Corrachadh Mòr, Ardnamurchan, Scotland 8-September-2020

This is a short walk we did while having a week in Kilchoan, on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Scotland. A fantastic place to be if you like it wild, remote and quiet but still within touching distance of civilisation, by way of a ferry crossing to the Isle of Mull. CORRACHADH - MOR is the furthest point West on the British Mainland and is roughly 20 miles more westerly than LANDS END down in Cornwall. A lot of people mistake the ARDNAMURCHAN LIGHTHOUSE & POINT as the most westerly point but Corrachadh Mor sits out in the SEA OF THE HEBRIDES by about 40metres and around one kilometre south of the lighthouse and can be reached by walking across the rocky outcrops and grass away from the shorline. We parked in the main Lighthouse car park and walked back down the road before turning off through the gaps in the fenceline onto the grassy land. There are a couple of streams to cross and on this ocassion they proved a bit more difficult than they looked as there had been some rain and also the tide was on its way out so they were a bit full and fast flowing, something to be wary about. There was also a lot of loose rocks that were very greasy to get any sort of foothold on them. We did eventually get across and followed the feint path and sheep trails through the more softer terrain as well as using the rocks along this wild area.

Our there and back route of around 2.5miles

Setting off along the rocky shore

 

Negotiating a safe crossing

Would be nice here if it was a bit warmer

Corrachadh Mor sticking out on the right

There's also a couple of small beaches and we visited the one that is closer to Corrachadh Mor, PORT MIN, that has an old farmstead that dates back to 1800's. If the weather was a bit warmer and sunnier it would of made a great place to sit and enjoy the peacefullness of this place, as it was, we only spent a few minutes here as it was a bit windy, cool and the threat of rain wasn't that far away.

Port Min beach and the Cairn we headed to below Garbhlach Mhor

Port Min beach

We made our way up a small grassy knoll that had a carin on the top and then across to the rocky outcrop of Corrachadh Mor that is mainland Britains most westerly point. Although there had been some rain and the wind was blowing the waves onto the rocks, the top rocks were quite dry so it gave us a chance to get as far to the end as possible. Again, we didn't hang around too long as we could see the approaching rain across the sea so a quick turn around and headed back by following the higher grassy lumps away from the rocks

Port Min with Ardnamurchan Lighthouse in the distance

Cairn with Ardnamurchan Lighthouse in the distance

Corrachadh Mor

On our way back past Port Min and the derelict farmstead towards the higher ground

Looking back to Corrachadh Mor from the higher ground

We made our way back to the road and got back to the lighthouse just in time as the rain started to come down so that was good timing. We have been here before, back in 2017 on a better day weatherwise but we didn't walk out to Corrachadh Mor so this was a first. The lighthouse is a good location for spotting wildlife such as Seals, Otters, Whales, Deer and Eagles but unfortunatley not this time.

Crossing the stream

This was a lot easier now the tide had receeded

Up the road to the lighthouse

Here comes the rain

Lighthouse Foghorn and lookout

A great place to spend a good few hours or more if the weather is more suitable

Thanks :-)

