Gairloch and Torridon

[Sarah86]

I am a little early in posting this but I always like to get preapred in advance. I am heading to Gairloch for a week in August, the initial plan was to split the week in two and spend half of it in Assynt and the other half in Gairloch but that was proving tricky to organise in peak season, perhaps we should have booked somewhere in Ullapool but we have booked a cottage in Gairloch for 7 nights as we thought it would be a good central location for getting to Applecross, Torridon etc... and we will also head near Lochinver for the day.

I am going with my parents who aren't really seasoned walkers and my dog who will be 13 at the time so any big mountains are really out of the question. I have looked on the walk routes listed on this site and have came up with a few options.

Loch Torridon boathouse
Beinn Eighe visitor centre
Sheildaig
Aird Mhor and the Falls of Balgy
Loch Torridon
Loch Coulin and Loch Clair
Loch Maree
Gruinard Bay and the Eas Dubh falls
Rua Reidh Lighthouse
Sgurr a' Chaorachain, Bealach na Ba -
mellon udrigle

I really enjoy photography and hope to spend some time capturing the stunning scenery in the area. Is there any must see view points that I have missed on my list or tips on the best time to photograph these areas. I would have loved to climb beinn damh but a little long for who I am travelling with, is there any smaller hills or easy gradient hills that offer spectacular views even the first section of a more tricky mountain. I always love a view from a slightly more elevated area even if it means heading up myself.

[jupe1407]

Loch Torridon boathouse
Beinn Eighe visitor centre
Sheildaig
Aird Mhor and the Falls of Balgy
Loch Torridon
Loch Coulin and Loch Clair
Loch Maree
Gruinard Bay and the Eas Dubh falls
Rua Reidh Lighthouse
Sgurr a' Chaorachain, Bealach na Ba -
mellon udrigle

Anne and I took a lot of photos on the ones in bold. We're going back again this year to see more! The Beinn Eighe walks are nice and not too strenuous, and the views back across to Slioch are fantastic.

Lochs Clair and Coulin are brilliant also. It's an easy 6 mile circuit and the views of Liathac and Beinn Eighe are sensational. Do it on a still day and you'll get fab reflections of the mountains in Loch Clair.

We found a nice spot above Loch torridon for sunsets. It's the big parking area/viewpoint on the Sheildaig road. The setting sun lights up Beinn Alligin and Liathac very nicely.

As for Loch Maree, there are loads of spots, I went back there about 3 or 4 times through the week to shoot it at different spots. There's a good one about 5 miles or so short of Kinlochewe. Big parking area on the left (if you're driving to Kinlochewe), walk down to the short and follow it round for a few hundred yards and you'll find a rocky/slabby promontory with a couple of nice trees which are great for lead-in to Slioch behind.

A week isn't nearly enough in my experience

[Sgurr]

You could try this at the end of Loch Maree. Great views for very little effort all on a wide path
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=60030

[jmarkb]

If Beinn Damh is too much, you might manage its NW top Sgurr a' Bana-Mhoraire - go up the same way as http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Beinndamh.shtml and turn right at the col.

The approach to Alligin/Dearg (final section of http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/behind-liathach.shtml to the footbridge) is a delight, on a good path.

Would Coire Mhic Fhearchair be too much? http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/coire-mhic-fhearchair.shtml

Loch an Eion is a lovely spot - decent path from Annat.

Red Point has two beaches and some great views: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Redpoint.shtml

Another good beach at Firemore on the Cove road.

If (when?) it rains, Ardessie falls are well worth a trip (see http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/ardessie.shtml but a fainter path on the W side of the burn gives much better views of the upper gorge), as is Corrieshalloch gorge http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/corrieshalloch.shtml

Loch a' Bhraoin is another nice spot: as for the start of http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/sgurrbreac.shtml

If you do get up to Coigach/Assynt, this wee hill is the most stunning viewpoint (one of the very best in Scotland, in my opinion!) http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/sub2000/meall-an-fheadain

[BobMcBob]

Another good beach at Firemore on the Cove road.

I too was about to suggest Firemore. Utterly stunning sunsets up there at that time of year.

Also you could park in Poolewe and take the private road/track up past Kernsary and on towards Carnmore (through woods for a bit) for as far as you feel like going. Once through the woods it's just the most unutterably magical place to be. It is a long way though, but you could make a day of it and then catch the sunset at Firemore. It would be on my bucket list if I hadn't already done it

[MountainHare22]

Red point beach is one of my favourites - not sure how far it is around the coast, but its not too far down the farm track to the far beach.

The aforementioned Kernsary walk - you can walk up beside the river from Poolewe and walk back to the Londubh in a loop. http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/MjNfOTU0

If you have a day where you don't want to drive too far there is a nice short walk up Flowerdale (easy walking), near Charleston harbour, and you can ascend the hills behind - but its boggy. The waterfall can look very impressive, though equally it can just be a little bit of a trickle.

Big Sands is another nice beach, close to Gairloch.

You can walk from Cove to Rua Reidh lighthouse and back along the coast.

[tentpeg]

The Cicerone guidebook Walking in Torridon is written by a guy who doesn't like airy ridges and steep scree (and says so in the introduction), so may be worth checking out.

[Sgurr]

The Cicerone guidebook Walking in Torridon is written by a guy who doesn't like airy ridges and steep scree (and says so in the introduction), so may be worth checking out.

If that is Peter Barton, take that with a pinch of salt. He takes you up Beinn Dearg which is no-one's idea of an easy mountain. He just takes you up the easiest way round the back, but there is still some scrambling.

[Sarah86]

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone, so many more places to add to my list. Really looking forward to this holiday. When I was browsing flickr a small hill at Poolewe came up called Cliff Hill and it looks to have lovely views but I can't see any information at all online for it for a starting poijt or route.... seems to be the way with my of the smaller hills.

[jmarkb]

When I was browsing flickr a small hill at Poolewe came up called Cliff Hill and it looks to have lovely views but I can't see any information at all online for it for a starting poijt or route.... seems to be the way with my of the smaller hills.

There is a track leading up to the mast on the summit from the main road about 0.5km E of Loch Tollaidh (marked on the 1:25k map but not the 1:50k). An approach from the Cove road is probably doable, but no doubt rough and pathless.

[Sgurr]

I forgot about the Flowerdale Glen, which goes up to a waterfall
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Flowerdale.shtml

Don't attempt the lowly looking Sithean Mor not far away. We could find no tracks at all and got bogged down in brambles. Took us as long as a Munro to do, and it is only a Marilyn, not far from a road.