The walk takes in the lovely mixed woodland of Coille Mheadonach and has good views up Glen Creran. A muddy section then leads to a pretty bridge and waterfall and then a chance to view the tree growing from the rock before returning along the minor road up the glen.
Bog Factor
Forest paths - muddy in places, and minor road.
Elleric car park.
None.
NN035488
Start the walk from the Elleric car park at the end of Glen Creran. From here take the left hand track, not the more surfaced lower one that leads to Glen Etive. Immediately take the footpath, signed for Salachan, to the left following the pine marten marked posts. The path climbs gently uphill, passing an area used by charcoal burners when these oak woods were sought after for the production of charcoal needed for smelting iron nearby. The path passes a picnic table and turns to the right, climbing gently uphill next to a stream.
Soon a wooden bridge is crossed with a pleasant waterfall upstream. The path leaves the oaks and enters a more open area of birch with good views across the glen to the hills opposite. Continue climbing on the well made path. At a path junction, take a sharp right turn (the two paths rejoin further on, but the higher route has the better views). The path now climbs and then again levels off, passing a couple of benches and a fine viewpoint looking across the glen.
Eventually a sharp bend is reached where the main waymarked path turns back left (a possible return route if you want a shorter walk with no muddy sections). To continue our route, go straight on at this corner, following a narrower and muddy unmarked path through the trees. The path meanders through the woods. crossing a burn on a tiny bridge. Eventually the path reaches another burn and the Fairy Bridge comes into view, a lovely small stone bridge above a waterfall. Cross the bridge but ignore the path downhill to the left on the far side - instead bearing slightly right.
The path eventually passes a ruined bothy; continue ahead along it until it finally emerges at a broad track. The woods are rich with bluebells and wild garlic in early summer.
Here you can turn right uphill for a very short detour (30m or so) up the track to see the Fas na Cloiche, the growth in the rock, a large pine tree growing from the top of a massive boulder. It is just inside the grounds of a small house but can be viewed from the track - do not intrude on the privacy of the occupiers. After this detour, turn back downhill on the track and follow it all the way to the road.
When you reach the road turn left and follow it past a number of interesting houses all the way up the glen back to the car park and the start of the walk. There are good views across the valley floor and to the mountains.
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