Yesterday I had an unplanned, forced day off. The reason being that I was doing some last minute grocery shopping before the store closed on a Sunday. In my rush to get into the store I tripped over the curb in the car park which sent me sprawling across the car park.
Walk Date : 29th Sep 2015
Mileage : 13.00 miles Total Mileage : 2,381.29 miles
Accommodation : Cottage, Loch Duich Lodge, Ratagan
As you approach the village of Glenelg there is a tree lined avenue of houses for what used to be forestry workers, playing fields and a community centre. I leave the village by a gate going past the “Barracks”, built to provide light defence after the Jacobean uprising.
Walk Date : 2nd Oct 2015
Mileage : 17.10 miles Total Mileage : 2,368.29 miles
Accommodation : Cottage, Loch Duich Lodge, Ratagan
As you can see there is a jump in my blog of the stretch from Inverie to Corran in the Knoydart area. The reason for this is so I can spend some time with the family while they are up here with me, but that does not mean it will be left out, I’ll be back later to do it.
Walk Date : 3rd Oct 2015
Mileage : 11.00 miles Total Mileage : 2,351.19 miles
Accommodation : Cottage, Loch Duich Lodge, Ratagan
Today is quite exciting for me. My wife and two of my daughters, Andrea and Julie are driving up to join me for 5 days. So with this in mind I walk with a spring in my step.
Walk Date : 27th Sep 2015
Mileage : 19.00 miles Total Mileage : 2,340.19 miles
Accommodation : Cottage, Loch Duich Lodge, Ratagan
Acharacle is on the main loop road from Fort William that links the Ardnamurchan and Moidart areas. It has a general store, a bakers and a fish & chip shop. I leave Acharacle across the bridge of the River Shiel which links the sea to the lock
Walk Date : 25th Sep 2015
Mileage : 18.50 miles Total Mileage : 2,321.19 miles
Accommodation : Bunkhouse, Ariundle, Strontian
I leave Ockle by a bridlepath that goes up past some holiday cottages. I carry straight on through a gate and past a bungalow out onto some wild moorland. The path continues through rocky out crops with stunning views of the Isles of Eigg, Rhum and Skye.
Walk Date : 26th Sep 2015
Mileage : 10.20 miles Total Mileage : 2,302.69 miles
Accommodation : Bunkhouse, Ariundle, Strontian
I start from Achnaha today which is on the road back to Kilchoan from Sanna Bay. Just below Achnaha is a track that takes me towards the northern coast of the Ardnamuchan peninsular. Apparently the village is the centre of an extinct volcanic crater. I did think that the rocky landscape had a lunar quality about it.
I drop down to Fascadale with its sheltered bay and about three scattered houses. I continue along the road to Achateny and Branault, most of the area is part of the Ardnamurchan Estate.
It seems to have taken me ages to get here but today I reach the most westerly point on mainland Britain. Its time to leave Kilchoan and make my way to Arrdnamurchan Point and the Lighthouse which is about six miles away.
For the last few hundred yards the single track road is traffic controlled as the road curls round and clings to rocks before emerging at the lighthouse. The lighthouse is actually built from pinkish granite which came from the Isle of Erraid off of the Isle of Mull. They say that the lighthouse is built to an Egyptian style.
I am totally enchanted by the Ardnamurchan peninsular just like I was 40 years ago when I came for the first time. The roads look better than they did back then. Good tarmac surface with plenty of passing places instead of pot holes and grass growing down the middle of the road. Perhaps they have had European grants to improve the roads.
I set off walking along the road from a car park about a mile west of the Glenborrodale where there was a path that went above me into the Nature Reserve. I pass another small picturesque place called Glenmore Bay with some holiday cottages to let. One place I did notice was the Nadurra Centre which houses an exhibition in what they call a “living building” about the flora and wildlife in the area.
I return from a visit home to resume my walk at Ard Airigh or Ardery where there is a little island off the shoreline, Garbh Eilean. I walk down to the hive where there are binoculars to view the island. If you are lucky you may see seals basking on the shores of the island.
I pass through the woodland at Bunalteachan on my way to Resipole. There is a Camping Site that faces right down the loch with only the road between the site and the shore. The site looks flat and well laid out but you might feel the wind coming up the lock. Next door there is a gallery that runs art courses and you can take canoes out on the loch.
Breaking free and paving my own way.
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