prince Charlie's Cairn. (Grade a)3.3 Rhue.
Take the Rhue road out of the village and walk to the Pier at the end where all deliveries used to be made for the village. There is a lovely beach beyond Rhue House and several large caves at Camus Leathann on Loch nan Uamh. These can be reached be branching South off the Rhue road up the track at the head of the long inlet and keeping to the East side of the little loch and the flatlands until you descend to the stony bay where several caves can be found. (Grade a)4 - Morar walks
4.1 There are a series of lovely walks to be found along the North shore of Loch Morar. The most well known of these being the walk to Tarbet. This is a beautiful walk along the shore of Loch Morar as far as Swordland and then over the hill to Tarbet where the ferry to Mallaig can be taken 3 times a week. (Grade a)
4.2 There is a walk from the Car Park at Bracorina up the hill to the series of Lochs at the top and across via stepping stones to Stoul on the shore of Loch Nevis. You must return the same way to Bracorina. (Grade b)
4.3 From the fishing permit shed on Loch Morar by Allt an Loin, there is a track up towards the larger lochs - Loch a Ghille Ghobraich, Loch a'Bhada Dharaich and Loch an Nosterie, from whence you can descend via Glasnacardoch to Mallaig. Very boggy. (Grade b)
4.4 Glasnacardoch is the start for walks of varying lengths and complexities around the lochs in the hills. (Grade b)
Gaelic Routes/Roots:
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