Silver Walk to Castle Tioram, near Kinlochmoidart

Summary

Follow this fantastic ancient path as it weaves along the rugged shoreline of Loch Moidart, climbing steeply in places, to reach Castle Tioram, spectacularly sited on a small rocky island. The times and distances given for this linear route are for both directions but you could also get picked up at Diorlin.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Rough walk with rocky steps, short boggy sections. One shoreline section can be impassable at highest tide. At times the path runs along the edge of vertical drops - care needed with children and dogs.

Public Transport

Daily bus passes start car park; none to Castle Tioram.

Start

Ardmolich car park at side of A861 part way up Drynie Hill just south of Kinlochmoidart. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.5km / 7.75 miles
Time: 4.5 hours return
Ascent: 513m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NM715713

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

The Ardmolich layby car park is on the south side of the A861 half way up the steep Drynie Hill south of Kinlochmoidart, there is also a circular foresty route here. Start by taking the clear path that heads downhill going though a gate and stile after a short distance. Soon there are open views of Loch Moidart ahead the path forks. Keep on the right hand branch and at the next junction keep right again, heading straight down hill and soon go through a gate onto the foreshore.

Stage 2

Head west along a path which is faint and boggy to start with and soon comes very close to the shore itself. Here it is clearer and it is possible to see where this ancient path has been built up. The route stays close to the fence on the left and there is a good chance of spotting wading birds or even otters. The path was built in the late 19th century and owes it name to a hoard of silver coins which was discovered during the path's construction. Although the coins were from the Elizabethan era and therefore probably too old, they have been linked to a gruesome story from the history of Castle Tioram in which a woman was punished for stealing silver from the clan chief by being tied up by her hair and allowed to drown in the rising tide.

Stage 3

The path undulates over rocky ground as it hugs the coast, descending a set of wooden steps and a boggy section. The trees here are a mixture and include oaks that are part of the ancient semi-natural oakwoods surrounding Lochs Sunart and Moidart which provide a unique habitat due to their coastal location. Soon the path passes the ruins of a settlement although bracken, which can make the path slightly overgrown in high summer, has swallowed up much of the remains.

Stage 4

The route climbs steeply uphill before descending to cross the salt marsh at the back of a small bay with a ruined house. Cross the burn part way across and pick up the clearer path on the far side - this area can be very wet underfoot at high tide or after rain. The path now climbs again and heads inland to avoid Torr Port a' Bhata and descends a valley on a clear path to rejoin the shore.

Stage 5

As the path winds up and down, there are fallen trees and rocky steps to negotiate. At a large cairn ignore the path to the left which leads inland to deserted settlement of Briagh and is part of the Castle Tioram circuit. Soon a smaller cairn indicates a rougher path that also links to this route, stay on the main path which runs around the back of a bay crossing a number of small burns and then climbs again.

Stage 6

The final section is one of the most dramatic, with sections of sheer cliff on the seaward side, steep steps, boulders to negotiate and great views to the islands in Loch Moidart. Care is needed on this section which also has a fair bit of up and down. However eventually Castle Tioram comes into view and the last section to the tidal causeway is on easy flat ground.

Stage 7

The castle was originally built in the 13th century and has been extended over the years as it functioned as the centre of the Clanranald chiefdom. More recently part of the northwest wall collapsed in 1999 and although a temporary repair was put in place, legal wrangling between the owners and Historic Scotland about the form of a larger restoration programme mean that any work is stalled for the foreseeable future. Take care if visiting the castle as the tide comes in very quickly. Unless you have arranged transport, retrace the route back along the Silver Walk to Ardmolich.

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