Polglass beach and broch

This short walk visits the bay at Polglass to pass a ruined broch and houses and then follow a grassy path out to the headland of Rubha Dunan. A wonderful spot to watch for otters and other sea life or enjoy the sunsets and view of Horse Island. The walk crosses working croft land and dogs are requested to be kept on a lead.

Terrain

Good path to shore, then narrow rougher path.

Public Transport

Bus from Ullapool (811).

Start

Small parking area in Polglass on east side of road just before sign for Broch and Coast in direction of Badenscallie. Map and directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 3km / 2 miles
Time: 1 hour
Ascent: 45m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NC033073

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is a small parking area off the road almost opposite the sign for Broch and Coast in Polglass just south of Achiltibuie. From here head down the well made path, passing through the left hand side farm gate. Round the bungalow garden to the left and then follow the path down to the shore. There are lovely views of Horse Island immediately out to sea in the bay and to the peaks on the far side of Loch Broom.

Stage 2

Go through the gate to access the shore and keep to the right to pass over a bridge over the outflow from Loch Poll an Dunain, a reedy habitat for herons and smaller birds. Soon the lump of the iron-age broch can be seen. Two houses have been built into the sides of the structure and these remain as atmospheric ruins. Not a lot is known about the broch here, it was probably built as a defensive structure on the pebble bar at a time when the loch behind was joined to the sea. The later farmstead was added in the early nineteenth century and robbed the broch of many of its stones to build the houses and outbuildings.

Stage 3

Beyond the broch head to a gate in the fence which leads to the headland path. To the right is an old croft house. The narrow path over the grass and heather terrain takes you out to Rubha Dunan - along a great bit of coastline for watching for marine life such as seals and porpoises. The sunsets here are also stunning if you can stay up late enough in the summer months when it only really gets properly dark around midnight in mid June.

Stage 4

From the headland retrace your steps to the bay. This is a good place to watch for otters who sometimes feed on butterfish in the water just off the shore. As otters can spend a large proportion of their time in their holts you are most likely to see them when they are swimming in the water hunting and feeding. Once they come ashore it is very hard to keep track of their well camouflaged shapes. The flat Torridonian standstone pebbles make good seats for a wildlife watching vigil.

Stage 5

On the way back the views along the coast take in Ben More Coigach ahead and the jagged summits of An Teallach across the water. The return route is back over the bridge and through the gate to follow the path back up to the road at Polglass.

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