To next page temp

Walks around Acharacle

It is a absense of walks around Archaracle that surprises. You would think that there would be a pleasant walk on the south bank of Loch Shiel, and there was once a track to Polloch, but the Claish Moss [bog] has swallowed it, though there is a track to  the moss.

To the west that ground is flat but once again boggy and you are best to cross it on the roads, though there is a risky track past the public rubbish dump, but we are not that hard up for walks.

Walk 1 to Castle Tioram down the R.Shiel.

Park north of the new Shiel bridge and head west. The main road soon turns right up a hill but follow the inviting road that heads down the river which will take you to Castle Tioram, then return the same route.

What you will see.

Within a few yards of the start the very scenic Old Shiel Bridge with its instructive bronze plaque. When the river is high this choke point becomes the mouth of the loch which in normal times is considerably further up stream. You leave the river through mixed woodland and some fields and then rejoin it for a time, before traversing very pleasant part wooded countryside, with occasional views out to sea, till you sight the Castle which a beach walk takes you to except at the very highest tides.

Walk 2 From before New Shiel Bridge down to the mouth of the river.

Follow the tarmac public road from just south of the bridge till till you run out of road then with care follow the riverside fishing path till you reach the mouth. Return the same route.

What you will see.

A walk by pleasant reaches of the river with occasional interesting exposures of the marine sands and gravels that formed the post-glacial beach. Trees and some old estate buildings and the general feel of attempts at civilising. They part sailed and part dragged quite large boats up the river to ply their trade on the loch.I should like to have seen that. Perhaps a reality TV program might accommodate me. After the wide reaches further up the narrow rock cut mouth [preglacial?]  seems odd. It is the kind of spot that might be called the “Highlander’s Leap”, except of course the dragoons need only go a few yards upstream to paddle after you.

Walk 3 Across the hills to Glen Borrowdale.

Driving west on the southerly road you will meet a new steel bridge with an old bridge and a  traditional phone box by it

From this a clear track leads SE with a burn on your right then turn SW over a stout bridge. After a gentle climb on a clear track you will reach the water works beyond which there is no clear path and you will need an th eOS and navigational skills. With care you will reach Glen Borrowdale where a sensible person will have left bikes, the ride back round the coast road as only one significant hill and lots of variety, it also passes at least two pubs.

What you will see.

At the beginning you have excellent views north.[ which might recommend starting from the other end] Then a long stretch of open moorland before dropping steeply to Loch Sumart. This section is not for bikes. The middle of this walk would not be fun in poor weather and I really only include it so that there is at least one on the area that will let you stretch your legs.

Walk 4 Kentra Bay to the Singing Sands [and Ockle?]

This is the choice walk of the area. Start where the south road west ends at a locked bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the track which after about a mile enters a pine wood. After another mile or so you take a track down to the right.[If you reach a large burn you  have just missed the turn off.] Walk NE along the four beaches. Return the same way. The section of the walk till you turn down to the sands is perfectly bikable.

What you will see.

From the bridge you have open oak woods on your left and Kentra Bay on you right. There are good views north but at low tide extensive saltings and mud are exposed so if possible time your walk in or out for high tide.You will pass a track left just before a bridge. Not far up is is a very small working hydro-electric power station. Worth a look just for the novelty.  The pine woods are quite mature so it does not feel like a walk through a “plantation”. Turning down to the beach you pass through mixed woodland with mossy undergrowth. On emerging from the wood visit the burn on you r left to see the cobbled sea ford just below the high tide mark then turn NE and follow the chain of four glorious beaches that make up the Singing Sands. The beaches are separated by ribs of rock and heath and backed by dunes and pine woods. This is a children’s paradise but don’t loose them You will always find the next beach by ploughing onward but there are no marked routes.

The seascape of the inner isles is matchless.

Walk 5 To New Town of Ardtoe.

This is a visit rather than a walk. Leave your car at the road end and walk a flat road towards some cottages. There is no suggestion of sea ahead. To the right of the last cottage is a gate [muddy] Turn left along a sort of gravel track that widens and bears right between rounded rocks. It will now have dawned that you are actually on a beach. Head north to the sea or till you decided that this is not your kind of beach. Obviously this is a walk for low tide. Equally since the tibe recedes over a kilometre it will come in quite quickly. I have no idea whether there are any patches of quick sand, but it would be in character with the place.

Walk 6

Once again more of a visit. About a mile to the east of Salen there is a Forestry Commission carpark and a track from it leads through a woodland regeneration project down to a small inlet [the Bay of the Flies] on the east side of which you may track down the bait bowl or mortar.Take some money with you for the fairies.

.

Salen

Glen Borrowdale

Walk 3

Click for photo