 Route: Moidart LegHome > Events Calendar > Routechecking > Moidart Leg
This is a proposed new route for Scottish Cross. Some routechecks for this are planned
Day one: Fort William to Glenfinnan
We start off from Fort William, by car/minibus down the side of Loch Eil to the Corran Ferry (about seven miles). The Corran Ferry runs back and forth all year, the crossing takes about 5 miles. We then are driven about 3 miles up the road to the entrance to the Cona Glen. This is the start of the walk. The walk itself is 16 miles in length and three quarters of the walk is along a good hardcore track. There are good views of the Moidart peninsular, and looking back toward Fort William and Ben Nevis. The last quarter involves a climb up out of Cona Glen and then descends toward Glenfinnan. This last quarter is hardgoing at first and then very indistinct and boggy in parts. Eventually we arrive at Callop bridge at the head of Loch Shiel and a couple of miles from Glenfinnan proper. We would have to be picked up from there and dropped off at our accommodation.
Distance around 13 miles.
Day two: Glenfinnan to Acharacle
At the beginning of day two we retrace our steps to the Callop Bridge, taking the path down onto the Loch shore, courtesy of the Forestry Commission there is a good hardcore track down the Loch for about three quarters of its length. The views are truly spectacular: A real glacial loch with mountains rising out of the Loch, and no modern noise to disturb the wildlife. Beyond Polloch there is no track, and the shore turns to impassable bog. However, just beyond Polloch (with a small track leading to it) there is a jetty, and several boats are available to take us further down the Loch. We take a boat from the jetty to the pier at the Loch Shiel Hotel at Acharacle.
Distance around 16 miles, plus 3 miles by boat.
Day three: Achracle to Kilochan
We walk out of our accommodation through part of the town and up a back road on to the old road to Glenborrodale. This path is at first boggy, but then becomes in parts better and in parts indistinct. We climb for some while, eventually arriving at a high Loch. We then continue along a track down to Glenborrodale. Beyond this point I am unsure of the route. It would appear we have to cut across country for a couple of miles in order to pick up another track into Kilochan. This is part of the route I really need to check out in the autumn. From Kilochan we pick up the regular ferry to Tobermory.
Distance around 16 miles
Day four: Tobermory to Salen.
We face a steep climb out of Tobermory, but with great views of the bay. Then we walk along the old road for about three miles until we reach the head of Loch Frisa. We then spend the day walking along the side of the Loch. The track is a hard core track, and provides good walking. There is a lot of wildlife about, marked by an observation station. In addition, almost all day we can see, when there is no mist, Ben More rising ahead of us. At the end of the track we hit the main A road where we would have to be picked up. There is a potential alternative route which may mean we end up a little further south. However, we would need to bring sandals to ford the river.
Distance: Around 13 miles.
Day five: Lochbuie Coastal Route.
On this day we take the coach to Craignure and then a second coach from Craignure to Lochbuie crossroads we take the road down to Lochbuie and then walk from Lochbuie along the coast until we arrive at Carsaig. This is a beautiful coastal route which could potentially be an alternative route for any future leg coming from Oban. At Carsaig we get picked up and driven to Bunessan where we stay that night.
Day six: Bunessan to Fionnphort Coastal Route.
We will try a route along the coast from Bunessan to Fionnphort, this will be a longish, 10 mile coastal walk with spectacular views of Jura in the distance, culminating with a walk up the coast parallel with Iona. We will probably stay at the Village Hall at Fionnphort.
Day seven
We will stay at the Village Hall Fionnphort with a number of different options, including walking up Ben More, walking on the clifftops between Carsaig and Fionnphort and spending time on Iona.
 | 
