Torridon village walk, Torridon

Summary

This route combines two walks from the edge of Torridon village. The first heads past a deer farm to reach a hide and a beautiful stretch close by the shore of Loch Torridon, visiting the site of an open air church. It then joins the road at Fasag (shop/cafe) from where the second walk takes a path keeping above the road and loch to visit the site of a ruined township. The return is back along the minor road through the village.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Good footpaths and minor road for first loop; rougher with some short boggy sections on the path beyond Fasag.

Public Transport

Infrequent minibus from Lochcarron; requires advance booking.

Start

Torridon Countryside Centre (National Trust for Scotland) parking area. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 6.1km / 3.75 miles
Time: 2 hours
Ascent: 32m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG905557

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

Begin from the National Trust for Scotland's Torridon Countryside centre, which is on the left immediately after turning in towards Torridon village from the A896 road. The centre gives information about the Torridon Estate, regarded by many as amongst the most beautiful parts of the Highlands. Begin the walk by heading along the tarred track from the centre, ignoring another track which forks off left.

Stage 2

The track passes through a gate and, after 500m, reaches a fine whitewashed house. Part of this houses the Deer Museum, where you can learn about Scotland's red deer. The paddock on the left is part of a deer farm and you can usually see both stags and hinds at close quarters through the fence.

Stage 3

At the far corner of the paddock there is a detour path turning left along the line of the fence to reach a wildlife hide. This overlooks a marshy area at the head of the loch and is a good spot to watch for oystercatches, ringed plovers, sandpipers and other birds. After visiting the hide retrace your steps to the paddock corner.

Stage 4

Turn left to rejoin the original track, continuing to the left of the white buidling and house. From the parking area bear right to pick up a path between two fences. This now runs between the paddocks below Torridon village on the right, and the loch shore on the left. Eventually it passes through a gate and then continues as a grassy path just above the shore. This is a beautiful spot.

Stage 5

The path continues by the shore, eventually crossing a footbridge and passing through a gate. A little further on a signpost indicates the detour to Am Ploc to visit the open air church. Turn left as indicated, then left again at a track, then left once more onto a path, passing a ruin. The path leads to the Am Ploc open air church, with stone seats and a rock pulpit. The church was used after the Free Church broke from the main Church of Scotland during the Great Disruption of 1843, giving the church control over the selection of ministers. With no buildings, the Free Church initially operated from sites such as this. Occasional services were still held here as recently as the 1980s.

Stage 6

Retrace your steps back to the track, then turn right to follow it to reach the main road at Fasag (the shop almost opposite also has a cafe). From here you could turn right to walk back along the road through the village to the start. To include instead the rougher path that visits the old township, turn left along the road instead. Continue until the jetty, and then almost opposite it take a signed path off to the right, beginning by the national speed limit sign - once on the path it is very clear to follow. It runs parallel to but at a higher level than the road. Look out for the tumbledown ruins of the old houses some distance along.

Stage 7

Eventually the path becomes a little rougher and heads into birchwoods. At a junction (with only a minor path ahead) turn left to descend some rough stone steps, soon heading down to the road. Turn left at this point to head all the way back - through Torridon village - to return to the start. The road is usually quiet but still take care with traffic. It passes the cafe, school, village hall and youth hostel before eventually reaching the NTS Countryside Centre.

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