MY VIEWRANGER TRACK

Portuairk To Sanna Point 9th September 2020

The ARDNAMURCHAN PENINSULA is a wild and remote place on the Scottish mainland that is a great place to come and forget about all that is wrong with the world and just relax, taking in the breathtaking scenary on offer. We had a week here back in 2017 (CLICK HERE) and enjoyed it that much we said that we'd come back again, so 3 years on we find ourselves back in KILCHOAN, and staying in a rented bungalow next door to where we stayed in 2017. A fantastic place with great views from the property over the Sound Of Mull to the ISLE OF MULL, where we watched the ever changing weather coming and going, Otters, Porpousies, and all manner of seabirds doing their thing. A really excellent place for exploring this great place with loads of walks from the front door or just a short car drive away. One walk we did that we didn't do in 2017 was a great little coastal walk taking in two really lovely place's, POTUAIRK & SANNA, that have some of the best beaches on the peninsula.    This is a great walk to do on a nice sunny day as the beaches round this area are stunning. The day started off OK, dry, quite sunny but with a strong breeze blowing that knocked the temperature down a notch or two but at least it was dry and stayed that way for the rest of the day. The weather had been a bit mixed but as today was forecasted to be the best of the week, we decided that it would be ideal to take advantage and it didn't dissapoint. Parking in a small parking area just before you walk down the zig-zag road into Portuairk, you get your first view of the stunning little place and also across to Sanna and the distant small Isles of Eigg, Rum, Muck and a distant Skye. The way forward is easy to follow as it is a well trodden path as well as being signed. It was a bit muddy after the rain and some clambouring about over rocks and a couple of streams didn't take too much effort today but could be a bit more problematic at high tides or after torrential rains. It was a bit boggy in places and you could see the paths turning into streams on a wet day but we made it to a high vantage point, with no mishaps, that offered great views of both Portuairk and Sanna.

Looking down on Portuairk from near the car park

Portuairk

Stream crossing

Muddy path

Rocky path

Looking back down on Portuairk

Looking down on to Sanna

Once over the ridge, it was down onto the sandy beaches of Sanna where you could be forgiven that you were on some far flung exotic Island, given the nature of the place. The wind was whipping up the waves and everything else as we made our way across the beaches and rocks towards the old white building and onto the path that takes in various cairns on Sanna Point. A small wooden bridge over the Allt Sanna, at the point it meets the tide, takes you to the circular path on Sanna Point and we decided to take the right hand route to make the most of the views out to sea and a good view of the beaches on the way back. A bit marshy and boggy in places but enough rocks and dry ground to stop you from getting swallowed up by any bog monsters, thankfully :-)

The way down to Sanna

Sanna Bay

Sanna Bay

Bridge over Allt Sanna

Boggy ground up to Sanna Point

The path here isn't very clear to follow as you head through the boggy, rocky ground but with it being a very clear and bright day, we could see the first cairn that we were aiming for, the highest of around four that are dotted around the point. Standing a whopping 41mts (134ft) above sea level it provided good views over Sanna, Portuairk and out to the SMALL ISLES. We headed in a straight line from here to the cairn overlooking sanna point before following the path round to two other cairns and the coastline through a mixture of rocks, soft & rough ground back to the wooden bridge.

View of Sanna form the first cairn with Meall Sana as the backdrop

Looking down on Sanna Bay, across to Portuairk and a distant Lighthouse

Straight on to Sanna Point

Sanna Point

The Small Isles from Sanna Point

Sanna Point Cairn

View on to Sanna Bay from the third cairn

Looking back to the Sanna Point Cairns from the lower cairn

Approaching Sanna Bay

Derelict building above Sanna Bay

After crossing the wooden bridge, we found a good spot on one of the small inlet beaches for a bite to eat out of the wind. The sun was warming the day up nicely now and it was good just sitting watching the sea for 30 minutes or so before we slowly made our way back along the beaches before picking up the path back to Portuairk. There was quite a few people out now, not lots, just enough to still feel like you had the place to yourself and good to see folk taking advantage of the now warmer part of the day enjoying this really great place.

Sanna Bay

Sanna Bay

Sanna Bay

Sanna Bay

Sanna Bay

Looking back down on Sanna Bay

Making our way back over the ridge to Portuarik we had a walk on the rocks to see the resident seals basking in the sun before we made our way back to the car for the drive down the single track lanes to our base in Kilchoan

Looking down on Sanna from above

Looking down on Portuarik from above

Portuarik

Portuarik

Watching the Seals @ Portuarik

Looking down on Portuarik from near the car park

Around 5.5 miles in about 4.5 hours making it another great day in this fantastic part of the world

MY VIEWRANGER TRACK