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Gairloch and the Torridon Mountains *Weekend*
~ Friday 09th July 10 from 7pm to Sunday 11th July 10, between 4 & 6pm ~
Gairloch and the Torridon Mountains
£
195.00
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE : SPACES AVAILABLE
Two nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast at the excellent three star Gairloch Highland Lodge Hotel.
Full days guiding on two days (Sat/Sun), offering two walks on each day.
Packed Lunch on each day.
Availble rooms:-
4 x triple rooms
2 x twin rooms
2 x double rooms
1 x single room
Anyone wanting a room to themselves a supplement of £15.50 is applicable.
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above. Paypal, Cheque or Bank Transfer is available.
Two nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast at the excellent three star Gairloch Highland Lodge Hotel.
Full days guiding on two days (Sat/Sun), offering two walks on each day.
Packed Lunch on each day.
Availble rooms:-
4 x triple rooms
2 x twin rooms
2 x double rooms
1 x single room
Anyone wanting a room to themselves a supplement of £15.50 is applicable.
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above. Paypal, Cheque or Bank Transfer is available.
Overview
Gairloch can offer a little of everything that visitors come to the Highlands to see. A typically strung out highland village linked historically to the sea; a superb and complex coastline that is both rocky and sandy by turn; islands; lochs; and views that include some the the best mountains anywhere.
As a settlement, Gairloch has a number of separately named and distinct points of focus. The most southerly is at Charlestown where you can find Gairloch's harbour. From here the road makes its way past Gairloch Golf Club, where a car park also gives access to a lbeautiful beach. Nearby are two churches, the brown stone Free Church with its magnificent views over Loch Gairloch and the white-harled kirk on the inland side of the main road.
As a settlement, Gairloch has a number of separately named and distinct points of focus. The most southerly is at Charlestown where you can find Gairloch's harbour. From here the road makes its way past Gairloch Golf Club, where a car park also gives access to a lbeautiful beach. Nearby are two churches, the brown stone Free Church with its magnificent views over Loch Gairloch and the white-harled kirk on the inland side of the main road.
Half a mile round the northern side of Loch Gairloch brings you to Strath, which blends seamlessly with Smithtown. Here you will find the main commercial centre of Gairloch, complete with a range of shops and B&Bs, and a hotel. Here, too, you will find an excellent campsite, in a field located above the coastal road and offering truly magical views.
And Gairloch's views are amongst its major assets. They take in the expanse of Loch Gairloch and its complex southern shoreline; and from some vantage points you can also see Longa Island, on the north side of Loch Gairloch where it meets the open sea.
Inland, your attention is drawn by the hills and mountains to the east, towards Loch Maree: and beyond it to one of Scotland's last great wildernesses, the Fisherfield Forest which incompasses mountains such as Slioch (The Spear) at 981m (3218ft) and A' Mhaighdean (The Maiden) at 967m (3173ft) and further East out to the majestic An Teallach (The Forge) at 1062m (3484ft). Further south the views extend to take in the peaks of the Flowerdale and Shieldag Forests and, in particular, a "rear" view of Beinn Alligin (Jewelled Hill) at 986m (3235ft), the most westerly of the Torridon giants. Incidentally, don't think the liberal sprinkling of "forests" implies a wooded landscape. There are few trees to be found in these mountainous, lochan strewn areas.
The views are equally striking but very different in the coastal area to the west of Gairloch, where the B8021 continues to Melvaig and beyond. South of Gairloch, the B8056 leads to more fine views from the village of Badachro and the beach at Redpoint.
Gairloch's history dates back at least as far as the iron age dun or fort on a headland near the golf club. A thousand years later the loch was used as a haven by Vikings. Very little remains of them except place names and folklore. Norwegian rule of Scotland's western seaboard ended after the Battle of Largs and King Håkon IV's retreat to Orkney in 1263, and for the following two centuries two clans, the MacLeods and Mackenzies fought for dominance of the area.
In 1494 King James IV granted the lands to the Mackenzies, who managed their estates from Flowerdale House, a little inland from Charlestown. And they still do: much of the area remains in the ownership of the family.
For details of some of the walks please see below :
And Gairloch's views are amongst its major assets. They take in the expanse of Loch Gairloch and its complex southern shoreline; and from some vantage points you can also see Longa Island, on the north side of Loch Gairloch where it meets the open sea.
Inland, your attention is drawn by the hills and mountains to the east, towards Loch Maree: and beyond it to one of Scotland's last great wildernesses, the Fisherfield Forest which incompasses mountains such as Slioch (The Spear) at 981m (3218ft) and A' Mhaighdean (The Maiden) at 967m (3173ft) and further East out to the majestic An Teallach (The Forge) at 1062m (3484ft). Further south the views extend to take in the peaks of the Flowerdale and Shieldag Forests and, in particular, a "rear" view of Beinn Alligin (Jewelled Hill) at 986m (3235ft), the most westerly of the Torridon giants. Incidentally, don't think the liberal sprinkling of "forests" implies a wooded landscape. There are few trees to be found in these mountainous, lochan strewn areas.
