Auchtertyre, Ardelve and Balmacara Square

Maol Mor and Maol Beag – Parked beside an unused gate on the A890 Auchtertyre to Strathcarron Road opposite Lochalsh Dam, passed through the pedestrian gate into Auchtertyre Woodland and along an old section of roadway which was grassy and wet.

Lochalsh Dam
Lochalsh Dam

I soon left the roadway and walked through some trees and rough ground including dead bracken then onto a more grassy area where it was easy going.

Route onto Maol Mor
Route onto Maol Mor

Higher up there was more rough ground, grass, heather and some new tree plantings before I reached the summit of the Tump, Maol Mor, with two outcrops challenging for the highest point.

An Carnach and Beinn Raimh
An Carnach and Beinn Raimh
Kyle Ryea and Loch Alsh
Kyle Ryea and Loch Alsh
Loch Duich and Loch Alsh
Loch Duich and Loch Alsh

It was a fairly steepish heathery descent south-east to the col with Maol Beag where there was a gate in a deer fence. Once beyond this gate it was a relatively steep climb through heather, initially along the side of the deer fence, before heading onto the summit of the Tump, Maol Beag, marked by a grassy/mossy knoll.

Beinn Conchra
Beinn Conchra
Glas Eilean, Loch Alsh and Beinn Sgritheall in cloud
Glas Eilean, Loch Alsh and Beinn Sgritheall in cloud
Route off Maol Mor
Route off Maol Mor

I returned to the gate in the deer fence and followed a path north-east, there were a few boggy areas, to the ascent route for Maol Mor then descended back to the start.

Tor-na-Uinnseann – This Tump was located on the south side of the A87 Kyle of Lochalsh to Dornie Road immediately above the hamlet of Ardelve. There was no obvious route onto this hill so I found a parking spot followed by a short road walk to a corrugated roofed building. I walked up the side of this construction, crossed a stock fence intertwined with a few brambles then through grass, avoiding the gorse bushes, onto Tor-na-Uinnseann. A grassy knoll marked the highpoint.

Dornie and Creag Reidh Raineach
Dornie and Creag Reidh Raineach
Dornie, Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Duich
Dornie, Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Duich
Across Loch Alsh to Totaig
Across Loch Alsh to Totaig
Loch Alsh and Beinn na Caillich
Loch Alsh and Beinn na Caillich
Fireach Ard and Avernish Hill
Fireach Ard and Avernish Hill

I then retraced my route.

Stob Loch na Doir Moire – I left my car in Balmacara Square, located north of the A87 Kyle of Lochalsh to Dornie Road, and walked briefly south crossing the bridge over the Balmacara Burn and onto a forest track. This route was signposted for Plockton.

Balmacara Square
Balmacara Square

The track wound its way uphill, north-east, below Sgurr Mor and Auchtertyre Hill through areas where the trees had been cleared.

After a large Z bend the track headed north to a junction of tracks where the route to Plockton went left, west. I went right, north-east, but the good quality track was soon replaced by a wet and boggy track used by extraction vehicles. At its highpoint I left the track, crossed some brash and climbed west onto the Tump, Stob Loch na Doir Moire, through heather and grass. The summit wasn’t obvious as there were three possible highpoints.

Loch Achaidh na h-Inich and Loch Carron
Loch Achaidh na h-Inich and Loch Carron
Creagdarroch, Carn an Reudh-bhric and Carn a' Bhealaich Mhor
Creagdarroch, Carn an Reudh-bhric and Carn a’ Bhealaich Mhor
Carn an t- Saighdeir and Beinn Raimh
Carn an t- Saighdeir and Beinn Raimh
Auchtertyre Hill
Auchtertyre Hill

The descent south through heather and grass was easy enough then the ground steepened to reach a gap in the trees. Once through this gap I was onto another forest track and nearby there was a signpost for the Waterfall Trail. This path was followed west to the road at Colliemore then it was a short downhill walk back to Balmacara Square.

Sgurr Mor, Loch Alsh, Kyle Ryea and Beinn na Caillich
Sgurr Mor, Loch Alsh, Kyle Ryea and Beinn na Caillich
  • Total time taken – 5.5 hours.
  • Total distance – 12.5 kilometres.
  • Total height climbed – 730 metres.