North to the Cape - A Trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath
North to the Cape
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Eight Stage: Strathcarron to Achnashellach Station
(SEE VARIANT WARNING)10.5 kilometres, 6.5 miles
From Strathcarron, you will require provisions for two days if not staying at Achnashellach Lodge.
Our original idea for the route did not include Strathcarron and tried to avoid road walking. It would also have necessitated an extra camp. But, due to broken footbridges, there was no realistic alternative to this march on the A890. As always, a road walk in the West Highlands is no great hardship. There is little traffic and the scenery is majestic. An additional advantage to the definitive route is the accommodation at Strathcarron and the shop. Also it gives you the opportunity to have an easy day, which we always find very welcome. The total ascent is only about 50 metres.
The floor of the strath is an alluvial flat which carries some cultivation, including forestry. However its sides are very steep, especially the south-eastern side rising up to Corn Mór and then up to Eagan. The north-western flank rises less steeply at first, but it’s very steep up to Fuor Tholl beyond which are the Torridans. The River Carron, meaning ‘winding stream’, meanders through the 1.5 kilometre-wide strath, giving its name to glen, strath and sea loch. It is joined at Achnashellach by the River Lair which drains the Coulin (deer) forest to the north-west and flows into Loch Dùghaill fed by the River Strath.
There is accommodation at Achnashellach Lodge, but no shop. This community takes its name from the railway station.
You must have noticed that you could use the train (time tables permitting) to get from Strathcarron to Achnashellach Lodge and thus avoid the road walk. If you do use the train, you are definitely cheating.
8.1
A. Continue on the A890. About 150 metres beyond the bridge over the River Carron, turn right into the lane leading to the group of houses known as New Kelso.
B. After the last house, pass through the gate into the field and continue ahead to the River Carron.
C. At the river, turn left and follow the defined path beside the river.
D. Pass through the gate into the forest area and join the track (forest road).
E. Turn right at the A890.
8.2
A. Continue on the A890 to the track leading to Achnashellach Station.
B. Turn sharp left up the track to the station. Cross the railway (through the gates), and turn right to ascend on the track (forest road).
C. After some 100 metres, or so, turn sharp left at the junction with other forest roads.
D. After 300 metres, or so, branch left onto a path. (At the time of research, this path was closed due to forest operations. This necessitated a further, well signed, 150 metres on the forest road before transfer to the path.)
E. Ascend steeply on the well-defined path.
VARIANT WARNING
Glen Carron/Strathcarron
OS Landranger 25. Glen Carron
We examined the feasibility of a route from the forest above Attadale (957366) along the estate road to Bendronaig Lodge (013389). Then on the path northwards, leaving it to pass the west side of Loch an Laoigh (017415) to join another path at 020429 which ascends and crosses over Eagan. A steep descent follows into Glen Carron to reach the River Carron opposite Achnashellach Station.
HOWEVER, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE FOOTBRIDGE SHOWN ON OS HAD FALLEN DOWN, NECESSITATING THE FORDING OF A DANGEROUS, DEEP, SWIFT FLOWING, WIDE RIVER.
Therefore, we decided to abandon this magnificent route. OS shows a bridge at 048494, accessible by a 4 kilometre plod on a forest road followed by a march of the same distance on the A890 back to Achnashellach. Try it if you want!
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