The old settlement of Airigh-Drishaig is a great destination with lovely views for this walk over the wild Applecross terrain. The walk is fairly hard going but is on a good path and navigation is made easy by the line of telegraph poles which follow the path.
Summary
The path is boggy in places but easy to follow as keeps to the line of telegraph poles.
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1. From Applecross, drive south towards Toscaig, taking the left fork - signed for Upper Toscaig - and following this to the end. Do not block the turning area, but should be enough space for several cars near the end of the road if parked carefully. Begin the walk by heading for the footbridge, signed for Airigh-Drishaig and Uags. Cross the bridge and follow the path up to the left.
2. A track heads left towards a barn; follow the path across the grass to reach a metal signpost. This indicates a fork; the right path heads for Uags and the left path for Airigh-Drishaig. Take the left hand path uphill and through a gate and then follow the path uphill. Soon the sea and the Crowlin Islands can be seen to the right, and further towards Skye, Pabbay and Raasay can also be seen on a clear day.
3. The path crosses the rough ground always following the line of telegraph poles and descends to the head of a small gorge before climbing up the other side. Cross a small footbridge over a stream and climb up before descending to pass to the right of a sizeable lochan.
4. After the lochan the path crosses another footbridge and climbs to go through a metal kissing gate in a fence. Keep to the left of the two smaller lochans and follow the line of telegraph poles, eventually reaching a cairn to the left of the path at the top of the pass. From here the line of descent towards the sea can be seen ahead.
5. Keep following the path downhill until a stile in the deer fence is reached. Climb the stile and follow the path down to the stream. There is an easy place to cross where stones have been piled across - this is marked by a post in the ground. Pick up the path on the other side and follow it traversing the hillside above the trees and gorse. The path then bears down through the trees to the only remaining house and byre at Airigh-Drishaig.
6. From here you can make your way down to the remains of other houses nearer to the sea. There are good views across the water to Kishorn and the mountains of Torridon beyond. Some OS maps show a path round the coast to Uags from here but it has long since fell into disuse and is very difficult to follow - not recommended. Instead, after exploring the area, retrace the outward route back to Toscaig.
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