This excellent circuit takes in the native woodland of Ledmore and Migdale forest, visiting the shores of Loch Migdale and climbing to two fine moorland viewpoints high above the Dornoch Firth.
Bog Factor
Mostly good forest paths and tracks. Detour to second viewpoint is rough but can be omitted.
Torroy car park above minor road at NH668907.
None.
NH668907
From the A949 turn off at Spinningdale onto a minor road to Migdale and Airdens. After approximately 2km turn right up into the signed Torroy car park; the walk begins here. Start by heading up the track beside the information board. This leads to a path junction with a building up to the right (used as a shelter by rangers running activities). Take the path straight ahead, passing through a kissing gate; it then descends, eventually down steps, to reach the road. Turn briefly right along this, and then left onto a wide path with a Woodland Trust sign for Ledmore and Migdale woods.
When the path/track forks take the right branch, continuing through the native woodland. The route passes several wicker sculptures of red squirrels. Eventually another junction is reached - this time turn left. The wide path crosses the burn which flows out from Loch Migdale and reaches another junction. The walk continues uphill to the left from here (waymarker) - but first make a brief detour to the right to visit the shores of Loch Migdale, before returning to the junction and heading uphill.
The path emerges from the trees to scrubby moorland. When a junction is reached, turn right (waymarker). There are good views from here looking over Loch Migdale now far below. Keep ahead on a muddy track at the next junction.
Eventually a small cairn is reached marking the summit of A' Chraisg. This is a fine viewpoint, with the Dornoch Firth now below and extensive panoramas all around. Continue on the now made-up track, with the A9 bridge over the firth in view ahead. Turn right at a junction of tracks, heading into the woods once more.
Look out for a wooden marker post which stands where a path heads off to the right. This is the start of an optional detour to a fine viewpoint above Creag na Sroine (the Crag of the Nose) above Spinningdale. The path is good at first but becomes a little rougher than the rest of the walk where it passes through stunning old oak woodland, but the way is well marked with posts - it is worth undertaking the detour to visit the bench at the end of the path which has the best aerial view of the day. There is steep ground below, so return from the bench all the way back to the track.
Back on the main route, follow the track as it descends through the trees. Near the bottom of the hill it reaches a junction; go left here. Continue on the track, ignoring two branches off to the left. After crossing a bridge over the Spinningdale Burn the outward route is reached at a t-junction. Turn right here, soon returning to the road; turn right along the road and then left to retrace your steps back up and down to the car park.
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