This enchanting short walk follows an ancient path over to two hidden but beautiful coral beaches.
Bog Factor
Excellent path to the northern beach; very boggy section just before the soutern beach.
Parking at the junction with the minor road to Àrd-dhubh from Culdie.
None.
NG713398
Driving south from Applecross to Toscaig, there is parking at the junction with the minor road which turns to the right for Àrd-Dhubh. Walk along the Àrd-Dhubh road for a short distance until a footpath sign on the left. Follow the wide, well made footpath across the moor. It passes through some attractive birchwoods as it rounds a stream.
Beyond, the path reaches a signposted junction; each branch leads to a different coral beach. Take the right hand branch first, signed for 'Àrd Ban'. This path soon reaches a picturesque section where it is built up alongside the Poll Domhain bay.
Further on it bends left to reach Àrd Ban, a collection of three old cottages by a coral beach. The white 'coral' sand is not true coral; it is in fact maerl or calcified seaweed; nonetheless it is fascinating to examine, and this is a beautiful spot.
Return to the signpost. Reaching the other beach is a little muddy, so you could just return from here; otherwise, turn right.
The path passes through another birchwood and approaches some isolated houses. A couple of shortcut paths head off right but it's best to continue until almost at the houses before turning right at a sign ('Coral beach') to follow a faint boggy path to the beach, which is covered at high tide but when the tide is out is even more attractive than Àrd Ban. Back on the path, you can also explore the bay around some abandoned and some renovated cottages, before returning back to the start.
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