Spean Bridge to Inverlair

Summary

The second stage of the East Highland Way spends much of the day following the River Spean upstream and alternating between native woodland, farmland and forestry with mountain views at times. A short detour leads to Achluachrach where there is a hostel and hotel. The stage finishes at Inverlair, a 3.5km road walk from Station Lodge Hostel at Tulloch.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Forest path and tracks, minor road, short pathless section, stream crossing and boggy in places

Public Transport

Train and bus to Spean Bridge, no transport to Inverlair/Tulloch.

Start

Spean Bridge railway station. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 16.5km / 10.25 miles
Time: 5 - 6.5 hours
Ascent: 306m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NN221816

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

From the railway station in Spean Bridge (signed from the A82 next to the Spean Bridge Hotel) cross the bridge over the railway and turn left in front of the golf club sign to go through a gateway onto a narrow woodland path (alternatively if you don't want to repeat this bit of the last stage and don't mind minor road walking you can just continue along the road to pick up the route near the parking area). Follow the path through a variety of different trees before reaching a wider forestry track, turn left along this until a signed junction. Take the track to the left heading downhill (signed Spean Bridge Circular Path) with views across the glen. At a gateway the track emerges on a minor road near a parking area. Turn right to follow the road east through woodland at first.

Stage 2

Ignore a forest track on the right and when the road forks keep left following the sign for Corriechoille Lodge. There is now open farmland on the right, backed by views of Stob Coire Gaibhre and Cruach Innse, and as the road shadows the River Spean upstream there are glimpses of the water between the trees on the left. Ignore a turn to the right and eventually cross the River Cour on a metal bridge. Continue along the road, ignoring the turn for Corriechoille Lodge, which is also the start point for a number of walking routes, continuing straight ahead on the road soon crossing the Allt Leachdach on a wooden bridge.

Stage 3

Continue through the gate at the far end of the bridge and follow the track ignoring the driveway to a house on the right. Pass through lovely mixed woodland and some open farmland with views of Beinn Chlianaig to approach Insh Farm. Ignore a turn to the right and go over a small bridge and through a farm gate. The track to Insh Farm goes up to the right but instead turn immediately left through another farm gate and follow the track northeast back towards the river. After passing a barn on your right and a gateway turn right to follow the track east through a number of gated fields, there are often livestock here so dogs must be kept under tight control. After running alongside the river for a while, the track enters woodland and climbs slightly to cross a burn before reaching the lone cottage at Inshwood.

Stage 4

Here the track climbs to reach more open ground. On the flanks of Beinn Chlianaig the lines of parallel roads which once flummoxed geologists in nearby Glen Roy, can be made out. The lower line is the remains of a railway line (known as the Puggie Line) used to service the pipeline for the aluminium works, the railway is long gone and with the bridges now derelict it makes a hard walk although you can walk up a steep track to the tin hut to take in the views. The parallel roads are actually the old shorelines of an ancient ice-dammed glacial lake which filled the valley at different levels over time before the last ice age. When the track climbs up to the woodland go through the gate on the left (the right gate would take you up to the Puggie Line) to continue along the track.

Stage 5

Monessie Farm is soon reached, follow the track towards the farmhouse, pass just to the right of the farmhouse. Follow the track to a gateway and then straight ahead on a faint track following telegraph poles until part way across the field where the track turns right and then heads down the embankment towards the river. To detour to Achluachrach (worth it even just to see the suspension bridge over the gorge) continue straight ahead on a smaller path when the main track bends back to the right as it descends the embankment. This smaller path curves round to the left at the bottom and soon reaches the wooden bridge over the tumbling water of Monessie gorge. If continuing to Achluachrach cross the bridge and follow the path to a track, turn left and this leads to the bridge over the railway, turn right here to reach the A86. The hotel and hostel are just to the left along the main road.

Stage 6

Otherwise continue on the faint track heading east along the river which is often boggy in places. Go through a gateway and keep just right of the fence staying near the river and following a vague track and path in places. A large ditch has to be crossed on sheep paths part way across the field and then keep on the river side of the fenced enclosure to head towards the ruins at Achnacochine. To the left Cille Choirill Church high on the slopes opposite can be seen.

Stage 7

Pass the remains of the crofts at Achnacochine and at a gate keep left to descend the muddy embankment towards the main river. Head through the sparse trees to the river bank and bear right to continue upstream on a short pathless section. Soon the way is blocked by the Allt nam Bruach, a wide burn that can usually be crossed by boulder hopping with care. After crossing aim diagonally southeast to reach a gate just beyond the remains of a stone wall. Go through this and keep diagonally right on a path which is faint at first. Soon it becomes clearer and climbs uphill to the left . It keeps left with a fence on your right and passes through a gate before widening to a gravel forestry track and heading through two sets of metal gates. There are some good views as the route climbs gently.

Stage 8

When the track levels off, ignore a track coming in from the right and eventually pass a mast up on your right. Further on, down to the left, Inverlair House, where Rudolf Hess was briefly incarcerated following his flight to Scotland during the second world war, can be seen. As the track swings southeast there are good views of the Easains ahead. At a junction take the sharp turn left to head downhill to Inverlair emerging on the minor road opposite Inverlair House. The East Highland Way continues to the right along the road to Fersit, but if you are staying at the hostel at Tulloch turn left to reach the A86 where you turn right to reach the turning for Tulloch station.

Next stage: Inverlair to Pattack Falls

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