The views are equally striking but very different in the coastal area to the west of Gairloch, where the B8021 continues to Melvaig and beyond. South of Gairloch, the B8056 leads to more fine views from the village of Badachro and the beach at Redpoint.
Gairloch's history dates back at least as far as the iron age dun or fort on a headland near the golf club. A thousand years later the loch was used as a haven by Vikings. Very little remains of them except place names and folklore. Norwegian rule of Scotland's western seaboard ended after the Battle of Largs and King Håkon IV's retreat to Orkney in 1263, and for the following two centuries two clans, the MacLeods and Mackenzies fought for dominance of the area.
In 1494 King James IV granted the lands to the Mackenzies, who managed their estates from Flowerdale House, a little inland from Charlestown. And they still do: much of the area remains in the ownership of the family.
For details of some of the walks please see below :
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Lower / Less Strenuous Walks
There will be two lower / less strenuous walks, one on each day, Saturday and Sunday.
These walks are usually between 7 to 10 miles long with no more than 2000ft ascent.
One of these walks is detailed below :
~ 5miles with 958ft total ascent ~
This walk is left until Sunday, its not to long and not to hard so that everyone can sadly head home without feeling exhausted.
On this walk we explore the Northwest corner of Loch Maree, the Loch is 20 kilometers long and definitely one of the most beautiful lochs in Scotland. It is the fourth largest fresh water loch in Scotland. The A832, starting in Kinlochewe, is the only road in the area and streches along the south side of the loch. On the north-side of the loch the impressive and the very steep mountain of Slioch (The Spear) at 981m (3218ft) can be found.
After leaving most of our cars in the Slattadale car park on the shoreline of Loch Maree we cram ourselves into a few vehicles and drive to the start of the walk at Tollie just 2km South of Poolewe. We begin by following a path crossing a stream on stepping stones and passing through a gate. Here the track narrows to form a clear stony path which crosses another stream and then rises in stages onto the moor. Creag Mhor Thollaidh provides an impressive buttress on the left as the path winds up the hillside, crossing streams on a couple of wooden bridges. Before reaching the highest point a small lochan is passed on the left - in the summer this is often full of flowering waterlilies. A small stone cairn marks the high point of the pass as the Torridon mountains come into view in the distance. As we continue the islands on Loch Maree now come into view. These islands are home to some of Scotland's oldest pinewoods, with the present day trees directly descended from the first Scots pine to colonise the area about 8,000 years ago. The path continues to skirt Loch Maree and then crosses a small stream before going through a gate into the Slattadale forest. After a short section of pine plantation, the path crosses more open ground and climbs uphill to a viewpoint with great views across the Loch to Letterewe and the mountains beyond, Slioch is a dominant feature as it looks down on the Loch. We continue through the pleasant pine woods, where pine martens are present but rarely seen. We soon reach the picnic area, toilets and car park at Slattadale.
Other Walk Planned in Brief :
~ 9miles with 810ft total ascent ~
A spectacular walk following the coastline Northwest of Cove before heading inland across wild land, past small lochs and small plantations. This walk is a great opportunity to see wildlife both in the air, land and sea, with every chance of catching a glimpse or two of a mighty Sea Eagle.
These walks are usually between 7 to 10 miles long with no more than 2000ft ascent.
One of these walks is detailed below :
~ 5miles with 958ft total ascent ~
This walk is left until Sunday, its not to long and not to hard so that everyone can sadly head home without feeling exhausted.
On this walk we explore the Northwest corner of Loch Maree, the Loch is 20 kilometers long and definitely one of the most beautiful lochs in Scotland. It is the fourth largest fresh water loch in Scotland. The A832, starting in Kinlochewe, is the only road in the area and streches along the south side of the loch. On the north-side of the loch the impressive and the very steep mountain of Slioch (The Spear) at 981m (3218ft) can be found.
After leaving most of our cars in the Slattadale car park on the shoreline of Loch Maree we cram ourselves into a few vehicles and drive to the start of the walk at Tollie just 2km South of Poolewe. We begin by following a path crossing a stream on stepping stones and passing through a gate. Here the track narrows to form a clear stony path which crosses another stream and then rises in stages onto the moor. Creag Mhor Thollaidh provides an impressive buttress on the left as the path winds up the hillside, crossing streams on a couple of wooden bridges. Before reaching the highest point a small lochan is passed on the left - in the summer this is often full of flowering waterlilies. A small stone cairn marks the high point of the pass as the Torridon mountains come into view in the distance. As we continue the islands on Loch Maree now come into view. These islands are home to some of Scotland's oldest pinewoods, with the present day trees directly descended from the first Scots pine to colonise the area about 8,000 years ago. The path continues to skirt Loch Maree and then crosses a small stream before going through a gate into the Slattadale forest. After a short section of pine plantation, the path crosses more open ground and climbs uphill to a viewpoint with great views across the Loch to Letterewe and the mountains beyond, Slioch is a dominant feature as it looks down on the Loch. We continue through the pleasant pine woods, where pine martens are present but rarely seen. We soon reach the picnic area, toilets and car park at Slattadale.
