Àrd Mòr is the high peninsula north of Bettyhill village. The walk around it is very rough and pathless and is best left for experienced walkers; it gives superb coastal views.
Rough and pathless coastal walk with steep, unprotected drops to the sea.
Bus to Bettyhill.
Car park at NC705623 in Bettyhill.
Take the back road in Bettyhill, signed for the Pier, and then turn right off it onto a track - signed for Àrd Mòr viewpoint - just beyond a lochan as the road bends left. A short distance along the track there is a large parking area off to the left side. Begin the walk here and follow the track which leads down to some picnic tables and a memorial overlooking Farr Bay.
Head left along the coastline, following a faint grassy path. The way is soon blocked by a fence; the stile has been destroyed but the fence is low where walkers have been stepping over (care not to cause damage). Once across the coastal path soon fades and it is soon necessary to gain quite a lot of height to pass above the coastline a safe distance away from the steep slippery slopes above the cliffs.
There are good views back to the fine beach at the back of Farr Bay. There is a short and steep but brief descent to reach a second fence. You can pass around the end of this one before continuing the walk above the cliffs of the Àrd Mòr headland. As the high ground relents you can cut across to the far side of the headland.
There are superb views across Torrisdale Bay to Neave Island and Eilean nan Ron, with Ben Loyal rising inland to their left. Avoid losing too much height and aim to return down the other side of the peninsula. When a house and boundary wall are approached head towards it, crossing a stile over a fence just short of the boundary wall and then following the wall to the right, keeping along the edge of the boundary.
The wall slowly descends towards the level of the coastline, reaching a grassy track at the back of an old salmon netting station and ice-house. This sweep net fishery once operated on the mouth of the River Naver but now all is ruins. There are superb views across to the magnificent Torrisdale beach. Continue on the track until a tarmac road leads off to the left. Follow this and it leads back towards Bettyhill; take a left turn before the lochan to return to the start.
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