Acheninver Hostel and Badenscallie

This short ramble near Achilitibuie leads past remote Acheninver Hostel and down to the shore of Horse Sound, with excellent views.

Terrain

Good path to hostel and fair path down to shore. The optional continuation path along the shore to the burial ground is rugged going but brief, before a return along tarmac lanes.

Public Transport

None to start, but there is a bus to Badenscallie (Bus 811 from Ullapool) which links with the route.

Start

Car parking above Acheninver Hostel. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Currently 3.20/55

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is space to park on both sides of the road by the signpost for Acheninver Hostel, just west of a bridge and white cottage on the minor road running east from Achilitibuie; if full there is further parking on the route by the coastal cemetery in Badenscallie. From the hostel parking, take the signed grassy path which heads downhill towards the hostel, whose whitewashed walls are just visible.

Stage 2

There is a well-walked grassy shortcut that cuts out a bend on the original path, and the hostel is soon reached. The dramatic triangular peak rising behind is Conmheall, an outlier of the Ben More Coigach range. Do not cross the wooden footbridge to the building, but instead continue down the west side of the stream.

Stage 3

Soon the pebbly shore is reached where the burn flows out to sea - a great place to watch for otters who need to visit freshwater. There are beautiful views to the Summer Isles and across towards An Teallach. If you are just looking for an easy ramble, return the way you came from here, but if you don't mind more rugged going you can pick up a path that heads along the coast from just before the shore was reached. The path keeps above a patch of bracken before forking - take the left branch to stay nearer the coastline.

Stage 4

The path soon passes some beautiful rocky slabs which extend down to the sea. Beyond this there is a rockier section of coast; if the bracken is high it's better to keep to the top of the rocks to avoid the dense bracken that can cover the path. When a fence is reached follow it left down towards the sea - there is a steep descent at the end that requires care, leading down to a gate.

Stage 5

Pass through the gate and then continue along the shore, soon passing round the back of an attractive pebble bay. Continue past the Badenscallie cemetery on your right; there is a bench at the far corner. It is possible to drive down through Badenscallie to here to park, if the parking at the start of the walk was full.

Stage 6

It is possible to continue along the coast from here to link with the Polglass broch walk. Our route however follows the tarmac road that leads uphill through Badenscallie to meet the main road a t-junction. Turn right here to continue along this road back to the start.

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