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2023:
Exploring Sunart and Morar: West Coast of Scotland |
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In April 2023 we explored an area of the west coast of Scotland
encompassing Lochs Sunart and Morar. We had booked our two hotels at the beginning of the year, and as is
well known Scotland’s weather in April can be anything from cold and
blizzardy to warm and sunny. We were so lucky: the days before our trip were cold and rainy, and the
days after our trip were cold and rainy; the days we were on holiday were
fabulous! We had two nights at Kilcamb Lodge and four nights at the Glenuig Inn – both hotels we can very much recommend. |
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View of Loch Sunart and the snow covered mountain Creach Bheinn. There
is a fabulous road bike ride through the landscape of Cheach Bheinn, and this
ride was at the top of our list for the holiday. And we were so lucky: the
weather glorious! |
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We did the loop clockwise. That way you can enjoy a long downhill
section to Achleek. And now having done the ride, going up that hill would be
daunting!
Looking west along Loch Sunart
at low tide: N56.6886, W5.5382. The ride is 31-miles in length
with 2964ft of ascent. In our grading system the ride
is hard-C(72W). 3-hours 45-minutes of cycling
time, 1200kCal. |
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At the bridge over River
Carnoch: B8043 |
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The weather was fabulous: around
12degC, blue sky and no wind! |
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Looking northeast to snow-capped
Ben Nevis |
Approaching Lochan Doire a
Bhraghaid |
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Looking southwest towards Loch
Linnhe from N56.6603, W5.4067
On the shores of Loch Linnhe
from N65.6408, W5.4365 |
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Loch
Linnhe from N56.6208, W5.4632 |
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After the long decent, around 2-miles
on the A884 heading north, we again see Loch Sunart: N56.6769, W5.6081 After our two nights at Kilcamb
Lodge we moved our base to Glenuig Inn. For the first full day at our
new base we took advantage of the tides to explore Tioram Castle, on its causeway
accessed island. It can be included with, what has to be, one of the best
small walks in Scotland: The Silver Walk Loop.
Only 3.3 miles, an easy
two-hours, packed with interest! |
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Situated on a small craggy
island in Loch Moidart, Tioram Castle is a magic place to spend some time. |
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The Silver Walk (called this
because of a horde of Elizabethan silver coins found during the path’s construction)
proceeds up steps from the beach. |
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The path is narrow in places,
but never difficult. |
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The track proceeds inland, away
from the loch, to the remains of a village cleared during the Highland
Clearances, around 1838. |
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At a collection of small lochans
the track turns back to the west, and skirts the banks of a header loch for a
small hydroelectric plant (now defunct) |
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The track proceeds downhill back
to the loch shore and the car park. This is a very rewarding short walk! The following day we were back
on our bikes to repeat a cycle ride we had done several years ago. Unlike the
previous occasion, the weather this time was great!
24-miles with 2000ft of ascent,
the route is graded hard-B(70W), around 3-hours and 900kCal. We drove the bikes to Arisaig
and cycled from there to Mallaig. |
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Heading north we pass the first
of the ‘Silver Sands’ beaches.
The silver sands beaches have
been used for many movie locations, including Local Hero.
The beaches are very photogenic,
with many of the Inner Hebrides islands visible. |
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It was great to see this area in
such fabulous weather. For our last day we walked from
the hotel to ‘White Sands’. Although a bit of a ‘bog-trot’, the idyllic sandy
bay was worth it.
7-miles with 1350ft of ascent,
around 3 ½ hours.
The walk gave us great views of
the islands: Muck, Eigg, Rum and Skye.
We first walked to Loch na
Bairness.
And then on to the White Sands
of Smirisary beach.
Another idyllic location And another great holiday on the
west-coast of the Highlands of Scotland |
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