Saturday, July 14, 2012

Castle Tioram Walk


OS Map: 1:25,000 Explorer Map 390 Ardnamurchan

Start Grid Reference: NM 664 721

Walk distance:  4 miles

Date walked: 29th May 2012

Time: 2 hours approximately

Route:  Taken from Walks - Mallaig and Ardnamurchan (publ. Hallewell - www.pocketwalks.com) available from Amazon.  


View Castle Tioram in a larger map



This is another of the walks we completed during our stay at Mingarry Lodges in Scotland at the end of May.This is a great short walk.  It starts at a car park near to Tioram Castle, follows the coast overlooking Loch Moidart, then rises to small lochans on the moors before descending back to the car park.


The Castle dominates the beginning and end of the walk.  We completed the walk then wen to visit the castle.


Castle Tioram
It can be accessed at the beginning or end of the walk by a strand, but care should be taken as the castle can become cut off at higher tides.  They will determine when you visit or whether you visit at all.


Access to the Castle
The first part of the walk follows the coast on a clear path.  At times it can be overgrown, but as we experienced it is kept clear.  This part of the walk affords wonderful views over Loch Moidart.

Tioram Castle in Loch Moidart

View over Loch Moidart
The path leaves the coast at a small cairn.  Over the ridge there are beautiful views over small lochans.  Here we sat and watched a pair of cuckoo fly and call to each other.


View from the ridge

Lochan na Fola
The paths now descends by the side of a reservoir back to the coast.


View over South Channel at the end of the walk
This was a walk we fitted in the afternoon.  It is one of those walks: small enough to fit into a day when you are busy doing other things, but more than rewarding in that it gives you great views, some history and the peacefulness of the Scottish moors.




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