Culag Woods on the edge of Lochinver are owned and managed by a local community trust and have been made into an excellent facility for short walks. They give lovely views and contain several sculptures and surprises.
Summary
Woodland paths, rough underfoot. The section up to the viewpoint can be muddy.
Terrain
NC092222
Grid ref
3km/1.75 miles
Distance
Grade
Culag Hotel, Lochinver
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Lochinver is served by buses from Ullapool.
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Pronunciation
and meaning
1. Lochinver is a busy working port as the large warehouse buildings around the harbour testify. Culag Woods offer an easy escape from this hive of activity. The walk is described from in front of the Culag Hotel on the harbour in Lochinver; there are dedicated car parks for the woods on the road towards Inverkirkaig. From the Culag hotel, continue along the road further through the harbour area. Look out for a wooden signpost for 'Billy's Path' going off to the left – it is set back slightly from the road and could be easily missed.
2. Billy's Path climbs up through the woods, curving round to the left, and gives a great view back over Lochinver before plunging further into the trees. It then bends right and forks; take the left fork. The rough path now continues through the lovely mixed woodland, going up a flight of wooden steps at one point and crossing a rickety bridge at another.
3. Ignore the 'higgledy' path off to the left and continue ahead. Further on the path reaches the first sculpture – a picture frame hanging from the trees that encloses the outlook over the sea. Beyond this the path reaches a signed junction; you'll return to this point, but first turn right to visit the White Shore. Continue along the path until it reaches this pebble beach, and then return to the junction.
4. This time turn right. The path leads to a covered information board with a teepee over to the left. At the junction, turn right, signed for the viewpoint and Loch Culag. The path reaches a boardwalk that gives access to a viewing area out on the forest bog – a great spot for looking for dragonflies. Return to the path and continue to another junction, this time turning left (signed for the viewpoint again). The path ahead leads to one of the car parks on the Inverkirkaig road.
5. The path to the viewpoint is muddy in places and ascends to and fro before reaching the top of the little hill. Here a seat gives a good view, with Suilven's improbable dome dominating the scene. Return back down the path, turning right to return to the information board. This time turn right past the teepee to continue the walk.
6. The path leads through the attractive woodland. Ignore the higgledy path off to the left and continue past a time-line log and a wooden man sculpture before becoming a track and passing a gas storage tank. Continue past this and then fork left at the junction. The track now leads downhill passing workshops and the fisherman's mission before arriving back at Lochinver harbour.
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