Sandaig (Camusfearna)

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A short walk to visit the beautiful and atmospheric Sandaig bay. This peaceful spot was immortalised as Camusfearna in 'Ring of Bright Water' - the famous book by Gavin Maxwell telling of his life with his pet otters at this lonely spot.

Terrain

The walk is on tracks down to the coast. The alternative return walk described involves crossing rope bridge or burn and then an overgrown path; it's much easier to retrace your steps.

Public Transport

Infrequent bus service to Arnisdale, get off at Upper Sandaig.

Start

Upper Sandaig. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Currently 3.63/58

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at the side of the road near the track - signed for Sandaig - which forks off just before Loch Drabhaig and the tin house at Upper Sandaig on the Arnisdale road from Glenelg. Turn down the track. There is a nice view of the small Loch Drabhaig to your left and the house at Upper Sandaig, which was where Gavin Maxwell's friends Morag and Calum MacKinnon once lived.

Stage 2

The track continues through felled areas of forestry and past a quarry. At a track junction keep left. When junction is reached, turn left again (the alternative return route rejoins the outward one here). The track swings left and downhill, crossing the Allt Mòr Shantaig on a sturdy bridge, and then ascends gently beyond. Soon you reach a crossroads, turn right here to begin the descent. Go right again at the next junction further on.

Stage 3

Follow this track downhill until you reach a lovely viewpoint from where there's a superb outlook over the bay and Sandaig Islands, complete with tiny sandy beaches at low tide. Continue downhill, finally emerging onto the overgrown grassland that lies behind the beach.

Stage 4

Detour left to visit the sandy bay - a beautiful place when the tide is low, before returning to this point. Back on the route, a path through the meadow leads to the memorial boulder that covers the resting place of Gavin Maxwell's ashes - on the site of his former home which he called Camusfearna. A second memorial to his beloved otter, Edal, can be found a short distance beyond beneath a tree - with Gavin's words 'Whatever joy she gave you, give back to Nature'. The whole bay area is a great place for watching wildlife - and wild otters do visit here.

Stage 5

By far the easiest return is to retrace your steps up the forestry track, though there is an adventurous alternative which is becoming overgrown. This steeper return path can be found on the other side of the stream; to take it, you can either use the airy bridge - at your own risk! - cross on stones or wade the burn. On the far side turn right, crossing a stile. There's then a very overgrown section through bramble bushes - that may be impassable. Beyond the path turns sharp left, becoming clearer and climbing very steeply through a patch of native woodland. The path is easy to follow despite a couple of fallen trees, meandering until it emerges onto a track in the felled area. Turn right here to reach the junction with the outward route mentioned earlier; now turn left to retrace your steps to the start.

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Sandaig (Camusfearna)

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Download our route guides and use offline with free GPS mapping

Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

Walk Statistics

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