This very enjoyable walk from Salen follows a lovely rising grassy track to Glenaros House, with fine views over the Sound of Mull. It then climbs over the rougher moors, visiting an iron-age fort with a superb outlook, before turning to Salen via some attractive native woodland.
Bog Factor
Fine grassy track then rougher hill paths. The return route has some very boggy sections.
Salen.
Bus to Salen.
NM571431
Park by the public toilets in Salen, on the Tobermory road. The walk begins by heading north along the road verge, taking care as the road can be busy even though it is single track. There are lovely views over Salen Bay to the right, with some wrecked boats providing an attractive foreground; look out for otters too. After passing an old jetty look out for a gate on the left side of the road; it has a sign 'Footpath to Glenaros Farm'.
Go through the gate to head along a grass-grown lane. It climbs slightly and runs through very beautiful native woodland, and soon gives superb views up the Sound of Mull and towards Aros Castle; this section of the walk is delightful. The lane - which has become faint - passes through three farm gates before the impressive Glenaros Farm house becomes visible ahead. As it is approached pass through two more gates to keep well left of the main house, joining a surfaced track right by the old white farmworkers cottage to the left of the other farm buildings.
Go straight across this track and through another gate opposite; the field on the other side is initially very muddy. Bear left and soon a very rough track becomes clear to follow; it climbs gently keeping a drystone dyke to your left to begin with. Continue across the rough moor and grassland, soon fording a small burn. Ahead is a grassy knoll marked by a cairn on the left side of its summit; this is Cnoc na Sroine, the site of an iron age fort. Continue on the path which climbs to the right of the knoll. Once close to it turn left off (there are faint traces of a path) to make a detour to visit it.
After a final steep rise the top of the hillock is reached. Whilst the cairn is probably modern, there are very clear remains of the thick defensive walls which enclosed a surprisingly large area; the courses of stonework are still visible in places which is a testament to the skill of the builders. The fort is a fine viewpoint; after visiting it cut carefully back downhill to return to the main path, and continue along it. It climbs slightly before reaching its highest point and beginning a slow descent - boggy in places.
Keep left as you pass a big wooden marker and follow the clear path downhill just left of some fragments of birchwood; a different route to the path marked on OS maps which they show heading into the forestry on the right. The path eventually meets another running across the hill. Turn left onto this; it climbs slightly at first. While passing through the native woodland fragments at Doire nam Pioghaid it becomes very boggy for a time and it is necessary to detour in places to avoid the worst of the mud.
The path eventually improves once more and runs across a more open area, eventually with views to Salen. Soon Airigh Mhic Dhomnuill is reached - a fine native woodland with a mix of mighty oak trees and birches. Finally the path descends through the trees to emerge in Salen beside the old church. Turn right along the main road to reach the start of the walk.
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