Quinag

27/12/2021

Stac Pollaidh 27/12/21

05/09/2021

WALKS

Altandhu-Blairbuie circuit
4.7km (circular walk)
90-120min
rough/no track first third, unsurfaced road middle third, then single track road
moderate/easy

This walk is a satisfying mix of wild moorland with small lochs, hill farm country, finishing with a scenic coastal stretch.
Park on the Altandhu to Achnahaird road, either near the junction to Reiff, or further up the hill near the footpath to the scenic lookout point. Depending on where you have parked, walk up or down the hill to the edge of the deer fence, from where an indistinct track (marked on OS Explorer map) heads N up the hill towards Loch a’ Chaoruinn. Follow the track over the moor to just before the loch, then strike out onto the higher ground to your L, from where a view into the interior of the Rubha Mor peninsula of Coigach opens out. Although not far from the road, there is a feeling of real remoteness. Looking in the direction of the largest loch (Loch na Totaig) to the NW you will see a tall cairn a few hundred metres away; head for this, keeping as far as possible to rocky ground. Looking seaward from the pillar-like cairn rewards with views across to Old Dornie harbour, and the Summer Isles of Ristol, with its white sandy beach, and Eilean Mullagrach. Another cairn on the high ground to the NW between Lochan Dubha and its unnamed neighbour is your next target. From this cairn, or just short of it, descend heathery slopes to the eastern shore of the smaller unnamed loch. Track around the head of the loch, and along its northern shore, to meet the start of an old green road, which descends slowly, (and with dogs on leads) through a farm gate into the hamlet of Blairbuie. A short stroll toward the sea meets the quiet single-track Reiff road; turn L here and follow the scenic coastal road high above the rocky shore back toward Altandhu, picking up your car at the junction, or after a short climb up the Achnahaird road at the viewpoint.

21/05/2021

21/05/2021

21/05/2021

WALKS

Loch an Eisg Brachaidh to the River Polly
4.5km
120-150min
rough track, indistinct in many places, last third on estate road
moderate

This is a secluded walk through rough coastal country, described from N to S, but good either way, needing two cars unless doubling it up to there and back, or making a much longer return along the “wee mad road”. The walk would be difficult to follow without using a map.

Drop a car at the fish hatchery on the serpiginous single track road between Achiltibuie and Lochinver. Continue on the road 7km until you reach the mouth of the Allt Gleann and t-Srathain where it empties into the sea at Loch an Eisg Brachaidh (loch of the speckled fish), at the number 4 on the OS map. There are a couple of wider spots on the road where a few cars can park, and stepping stones to take you across the stream to begin the walk. The track is marked on the OS map, but is very vague on the ground, and barely discernable at the start, where it climbs to the L after crossing the Allt, through a break in the rocky hillside, amongst a tangle of silver birch. Emerging from this onto more open ground affords a lovely view of the bay and islands to the W. Although hilly country, the track follows the contours keeping pretty level for most of the walk, heading south. A small lochan with a couple of islands is passed on the L, a little after this the path appears to lead up the hill to the L, but in fact the actual track which is less distinct drops down through some vegetation to the head of Poll Loisgann, a fjord in miniature, and a good spot for a stop.

Climbing up from the inlet along the R bank of a small stream leads to a flat bowl of land between the small hills, not as boggy as it looks. The exit to the S is up an easy grassy stretch; the path continues to the next little bay, but a short detour up the hill to the R (Rubha Lochan Sal) rewards with a great view over the inlet and its islands, and further to the S the expanse of Rubha Mor Coigach across Enard Bay. Rejoin the track and descend through a mossy stand of gnarly silver birch, until an estate gate is reached just before the weir across Loch an Sal, across which you need to do a little jump to reach the boathouse and start of the estate road. Follow this up and over the hill (dogs on leads from here) and drop down toward Inverpolly Lodge, bearing L before reaching the house to follow the estate road back to the hatchery where you parked.

21/05/2021

WALKS

Blughasary to Dun Canna fort
5km (there and back)
100-120min
constructed path, boggy in places
easy

This walk includes the 2km of the Postman’s path, walked twice weekly from Ullapool to Achiltibuie from the mid 19th century until the 1940’s. The section of the path around the cliffs of Ben Mor Coigach is a wild and sometimes exposed route, but the path to Dun Canna is very straightforward, and the ruined fort on a little promontory under the sea-cliffs itself a worthy destination.

Turn off the main A835 road just south of Strathcanaird, and follow the single-track road to its end at Blughasary, where there is parking for several cars and an information board. A wooden footbridge over the picturesque River Runie just before it joins with the River Canaird, starts the walk, which continues on slabby rocks and made path in practically a level and straight line toward the sea, the foothills of Ben Mor Coigach (“the Rock”) becoming increasingly craggy and steep to the R of the path, with the deer farm of Keanchulish to the L. Ben Ghoblach dominates the horizon straight ahead. After just under 2km the path forks, with the track to Achiltibuie climbing steeply to the R; continue straight, then bearing slightly L to pick up a grassy vehicle track which ends at the fort.

The fort dates from the Iron Age (between 800BC and 500AD) and consists of an inner enclosure on the flat top of the promontory, and a larger outer enclosure on the landward side, with substantial stone walls augmenting the cliffs on either side, with a narrow neck of land in between. It’s a quiet atmospheric spot with bays to explore on either side and views out to Isle Martin and Loch Broom. The return journey retraces your steps to Blughasary.

21/08/2020

Tanera Mor

21/08/2020

From Tanera Beg

01/01/2019

New year’s day 2019