Kilmory Bay

Summary

Kilmory Bay is a stunning sandy beach on Rum's northern coastline, with an unmatched outlook across the water to the Cuillin of Skye. The walk is straightforward - along a good track almost all the way - but is long. The area is home to a very long term study into the behaviour of red deer.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Good landrover tracks throughout, except final boggy stretch to beach. The route is given Grade 2 purely on account of the length; it is suitable for mountain bikes.

Getting there

Start

Ferry pier, Isle of Rum.

Public Transport

Ferry to Rum from Mallaig; no transport on the island.

Start Grid Ref

NM411991

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 18.5km / 11.5 miles
Time: 4 - 5 hours
Ascent: 255m (Profile)

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Explorer 397 - Rum, Eigg, Muck

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Beginning from the Calmac ferry pier, follow the landrover track which curves round the coastline of Loch Scresort. It passes the primary school and later forks; take the right hand branch. This leads down through trees to rejoin the coast at the old pier; keep left here, passing the campsite and island hostel. At the next junction keep ahead on the track signed for the castle. This soon passes the front of the massively impressive Kinloch Castle - built in sandstone shipped in from Arran and appearing utterly out of place on such a remote island. Rum was once the private domain of the Bullough family who bought the island in 1879 as a private shooting estate. The castle was built as their holiday home in 1897; tours are available at specified times.

Stage 2

Shortly after the castle a crosstracks is reached. The island cafe and shop can be visited straight ahead; otherwise, turn left onto a track which soon climbs slowly; there are a few stony sections but it is suitable for a mountain bike throughout (and improves later). The route has the Kinloch River on your right, and eventually climbs clear of the woods, continuing for around 3km until it forks. Take the right branch.

Stage 3

The track soon begins to descend into the Kilmory Glen; ignore a path off left (which leads eventually to Guirdil bothy), instead keeping straight ahead. The Skye Cuillin come into view during the descent, and the track passes a couple of fenced woodlands. Rum is a National Nature Reserve and the Kilmory area has been the site of a study by Edinburgh and Cambridge Universities into the behaviour of red deer since 1972 - one of the world's longest running studies into large animals.

Stage 4

Ignore a small fork off right, and continue along the track until it approaches one of the cottages used by the researchers - please respect their privacy and do not approach the cottage. Leave the track here; there is a boulder with the word 'beach' painted faintly on it. The going is boggy - keep along the right hand edge of a rocky knoll.

Stage 5

Soon the fine sandy beach is approached, with views to the Skye Cuillin which are simply magnificent.

Stage 6

It is worth detouring a short distance upstream along the burn to reach an old burial ground, but the return walk to Kinloch is back the same way. Keep a look out for the red deer, usually easy to spot in groups along the Kilmory River; please avoid disturbing them and keep any dogs close at heel so as not to interfere with the study. Once back at the cross-tracks in Kinloch you can vary the last part of the return slightly by keeping straight ahead, following a track along the coastline rather than right past the front of the castle.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree Hotels

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree B&B

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree cottages

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree hostels

Glamping and Camping

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