Bad na Sgalag pinewood circuit

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A delightful circuit through the replanted and regenerating Loch Bad na Sgalag native pinewood. There are waterfalls and lochs and a chance to see wildlife.

Terrain

First half of the route is a vehicle track; return journey is on a faint, rough and boggy but waymarked path.

Public Transport

Inverness- Gairloch bus service.

Start

Car park by the green barn half a kilometre east of Loch Bad an Sgalaig. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 7km / 4.5 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Ascent: 235m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG857721

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park in the small car park beside the green barn a few hundred metres east of Loch Bad an Sgalaig. The walk begins on the track opposite, with a large wooden sign proclaiming 'Bad na Sgalag pinewood'. Leaflets for local trails can be picked up from the wooden shelter. The track crosses the bridge across the outflow of the reedy Am Feur-loch and ascends gently at first; there is a distant view of the northern buttresses of Baosbheinn.

Stage 2

The track passes through a gate in the deer fence and enters the Bad na Sgalag native pinewood. Over a million native trees have been planted by the estate over an area of several square miles; at the present time the trees are small and need protection from overgrazing by deer, but in time it is hoped the forest will regenerate enough to allow removal of the fence. The track gains height slowly, with views over to Lochan a Chleirich on the left and the mountain fortress of Slioch in the distance.

Stage 3

Continue on the track, ignoring the blue waymarker posts leading off right, to climb over a low pass. Some distance beyond the high point a smaller track goes off to the right, with a yellow waymarker post. Turn right onto this track; you are following the yellow markers from now on. The track winds downhill and becomes a boggy path. Once down to the boggy flat ground the path bears right, still marked by waymarker posts.

Stage 4

The original waymarked path leads to a bridge which is no longer in place, so when two marker posts close together at right angles to the path are reached turn left, leaving the path and following a line of posts that lead to a bridge above a waterfall. Cross it and turn right, walking across the moors parallel to the far bank of the river - there is only a faint path, but occasional marker posts - for some distance until the original route is rejoined by the defunct bridge above a gorge.

Stage 5

The path now descends the southwest side of a little gorge, cutting across the steep slopes before descending to another, larger bridge. Cross this and follow the path down to the deer fence beside Loch Bad an Sgalaig. The river falls down into the loch in a series of impressive waterfalls.

Stage 6

Soon the path comes alongside a deer fence and bears right alongside it, with views over Loch Bad na Sgalag on the far side. Note the ancient stumps of pine trees by the loch shores - a reminder of the original Caledonian forest here, now being restored through regeneration.

Stage 7

After half a kilometre or so the path turns right away from the fence, following a line of marker posts that climbs up towards a notch, crossing a low pass between the rocky hills. The path then descends to rejoin the track followed earlier; turn left to return to the car park.

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