KINLOCHEWE LEISURE TIME

WalkWalk onon thethe WILDSIDEWILDSIDE JO VAUGHAN UNCOVERS A PEACEFUL, ACCESSIBLE WALK AROUND A LOCH IN THE HIGHLANDS OF

HEN ALL you can hear is the accessible to all, including wheelchair crunch of your own footsteps users and parents with pushchairs. W on the trail, birds calling and The route along the banks of Loch Clair ❖ the trickle of an occasional stream is a narrow, traffic-free tarmac road. As running into the loch, you know you’ve you approach Loch Coulin it turns to found somewhere special. However, the gravel underfoot – you can go as far as you region around the Club’s site at feel you’re able before returning the way Kinlochewe is full of such locations. you came. You’ll still have had a wonderful The site itself is found at the foot opportunity to take in fantastic views as Ordnance Survey of Ben Eighe, in a region full well as lungfuls of fresh mountain air. Landranger Maps 19, 25 of woodland and spectacular mountains. The rest of us can continue following Yet its village location ensures there’s this track right the way around. It is flat The Club currently offers a a shop nearby as well as a hotel, café and easy-going apart from one relatively 30% discount on Ordnance and petrol station. steep section that takes you a total of 65 Survey Landranger and Routes for serious hikers abound, so I’ve metres above the lochs. The view is worth Explorer Maps – see caravanclub.co.uk/ chosen a walk that’s at least partly the effort though! books for details

JUNE 2009 THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE 63 LEISURE TIME KINLOCHEWE

INFORMATION GENERAL Campsite CLUB SITE: Kinlochewe Caravan Club 1 Site, , Highland IV22 2PA. Tel 01445 760239. Open 27 March to 5 October 2009 DISTANCE: 6.2 miles/10km TERRAIN: Mostly level gravel and tarmac tracks NUMBER OF STILES: 0 ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT: OS Explorer Map no 433 (Torridon – & ) LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy apart from one steep climb of around 70 metres REFRESHMENTS: None DIRECTIONS AND PARKING: Turn 2 right out of the site’s entrance, and then almost immediately right again down the A896. The small parking area either side of the road, which is next to an 3 industrial-sized green wheelie bin and a small lane on the left, is exactly 3.1 5 miles from the campsite gates. On the right side of the road the path is signposted ‘Glen Caron via the Coulin Pass’ Coulin Forest TOILETS: None

4 INFORMATION TOURISM

Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board, Peffery House, Strathpeffer IV14 9HA. Tel 0845 225 5121 or see visithighlands.com

DIRECTIONS Walk down the lane next to the wheelie 1bin, towards a bridge. Pass a sign saying ‘Coulin Estate – No Cars, Footpath Only’. Go through the gate beside the cattle grid and continue across the wooden bridge. Follow the road to the end of the loch, where you veer right to cross another wooden bridge across the river, ignoring the footpath sign off to the left. Go through a gate beside a cattle grid 2(signposted ‘Beware of the Dogs’) and continue ahead past the white house. Keep to the main track, which turns to Cross the bridge and continue past the Where the tarmac ends and the way 3 gravel. Go through a larger metal gate next house. branches into two tracks, veer right to walk beside a cattle grid and walk along the Keep to the same track, crossing towards the farm buildings before keeping lane. Continue past a house on your left 4another small wooden bridge. left to walk around the rear of the grand and keep ahead at the path junction soon Continue up the hill into the line of trees, house, into woodland. after, following the blue footpath sign. keeping to the same track as the path becomes steeper. Cross another wooden INFORMATION ATTRACTIONS bridge. At the top of the hill veer slightly left to continue along the track, which I Torridon Countryside Centre open all year round. Found I The Studio Jewellery now starts to gently descend, following a and Deer Museum, Torridon at the foot of Torridon Workshop and Gallery, wire fence to your left. Mains, Torridon, Achnasheen mountain, which is a top place Highland Line, Achnasheen Go through the large green gate and IV22 2EZ. Tel 01445 791221 or for walkers, geologists and IV22 2EE. Tel 01445 720227. 5enjoy the scenery from the viewpoint see nts.org.uk. Voluntary naturalists, the Countryside Open all year. Free entry. on the left. Then continue down the hill. contributions requested. Centre features an audio-visual A retail craft centre Pass through a wooden kissing gate and Centre open Easter to 30 display and exhibits. The deer incorporating a silversmith walk up the road, ignoring the wooden September (Sunday to Friday, field and museum are nearby. and jewellery workshop. 10am-5pm), deer museum Disabled access Disabled access bridge to your left. Follow the road all the way back to your vehicle.

64 THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE