The walk takes in the lovely mixed woodland of Coille Mheadonach and has good views up Glen Creran. A muddy section then leads to a pretty bridge and waterfall and then a chance to view the tree growing from the rock before returning along the minor road up the glen.
Summary
Forest paths - muddy in places, and minor road.
Terrain
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1. Start the walk from the Elleric car park at the end of Glen Creran. From here take the left hand track, not the more surfaced lower one that leads to Glen Etive. Immediately take the footpath, signed for Salachan, to the left following the pine marten marked posts. The path climbs gently uphill, passing an area used by charcoal burners when these oak woods were sought after for the production of charcoal needed for smelting iron nearby. The path passes a picnic table and turns to the right,climbing gently uphill next to a stream. Soon a wooden bridge is crossed with a pleasant waterfall upstream.
2. The path leaves the oaks and enters a more open area of birch with good views across the glen to the hills opposite. Continue climbing on the well made path. Keep straight on where a path joins from the right. This is the return route if the shorter circuit option is taken. The trees become sparser and a sharp bend is reached. A bench can be seen just uphill.
3. Instead of continuing on the main path with the bench, go straight on at the corner, following a narrower and muddy path through the trees. The path meanders through the woods. crossing a stream at one point. Eventually the path passes through a gap in the fence and the Fairy Bridge comes into view, a lovely small stone bridge above a waterfall. Cross the bridge and continue on the path which continues across the slope, ignoring a path downhill to the left..
4. The path soon passes a ruined bothy and then emerges onto a muddy track. Here you can turn right uphill for a few hundred metres to view the Fas na Cloiche, the growth in the rock, a large pine tree growing from the top of a massive boulder. It is just in front of a small house and can be viewed from the track. After this detour, turn back downhill on the track and follow it all the way to the road.
5. When you reach the road turn left and follow it past a number of interesting houses all the way up the Glen back to the car park and the start of the walk. There are good views across the valley floor and to the mountains.
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