A rough and wet path with fantastic views over Loch Spelve leads to the ruins at Gualachaolish, with the chance to explore a nearby graveyard and enjoy the wildness of the area.
Bog Factor
Rough track and path, very boggy, locked gate to be climbed. Livestock on route, keep dogs under tight control.
Off A849 southwest of Lochdon.
None to start. .
NM720318
There is very limited parking (1 car) at start of this walk off the B849 southeast of Lochdon. Coming from Lochdon, with the forestry plantation on the right, pass the turning for Grasspoint, and then after the second forestry track on the right, look for a small pull in with a metal gate on the left just before the road bends and the forestry finishes. There is room for one car here but otherwise there are more spaces on the far side of the road further on or back. Take care not to block passing spaces or gates. Start the walk by heading through the gate and onto the grassy track. The walk heads through cattle and sheep grazing land and dogs should be well controlled and extreme care should be taken when livestock have young.
The track soon becomes boggy underfoot, keep right at the faint fork in the track. The route climbs gently as it crosses the undulating ground to reach a gate which is usually locked and requires climbing. There are good views back over Dun da Gaoithe and Sgùrr Dearg to the right (east) with Beinn Talaidh further left and also back to Lochdon. After the gate the route follows a grassy path uphill at first and crossing a small stream after which the path becomes wider again.
There is now a clear view down to Loch Spelve on the right as the path traverses the hillside. After following a section of old wall the path drops to the left to reach the ruins at a stream. Here the remains of old sheep fanks, houses and enclosures can be seen.
Continue up the path on the far side of the burn and soon the better preserved ruins of Gualachaolish come into view next to a large tree up on the right. Follow a faint path up to the ruins of a croft and steading. Originally built in the 1800s it was first lived in by the Factor of the Colonel Campbell of Possil, one time owner of Torosay and Duart. The house was therefore a finer property than many of the same era. It was inhabited by a crofter until the 1930's which explains why more of the buildings are still standing.
From here it is possible to detour to explore the old churchyard at Killean which stands above a small sandy beach. However there is no direct path and if the bracken is high finding the route will be a battle. Head west from the ruins at Gualachaolish, through an old gap in the remains of the stone wall and aim downhill and slightly to the right (westnorthwest) and when the walled graveyard comes into view head straight down to it. From here it is possible to return by following the burn uphill (there is a vague path but the going is rough and boggy) which reaches the main path at the first ruins passed earlier. If you do go this way note the undulating remains of lazy bed fields that you will cross heading upstream.
Otherwise after enjoying the view over to Croggan (where coffins were transported from for burial) retrace your steps from Gualachaolish back to the start. After the short climb from the ruins at the burn there is a good view on a clear day of Ben More with Ben Buie in the foreground.
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