DAY 91 – STROMEFERRY TO KYLE OF LOCHALSH

DAY 91

SUNDAY 5 OCTOBER, 2014

STROMEFERRY TO KYLE OF LOCHALSH

15 MILES 8 HOURS

MORRIS, PHIL, KEITH, DEREK, ALEX AND BILL

TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 1279.5 MILES

A very sociable evening was enjoyed in our hotel last night and after a good sleep and excellent breakfast we were ready to go.

Today’s walk had originally been planned for day three but in view of the poor weather forecast for tomorrow we decided to swap the walks over. Bill had kindly offered to be a dedicated driver to facilitate this walk and dropped the rest of us at Stromeferry. It had started to rain when we set off from the jetty walking back up the steep access road to join a signposted path into the woods. This path ran out after half a mile and we found it very difficult making our way through the thick undergrowth on the wooded hillside. Luckily we stumbled on a path which took us down to the railway line which runs at the edge of the loch. Cautiously but quickly we crossed the railway line to the loch side and made our way along passed Portchullin to the small bay where a railway bridge crosses the river near Fernaig. The rain had gone off and the sun was out and we were enjoying the good path along the loch side. We had to resort to the railway line to cross the river and then again for a short distance before making our way through woods to the minor road which runs above the track. We followed this road passed Craig and onto the entrance to Duncraig Castle College where we joined a signposted path to Plockton. This path again crossed the railway line making its way through woods to the end of the bay at Plockton. A short road walk into the village followed where we enjoyed a pint and lunch at the Plockton Inn. After lunch we walked east out of the village to Rubha Mor then headed north to the high point at ‘The Brae’ before rejoining the road and walking out of Plockton passed the school and railway station and onto Duirinish. At Duirinish we took the road on the south side of the river, passed the houses and onto the railway station where we crossed the line and headed to Port-an-eorna. A signpost here directed us onto the excellent Drumbuie coastal path which we followed round the point and back to Drumbuie village. As the railway line from Drumbuie to Kyle of Lochalsh runs at the sea edge the last four miles of the days walk were unfortunately on the road through Erbusaig and Badicaul to the finish at Kyle of Lochalsh pier.

Summary; One of the very few walks where we have been unable to walk near the sea most of the time. Road parts were easy but wooded areas and parts near the railway line were testing.

Highs; Weather was very kind to us. Some great views and Plockton is lovely.

Lows; The railway line kept us away from the sea and a lot of road walking.

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