This enjoyable walk begins by visiting the popular but dramatic cascade of Rogie Falls. It then escapes the crowds by heading up into the attractive area of forestry beyond, with a loop linking up with Contin forestry car park and an attractive stretch of riverbank.
Bog Factor
Good forest paths and tracks; slightly muddy in places.
Rogie Falls car park.
Bus 961 Inverness to Ullapool.
NH442585
This walk can be combined with the Viewrock circuit to make a longer walk if required. Park at Rogie Falls car park off the A835, 2 miles west of Contin - there are toilets here in the summer months. Do not head through the wooden shelter towards the toilets but instead take a path to the left, waymarked in blue and yellow. The path heads gently downhill through pine and silver birch. At a cross-roads of paths continue straight ahead, crossing a slight rise before descending to reach a viewing area overlooking the Rogie Falls. Descend to the right to reach and cross the suspension bridge high above the water - the bridge gives the best views of this dramatic cascade. To the right of the falls, the smaller channel was artificially constructed at the same time as the Blackwater dam hydro scheme, so that salmon have an alternative means of climbing the falls when water levels are low.
On the far side of the bridge head up steps and then bear left on a winding footpath climbing uphill. When a path and metal hydro bridge is reached, keep straight ahead, climbing uphill on the wide path until it emerges on a forest track. This track also serves as a cycle route from Garve to Contin - which is signed to the right.
Turn right and follow the track towards Contin. Keep on the track, ignoring a track and path off to the left, and one to the right (used for the return). After about two kilometres you will reach another junction with paths off left and right; turn right here following the path with green waymarkers downhill. Go straight ahead across each of two tracks, descending to reach the Contin Forest car park.
At the picnic area, turn right through the car park and pick up and follow the red trail upriver. The main red trail soon turns off right; leave it here and continue straight ahead on the path continuing upriver. Eventually the route curves to the right uphill away from the water; later it comes alongside a cascading burn. Further up the track used earlier is rejoined. Turn left on this track, back towards Rogie Falls. When reaching the signposted path down to Rogie Falls, turn left to head back down to the falls and across the suspension bridge.
Once across the suspension bridge, turn left to follow a path which soon forks. A short detour to the left here leads up to the Raven's Crag viewpoint looking back to the bridge and falls; after enjoying this rejoin the main path which, after a zig-zagging ascent, rejoins the outward route once more at the cross-paths near the car park. Turn left here to head back to the start.
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