This lovely short walk includes a visit to beautiful Clachtoll beach with its perfect sand and the crumbling iron-age broch of An Dùn.
Bog Factor
Close-cropped grassy coast to the broch; bouldery shore edge beyond then minor road.
Clachtoll beach car park.
None.
NC039273
There is a car park for Clachtoll beach. Before beginning the walk you could visit the small Rangers' hut to find out more about what you can see along the way. Start by heading past the toilet block; when you reach a track continue straight ahead onto a wooden boardwalk. This leads down to Clachtoll beach, a truly stunning spot, famed for the split rock beyond the far end of the bay. After enjoying the sands, return to the path and head through a gate to reach the former salmon bothy.
The poles outside were erected for drying the drag-nets used to catch the fish. If it isn't locked, the bothy has interpretative displays inside to help you find out more. There are great views back over the beach, with Stac Pollaidh and other peaks visible beyond. Continue the walk by heading to the left of the gate decorated with pieces of driftwood. Continue by the wall until there's a small gate provided for walkers on the right.
Cross the track to another walkers gate, then keep left alongside the stone wall (with Clachtoll Cottage over to your left) to reach another small gate; again go through this and then follow the path that slopes uphill to the left to reach open grassland. Continue round the coast, keeping above the rocks that shelve down into the water - there are some huge slabs.
On the next section you may notice the grassland is formed into little ridges. These are the remains of lazybeds, once worked for crops and fertilised with seaweed. There are great views looking back along the coastline to the beach and mountains. Continue ahead towards what looks at first like a massive mound of stones.
The stones are the remains of Clachtoll broch, an iron-age defensive tower. Pass to the right of the broch and then detour left to head up to the entrance, still roofed with giant lintel stones. The interoir has been cleared in recent years and you can see the passageways and staircases within the double walls.
From the broch you can either return the way you came, or alternatively continue along the coast next to the fence which is rough going across boulders with the Bay of Stoer ahead. Though pebbly at high tide, there are extensive sands here when the sea is out. Continue until a tiny burn and then turn right along the near side of this, crossing two stiles, to reach the road. Turn right again on this; further along a sign indicates the turning back to the car park at Clachtoll beach.
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