Other Walk Planned in Brief :
~ 9miles with 810ft total ascent ~
A spectacular walk following the coastline Northwest of Cove before heading inland across wild land, past small lochs and small plantations. This walk is a great opportunity to see wildlife both in the air, land and sea, with every chance of catching a glimpse or two of a mighty Sea Eagle.
Hard Walks
There will be two hard walks, one on each day, Saturday and Sunday.
These walks are usually between 10 to 15 miles long with upto 5000ft ascent.
One of these walks is detailed below :
~ 6miles with 4113ft total ascent ~ Beinn Alligin,
The Torridon trio of Liathach (The Grey One) at 1055m (3461ft) , Beinn Eighe (File Hill) at 993m (3258ft) and Beinn Alligin (Jewelled mountain) at 986m (3235ft) must be one of the most magnificent groupings of small mountains anywhere, as well as being one of the oldest! Quartz-capped Torridonian sandstone offers an unusual mountain form, a landscape of ribs, buttresses and spires, intermingling with rounded battlements of immense bulk and while Liathach and Beinn Eighe are huge muscle-bound mountains in terms of visual mass, Beinn Alligin wears a more femine robe, its for good reason it's known as the jewelled mountain.
We begin our ascent of Beinn Alligin on a climbers path off the Torridon to Diabaig road, we follow this through pine woods and up ever steppening slopes over a very boggy moor towards Coire nan Laogh, offering fine views of the Horns of Alligin which make this a very distinctive mountain. Its a hard pull up the steep slopes of this Coire and as you pull out of its confines, the effort of climbing it is well rewarded by the views. To the West lies the Trotternish ridge of Skye and beyond it the hills of Harris and the low lying profile of Lewis. We continue on over the summit and begin our walk of the ridge towards the next top of Sgurr Mhor at 986m, below and to the East are the Torridonian sandstone pinnacles of the Horns of Alligin. The Horns themselves are not difficult to climb, just mild exposed scrambling, after the third one we start our descent Southeast wards towards the moorland and join a stalkers path following a beautiful burn with its crystal clear waters tumbling over waterfalls and through rock pools, a great place for a dip on a hot day. All to soon we arrive back to our cars.
Other Walk Planned in Brief :
~ 14miles with 3389ft total ascent ~ Flowerdale & Shieldaig Explorer
This walk takes in the Flowerdale forest and Shieldaig forest estates, but despite the names there is little forest just vast wild land screaming to be explored with the Torridon mountains looking down on you. We also take in the Corbett of Baosbheinn at 875m (2871ft).
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These walks are usually between 10 to 15 miles long with upto 5000ft ascent.
One of these walks is detailed below :
~ 6miles with 4113ft total ascent ~ Beinn Alligin,
The Torridon trio of Liathach (The Grey One) at 1055m (3461ft) , Beinn Eighe (File Hill) at 993m (3258ft) and Beinn Alligin (Jewelled mountain) at 986m (3235ft) must be one of the most magnificent groupings of small mountains anywhere, as well as being one of the oldest! Quartz-capped Torridonian sandstone offers an unusual mountain form, a landscape of ribs, buttresses and spires, intermingling with rounded battlements of immense bulk and while Liathach and Beinn Eighe are huge muscle-bound mountains in terms of visual mass, Beinn Alligin wears a more femine robe, its for good reason it's known as the jewelled mountain.
We begin our ascent of Beinn Alligin on a climbers path off the Torridon to Diabaig road, we follow this through pine woods and up ever steppening slopes over a very boggy moor towards Coire nan Laogh, offering fine views of the Horns of Alligin which make this a very distinctive mountain. Its a hard pull up the steep slopes of this Coire and as you pull out of its confines, the effort of climbing it is well rewarded by the views. To the West lies the Trotternish ridge of Skye and beyond it the hills of Harris and the low lying profile of Lewis. We continue on over the summit and begin our walk of the ridge towards the next top of Sgurr Mhor at 986m, below and to the East are the Torridonian sandstone pinnacles of the Horns of Alligin. The Horns themselves are not difficult to climb, just mild exposed scrambling, after the third one we start our descent Southeast wards towards the moorland and join a stalkers path following a beautiful burn with its crystal clear waters tumbling over waterfalls and through rock pools, a great place for a dip on a hot day. All to soon we arrive back to our cars.
Other Walk Planned in Brief :
~ 14miles with 3389ft total ascent ~ Flowerdale & Shieldaig Explorer
This walk takes in the Flowerdale forest and Shieldaig forest estates, but despite the names there is little forest just vast wild land screaming to be explored with the Torridon mountains looking down on you. We also take in the Corbett of Baosbheinn at 875m (2871ft).
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