Oldshoremore, Polin and Sheigra beaches circuit

Summary

Follow the coastline to three beautiful sandy bays, with some rough headlands to cross between. The return walk is along a minor road inland. The roughest section can be omitted by starting from Polin (omitting Oldshoremore Bay).

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Section between Oldshoremore and Polin is rough, pathless and requires care with navigation. Waymarked coastal path between Polin and Sheigra, then minor road. At very high tide it may not be possible to cross Oldshoremore Bay.

Getting there

Start

Oldshoremore Bay car park.

Public Transport

No public transport to the start, nearest bus is Kinlochbervie.

Start Grid Ref

NC203584

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 8.3km / 5.25 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 260m (Profile)

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Explorer 446 - Cape Wrath

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

Start from the car park at Oldshoremore Bay. Take the path through the kissing gate to the left of the toilets, climbing slightly to pass through another gate, and then following the path down the dunes onto the beach. Oldshoremore beach is almost as fine as Sandwood Bay and is much more accessible. Cross the sand to the very far end; this is not possible at highest tide where a cliff abuts onto the beach about three quarters of the way across.

Stage 2

From the far end of the beach is the trickiest section of the walk begins. Head up the stones right at the end of the beach, keeping to the left of the stone wall and a fence, right by the sea; there is a slightly rocky step. Once on the grassy ground, follow a somewhat muddy path which slopes uphill across the rocky slopes. The path soon leads to impassable rocky terrain; to avoid this, cut up to the right to climb above 30m or 40m to get above the cliffs.

Stage 3

Once beyond it descend into a boggy area often with livestock; there are views to Polin Bay ahead. Keep well to the left of a wooden fence, crossing some boggy ground; right before shoreline there is a single-strand electric fence that you can duck under. Now turn right, keeping the fence on your right and the coast on your left. Follow the fence round the corner, staying on the seaward side. Eventually it becomes easy to head down onto the sand. Cross this second beautiful beach to the far side.

Stage 4

The path up onto the headland starts as a dune path at the bottom of the slope at the far end of the beach. The clear path heads inland, and then turns left at a waymarker. It climbs up, with stunning views back over Polin beach, to reach a stile. Cross this and then bear right along the far side - but don't head through the gate, keep the fence and stone wall on your right.

Stage 5

Follow the wall to continue down to reach Port Chaligaig - the bay at Droman - where there is a parking area and pier. From the far end of the parking area a signpost indicates the start of the next section of path, keeping to the seaward side of a fence.

Stage 6

At one point the route passes a couple of sea stacks sitting on a rock platform. Eventually the path reaches a stone wall - cross a stile over a fence at the seaward end of this. Now the sand at Sheigra comes into view. The path is fairly clear, but has a few boggy patches. Before reaching the beach the path crosses a stile over another fence.

Stage 7

Continue down to the grassy ground - often with many wildflowers - behind the beach, then bear right to head for a track leading inland. Follow this to the cemetery and then up to the road just before Sheigra.

Stage 8

Turn right and follow this undulating road all the way back to Oldshoremore, taking the signed right turn to return to the beach at the start.

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