Calgary Point, Feall and Crossapol Bays

Summary

Calgary Point is the westernmost tip of Coll. This circular walk crosses the magnificent Feall and Crossapol beaches and through the RSPB Coll nature reserve. It runs across ground which is heavily grazed by cattle, and is crucially important for its rare ground-nesting birds; if you decide to bring dogs here regardless, they really must be kept on a lead / under tight control.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Long sections on grassy machair or sandy beaches; some pathless and boggy stretches.

Public Transport

None to start, which would be a 9.5km cycle or walk in from Arinagour if without transport.

Start

RSPB parking area at western end of public road on Coll. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.9km / 8 miles
Time: 3 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 130m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NM151538

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

The walk begins from the parking area on the machair at the western end of the public road - do not attempt to drive further. If walking from Arinagour the route can be picked up at Arileod on the central circuit. Begin by following the grassy track that heads right, northwards, with grassy dunes to your left and a fence over to your right. Much of the land crossed by this walk is owned by the RSPB, and is home to barnacle and white-fronted geese in the winter, lapwing, redshanks and snipe in spring as well as the rare corncrake in the summer - difficult to spot though its rasping call can often be heard.

Stage 2

When a faint track forks left this is the route on to Feall Bay, though it is worth making a short detour to the summit of Ben Feall ahead first for the views - the right hand grassy track leads almost all the way to the top, with great views both across Tràigh Feall, and over towards the Mull. Just below the summit is Kenneth's Seat - a memorial to the 'Last Laird of Coll' who died in 2012.

Stage 3

Back on the main route, head west across the glorious white sands of Tràigh Feall, which is over 1km long. At the far end head up to a fence and follow this briefly to the right to reach a pedestrian gate with a footpath signpost for Calgary Point (and a beware of the bull sign). Pass through this and follow a faint grassy track westwards.

Stage 4

Keep following the grassy track when it curves round to the left, passing a fallen footpath marker. Eventually it joins a clearer track at a gate in a fence - pass through this. When the track forks take the right branch. After 600m or so from the beach the track passes round where a burn has cut a course through to the sand. Leave the track here; there's some rougher ground - curve right and then back left. The aim is to reach a gate in a corner of a fence at NM124536 - it's easier to stay on course if using the Walkhighlands app! Pass through the gate and keep right of the fence, passing a footpath post and later crossing a stile in another fence.

Stage 5

Cross this and continue on a narrow path, bearing right to reach a second sandy beach - Tràigh Halium. From the far end follow a grassy track west to a gate (marker post), then continue round the coastline to eventually reach Calgary Point, where a trig point on a grassy mound provides an excellent viewpoint overlooking the island of Gunna that lies in the sound between Coll and Tiree.

Stage 6

To the south are more magnificent beaches (Tràigh nan Siolag, Tràigh Garbh) and it is possible to extend the walk by heading around the southern peninsula. Our route, however, makes a more direct return by heading directly eastwards from the trig point, following faint grassy trods towards the very distant farmhouse (and the leftmost of the wind turbines). Soon the route comes alongside a fence and reaches a gate. Pass through this, then take the grassy track that bears left on the far side.

Stage 7

The track winds through pastures before climbing past some agricultural sheds and finally leading through another gate. It then leads past the left side of the farmhouse at Crossapol. From here the track continues down to emerge beside a cemetery onto the sands of Tràigh Gharbh - really the westernmost extension of Tràigh Crossapol.

Stage 8

Head left across these fine sands, backed by high dunes, for almost 2km. At this point, not quite at the far end of the beach, a sandy track heads northeast inland; this soon leads back to the start and the car park on the machair.

Route Profile

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