As I look down on Loch Sunart I turn towards Liddesdale which at one time boasted of a lead mine. I follow the shoreline passing a few houses, boats and slipways around the head of Loch Sunart.

Strontian grew as a village to provide accommodation for lead miners. The village got its name from when some French prisoners of war working in the mines discovered a completely new mineral and they called it Strontian. It was used in producing sugar from sugar beet.

There is another story about Strontian. When a local landowner refused permission  for a Presbyterian church to be built. The enterprising congregation bought a boat and had it towed from Clydeside to Strontian where it was moored up and used as a floating church.

I have been staying at a wonderful bunkhouse at Ariundle just along the road from Strontian. It is set in native oak woodland amongst moss, lichens and ferns.

From here you can take walks through the woodland and along the Strontian river. There is also Phemie’s walk named after a local.

Ard Airigh or  Ardery is a peaceful lochside locatic. There are some woodland trails and places to picnic. This is where I finish for today.