A walk around the many inlets of the Shieldaig peninsula.
Temperance Brae, Shieldaig, Strathcarron IV54 8XN, Scotland 3.5 Miles 1.5 HoursMedium
Paths: Old but well-built paths, with a rough section
Landscape: Views to Loch Torridon and Loch Shieldaig
Dog Friendliness: Yes, on lead near livestock and in village
Parking: In Shieldaig village
Public toilets: In Shieldaig village
Heading north, continue down the village street along the shoreline. At the village end it rises slightly, with another parking area, and a war memorial above on the right.
At the front of the village school, make a right turn up a rough track. The track passes a couple of houses to turn left. In another 100yds (91m) it forks, bears right, passing to the right of a glacier smoothed rock knoll. The terraced path runs through birch woods at first, with Loch Shieldaig below on the left. It passes above two rocky bays, then strikes across a peat bog, bright in midsummer with bell heather and the fluffy white tops of cotton grass. In the middle of this flat area it divides at a cairn.
The right-hand path runs along the left edge of the peaty area, with rocky ground above on its left, then next to birch trees for 50 yards (46m). Look out for the point where its pink gravel surface becomes peaty, with a rock formation like a low ruin on the right, because here is an easily missed path junction.
What seems like the main footpath, ahead and slightly downhill, peters out eventually. The correct path forks off to the left, slanting up on to the higher ground just above. The path is now clear, crossing slabby ground in the direction of the peninsula's trig point, ¼ mile (400m) away. After 220yds (201m) it rises slightly to a gateway in a former fence. Aiming right of the trig point, it crosses a small heather moor. At a broken wall, the path turns down right through a gap to the top of a grassy meadow. The first of the two shoreline cottages, Badcallda, is just below. Rough paths lead to the left across the boggy top of the meadow and above a Birchwood, with the trig point just above on the left. Keep going forward at the same level to a heather knoll, with a pole on it. Just below you is a second cottage, Camasruadh.
The footpath zigzags down between rocks. White paint spots lead round to the right of the cottage and its shed, to join a clear path coming from the cottage. The return path is easy to follow, with the cottage's phone line always nearby on the left. After ½ mile (800m) it re-joins the outward route at the cairn at Point 3.
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