Portavadie and Low Stillaig

This coastal circuit has fine views across the water to Kintyre and south to Arran. Passing bronze age standing stones and visiting the pretty bay at Port Leathan this makes a pleasant short walk. In high summer the pathless sections can be choked with bracken.

Terrain

Faint paths on open ground. Some pathless and boggy going near the bay (with tall bracken in high summer), then farm track and minor road.

Public Transport

Portavadie is served by bus and also by a ferry from Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula.

Start

Pollphail village at Portavadie. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Fork left before reaching Portavadie at the former Polphail site - there is usually parking at the side of the road just before an entrance gate. Go left through the gate and walk along the concrete roadway. Pollphail was part of a Government scheme in the mid 1970s to house workers for the newly constructed dock which was to build concrete oil platforms for the North Sea oil industry. Despite constructing one of the largest dry docks in Europe, the development at Portavadie was blighted because it was on the wrong side of the country for the needs of the oil industry based in the east, and steel became the preferred material for oil rigs. No workers came to Pollphail and the buildings have now been demolished. At the end of the roadway follow a marked path up a steep bank between birch trees, with steps and old walkways.

Stage 2

There are great views back over Portavadie. A faint, and sometimes boggy path turns right and then heads south across the open countryside keeping on the slightly higher ground and following the marker posts with white arrows. Eventually the path descends and crosses a section of boardwalk before heading over another small rise and then down towards a visible standing stone ahead. Almost 9ft tall this stone stands next to a much smaller one and date back to the Bronze Age approximately 2,000 years BC.

Stage 3

From the standing stone follow the straight clear path ahead which dips down and then climbs a heathery knoll where the path becomes much fainter. The direction is south west and the heathery knoll is the highest piece of ground. From here there is a good view over the coast and down towards Port Leathan and Eilean Aoidhe which is joined to the mainland via a narrow isthmus. The path ends here; walk downhill in a south easterly direction through the bracken (which impedes the walk in high summer). When a large ruin comes into view head towards it.

Stage 4

Pick up a faint path just to the right of the ruin which goes left continues downhill behind it to emerge immediately to the left of a house. Follow the muddy track to the right to pass in front of the house and then cross the boggy ground straight ahead aiming for the shore and the isthmus, avoiding the rhododendrons, and crossing a stream mid way.

Stage 5

There is no clear path down to or along the coast. Go left near the shore - the going is boggy. Eventually a grassy track is reached at the isthmus. From here it is possible to cross the narrow strip of land to extend the walk and explore Eilean Aoidhe if you wish.

Stage 6

Climb up to the wooden hut which is a Boys Brigade sailing base and has a great view over Salann Bay. Follow the farm track back from the hut inland passing another standing stone to the left of the track. Continue on the track with nice views towards Stillaig Farm down to the right, as well as back towards the Isle of Arran. At the end of the track turn left onto the road and follow this back to Portavadie.

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