Hutcheson's Monument circuit, Isle of Kerrera

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Visitors to Oban can't help but notice the massive obelisk monument at the north end of the isle of Kerrera, guarding the entrance to the harbour. This walk is a circuit of the northern half of Kerrera and includes a visit to the monument with its fine views.

Terrain

Tracks, boggy at times. The return route on the east coast has a wet, rutted pathless section - this can be avoided by simply retracing steps.

Public Transport

Gallanach bus (school times only) from Oban stops at jetty for Kerrera ferry; ferryboat then takes you across to the start of the walk.

Start

Kerrera Ferry terminal. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 9km / 5.75 miles
Time: 3 - 5 hours
Ascent: 190m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NM830286

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the ferry jetty on Kerrera. The crossing takes just five minutes from a pier with parking about 3.5 kilometres south of Oban; alternatively it can be reached on foot using part of the Gallanach walk. From the jetty walk up the track past the phone box and the blue shed with its little map of the island. The track soon forks; take the right branch up the hill and past several houses. Keep straight on near the Balliemore farmstead, passing well to the right of the farm, and then keep right at the next fork (the left branch has a gate). A very short distance further, the track forks again - take the right fork, signed for 'Shell bay'.

Stage 2

The track bends to the right and becomes muddier and faint as it slopes down towards Oitir Mhor, a pebbly bay; there are wonderful views to Lismore and the Morven mountains on the descent. If you want to extend the walk, you could detour from here to Slattrach Bay further west, which has shell sand. Otherwise follow the track heading to the right from Oitir Mhor, passing a newly built house.

Stage 3

The track now crosses the flat neck of the northern part of Kerrera. Ignore the branch off to the right (used for the return) and continue to the farmhouse at Ardantrive. Follow the track through the farmyard and at the next fork go left through the gate towards the boatyard beyond, with the monument now visible ahead and great views across to Oban on the right. At the boatyard go through the gate and then left again to follow a track behind the boats. In the summer high season there is a cafe / bar here, as well as a passenger ferry to Oban (an alternative way to reach this walk).

Stage 4

Continue on the track beyond the boatyard, passing though a boggy area of old military bunkers built to protect the harbour. Just past these an obvious grassy path goes left through a small gate and up to the monument. This giant obelisk was built in honour of David Hutcheson in 1883; he was a manager of the Burns shipping company that ran the first steamers up the western seaboard, beginning in 1835. Later his brother in law David MacBrayne continued to develop the services, and though the days of the Glasgow steamers are long gone, Caledonian MacBrayne still today runs the ferries to most of the Hebrides. The views in all directions from the monument are superb, and you can watch all the ferries and other boats as they pass in and out of Oban harbour.

Stage 5

Return through the boatyard and Ardantrive farmyard to reach the fork mentioned earlier. The alternative return from here down the east coast is very rough and boggy - it is much easier (although further) to simply continue retracing your steps. For the more challenging route, take the left hand fork that climbs uphill beside the power lines. Higher up it passes through a gate and dog-legs to the left before descending and petering out on an empty stretch of coastline. Continue across the very boggy, rutted ground in the same direction as the power lines, detouring onto the beach to pass through a gate in a fence.

Stage 6

Beyond the gate aim for a grassy track heading uphill over to the right beneath the three-wired overhead cables; ascend this track with great views back towards Oban once more. Pass through a gate and bear right to keep to the track which is faint across the first field. It swings right next to some trees and fords a stream between two gates. Beyond the track eventually leads to the main island track followed earlier; turn left and follow this down to the ferry jetty.

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