This pleasant circuit visits the Black Lochs, a series of small and attractive lochs fringed by native woodland, with distant views of Ben Cruachan. There are usually many cattle grazing along the route.
Bog Factor
Tracks and minor roads. The tracks are indistinct and muddy in a few places.
Falls of Lora viewpoint car park.
None.
NM909343
Park in the Falls of Lora viewpoint car park opposite the Oyster Inn / Ferrymans in Connel. Just by the car park is a bench overlooking Connel bridge and the Falls of Lora. These are the rapids of a tidal race rather than waterfalls, and are caused by a rocky shelf which creates a delay or build up in the incoming or outflowing tidal stream and causes a difference in water level between Loch Etive and the open water of the Firth of Lorn. Loch Etive is a seawater loch, tidal until Taynuilt, Bonawe and the upper reaches of the Loch. Begin the walk by walking along the pavement beside the main road, passing under the great iron bridge. Continue along the pavement for another three quarters of a kilometre, passing the road into Connel and the Falls of Lora Hotel before turning right along the narrow Achaleven Road.
This passes under the railway to reach a junction; the right hand turn leads to a small housing estate so keep straight on, then following the road as it bends left. When it reaches the crofthouse at Achaleven turn right onto a track. Stay on this track as it winds up the hill and crosses a cattle grid. Once past its undulating summit there is a first glimpse of the Taynuilt peak of Ben Cruachan in the distance; follow the track as it descends towards some houses at Cuiluaine. At the houses turn right, heading through a gate to continue on a now rougher track.
Keep on the track as it curves right through another gate, ignoring a track off left. Ignore a muddy track off right and follow the track as it heads towards a low wooded escarpment. After another gate, do not take the track that climbs the hill but instead keep left to curve round the foot of the wooded slope - keeping the trees on your right. The track soon comes closer to the loch and there are fine views across it to the woods on the far shore with Ben Cruachan towering in the distance.
Keep on the track, ignoring a muddy route off to the right. The track becomes a path and there's an indistinct fork - take the right hand path, keeping ahead along the foot of the slope which heads up to your right. Cross a stile by a waymarker, then continue ahead with a fence on your left at first. The second of the Black Lochs is visible down to your left. Aim towards the Kilvaree Farmhouse, keeping to the right of it to eventually meet its entrance track.
Turn right along this; it climbs slightly at first before descending to the third of the Black Lochs, which is more of a marsh thick with reeds. Soon the track turns to the right and leads away from the loch. It continues, leading past a few scattered houses and caravans. Cross a bridge over the burn and continue on the track as it leads up to the minor road.
Turn right along the minor road. There is little traffic and the countryside is pleasant enough; in just over three kilometres the road leads back to Connel. As you approach Connel a cycle path off right leads to the heart of the village and train station. To return to the Falls of Lora car park it's quicker to stay on the minor road. When the main road junction is reached turn left and then right at the next t-junction to return to the start.
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