Castle Coeffin and Tirefour Broch from Point

Summary

This enjoyable outing explores the northern half of lovely Lismore, including a visit to the 13th century ruins of Castle Coeffin and the iron age broch of Tirefour Castle. The going is quite rough and wet at times but there is the opportunity to visit a cafe and heritage centre at half way. As with all walks on croft land, dogs must be under tight control.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Rough walking with some very boggy stretches; careful navigation needed.

Getting there

Start

Point, Lismore (Pier for Port Appin ferry).

Public Transport

Bus to Port Appin; Ferry to Point on Lismore.

Start Grid Ref

NM894461

Open in Google Maps

Walk Statistics

Distance: 15.25km / 9.5 miles
Time: 4 - 4.5 hours
Ascent: 300m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

ROUTE MAP
View detailed map of walk

OS Paper map
Explorer 376 - Oban

Get our App FREE
Full GPS mapping &
descriptions when offline

Export GPX

Export KMZ

Open on Big Map showing all our routes

ROUTE SPONSORED BY

Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

The walk begins from the ferry pier at Point, at the northern end of Lismore, easily reached by the passenger ferry from Port Appin. Begin the walk by heading to the right from the slipway, crossing the grass beside the pebbly beach and ascending slightly to continue round the coastline above the low rocks that drop to the sea. The faint grassy path passes a section of drystone dyking (wall) and then passes an old stile - you can round the end of the fence. There are stunning views across the water, whether to the Morvern and Ardnamurchan peninsulas, or towards Ben Nevis directly up the loch. Continue round the coast on a grassy shelf running beneath low cliffs, high above the water. The path soon crosses another old stile (again you can round the fence end) to reach Port Ainnean, a pebbly bay.

Stage 2

Pass round the bay but then, as the coastline starts to become craggy once, more bear diagonally left up a grassy slope (faint path) towards a gap in a drystone dyke. There is an old waymarker here. Pass through the gap in the wall and continue ahead on the faint path. The route passes a wooden post, continuing uphill across the grass to reach a gap in a second boundary (once a wall, now mostly a grassy mound). Keep across the open pastures, aiming just to the right of the house and outbuildings at Park. Here pick up a grassy track that runs from Park towards the sea - turn right along this. Follow the track down to the sea, turning left through the gate once close by the shore.

Stage 3

Continue to Port Ramsay - a beautiful group of terraced white-washed cottages and as peaceful a settlement as one could imagine. The village dates back to around 1800 to provide homes for those working in the lime and fishing industries. Turn left at the telephone box and then immediately right onto a track which heads towards Fennachrochan. Keep right at a fork, then stay on the main track - ignoring branches to the left.

Stage 4

Fork right to avoid entering the gardens of a house, and continue past several further houses at Fennachrochan until the track dog-legs left through a gate. Once through the gate, ignore the track going right again and instead continue straight ahead on a very faint path with a fence on the left and a low hill on the right. Keep straight ahead - there's a brief section of track as you climb - and in the same direction across pasture land towards a gate in a drystone wall (you can avoid the reedy ground on the right). Don't go through the gate, instead instead turning right, heading through another gate and following a faint path that runs parallel to the wall.

Stage 5

The path becomes a grassy track - when it swings right, fork left onto a narrow grassy path towards the sea. The path leads to a stile over a wall, then continues beneath broken cliffs and above the sea, soon crossing another site and through woods. A small bay is soon reached with some ruined dwellings; a glen runs southwest inland from here. Continue the walk by heading up the left edge of the glen, enclosed by a steep wooded slope on the left and boggy in the bottom. Half way along the path begins to climb a ramp diagonally through the trees. As the route becomes a grassy track that swings left, leave it and keep ahead to another gate and stile. Keep ahead, crossing stiles over two more fences. Eventually the faint path descends, curving slightly right and meeting a track at a bend. Turn right along the track.

Stage 6

Follow the down a steep hill, keeping left through a gate at the bottom to reach Castle Coeffin. This 13th century stronghold of Clan MacDougall has a fine position, with a view along the coast to distant Achandun Castle. After enjoying the ruins, return up the track and follow it round the zig-zag uphill, through a gate and staying on the main track when it turns left at another gate. Turn right at the next track junction, eventually reaching the tarmac road after anoter gate. Turn right here. The walk takes the next road off left - signed for 'Balnagowan' - but many walkers will want to make a brief diversion to visit the turf-roofed cafe and heritage centre ahead on the right. If you don't consume too make cakes, return and head down that Balnagowan road. Continue along it for 1km, passing Loch Baile a' Ghobhainn. After passing the old millhouse at Balnagown turn left through a gate.

Stage 7

Keep left below the house, passing to the left of a barn; a bridge over the burn has rotten away, but it can usually be stepped over to the left. Climb to the grassy gap on the low ridge ahead, then climb up onto the grassy ridge that runs above the sea. The route continues along this escarpment, with a fence on your right. At a wall bear right to reach a stile and then continue along the ridge, eventually descending to grassy pastures. Keep ahead parallel to the coast, crossing a drystone wall with the aid of a metal stile.

Stage 8

Now keep ahead, aiming up the hill to the prominent ruin of Castle Tirefour. This is an iron-age broch which dates back 2,000 years; once the walls would have been 15 metres high as well as 3 metres thick. The spectacular setting adds greatly it its appeal.

Stage 9

From the broch descend continue along the high ground, picking up a grassy track. This swings left at a fence to reach a gate, passes through and then heads towards a cottage. Pass through another gate below this and join the tarmac road, heading to the right along it. The road climbs uphill and reaches a t-junction after another 500m. Turn right here, following the road which now leads back in around 3km to Point, with excellent views along the way.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Report error

Let us know if you've found an error in our route, or if it needs updating.

Write walk report

Share your story and photos from this route.
£150 of Highlander Outdoor gear to win every month.

Can you help support walkhighlands?

This website and app are run by 'Walkhighlands for All' - a not-for-profit set up to serve walkers' needs.
We rely on the generosity of our users - can you help?