Parallel Roads of Glen Roy

This short but rough walk has excellent views of the famous Parallel Roads which stand out as horizontal ridges on both sides of the Glen. There is not a path for the whole route so navigation skills are required.

Terrain

Rough path with short steep section; then a pathless, often wet section over heather and finally stony track and minor road.

Public Transport

No public transport to start, nearest bus and train at Roybridge.

Start

Glen Roy car park and viewpoint. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 4km / 2.5 miles
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours
Ascent: 180m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NN298853

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Follow the minor road up Glen Roy which leaves Roybridge at the shop, and pass the small settlement of Bohuntine. A short way further on there is a car park and viewpoint on the left. From here there is an excellent view of the parallel roads. There are three sets of lines or roads, which were in fact the shores of an ancient loch. During the last ice age a massive glacier formed a dam of ice behind which the loch formed. As the glacier slowly advanced , it caused two more water levels to be etched onto the sides of the glen, causing the parallel roads phenomenon.

Stage 2

From the car park head straight up the hill on a grassy path between the bracken. Continue over the first parallel road to eventually reach the second one which is not so pronounced. Here the path continues straight ahead for those ascending Beinn a Mhonicag. Our route follows a less clear path to the right following the middle parallel road. At 325 metres high, this shoreline was caused when the glacier cut the loch off at Roybridge, previously it had been part of a much larger loch taking in much of Glen Spean. The path is faint, especially in the summer when the bracken is high. However it becomes clearer after a short while and although boggy underfoot is relatively easy to follow at first. The views up Glen Roy show the parallel roads very clearly.

Stage 3

It was originally thought that the roads might have been built by Fingal, the giant from Gaelic folklore who might have used them for hunting. The path peters out just before the curve of the hill. From here a track heading back down to the glen road can be seen, as well as a small stone enclosure on the far side of the stream and track. Head over the pathless ground towards the enclosure and you should hit a small path descending. Bear right along this to cross the stream on stones and then reaching the track at a point just below the enclosure.

Stage 4

Turn right to follow the stony track downhill. The glen road can be seen below, curving over and around the lumpy ground formed as the loch and glacier retreated. The track emerges at the road near a bridge, turn right to cross the bridge and follow the road along the glen to return to the car park at the start of the walk.

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