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Bay of Flies

  • Loch Sunart at low tide at The Bay of Flies
  • Wooden toadstools at The Bay of Flies
  • The moss lined foothpath down to The Bay of Flies
  • Sunset over Loch Sunart
  • Salt Marsh and shingle
  • The harbour used to be used to export charcoal
  • The interpretation board at The Bay of Flies
  • The Bay of Flies
  • The Bay of Flies
  • The Bay of Flies
  • The Bay of Flies

Details

The Bay of Flies, near Salen in the Ardnamurchan is a natural harbour formerly used to export goods, such as charcoal, oak bark and brushwood.  The Viking's were also reputed to have stored their boats over winter in the harbour. The short, circular walk descends along a well-defined path through native oak woodland to the bay on Loch Sunart.  There are some interesting wooden sculptures on route.  At low tide, it is possible to explore the beach and rocky outcrops; a good place to spot otters, seals, coastal birds and diving ducks.  Listen out for a range of woodland birds in Spring and Summer, including wood warblers, redstarts and flycatchers, as well as the evocative calls of the male cuckoo in Spring. 

At the shore, there are lovely views across Loch Sunart to the wooded shoreline of Glencripesdale, is an international renowned site for its bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) associated with its Atlantic oak woodlands.  The beautiful, rugged coastline of the far shore of Loch Sunart and its shimmering water is mesmeric in fine weather. 

Route Details

1.  Park at the car park off the A861, about 1km east of Salen, in the Ardnamurchan.  There is an interesting interpretation board explaining the history and use of this natural harbour in the car park board at the start of the short walk.

Take the gravel path heading through heath/birch woodland, passing by a picnic bench on your right.  Beyond the picnic bench, the path starts to descend rather steeply into birch woods, with scattered mature oaks and luxuriant patches of greater woodrush (Luzula sylvatica). 

2. Turn left at the T-junction and ascend into mature oak woodland with Vaccinum myrtillus and Calluna understory, interspersed with rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) (good for Graphidion lichens) and holly (Ilex aquifolium).  There is also abundance of bryophytes on route.

The path soon begins a steep, mainly stepped, descent to the shoreline, which is fringed with an exuberance of yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) in Spring and Summer.  At the coastal edge, there are also some interesting wooden sculptures, carved from the stumps of coniferous trees.  The path skirts around the edge of the shore before heading back into the woodlands. 

At low tide, it is well worth exploring the coast, following a grassy path onto the shore and across the small salt marsh, patterned with innumerable small, irregular shaped pools and dendritic channels, and then onto the shingle/shell beach. The salt marsh is awash with the pinkish hues of flowering  thrift  (Armeria maritima) in Spring and Summer. 

The exposed shore is dotted with stratified clumps of brown seaweeds (fucoids, Pelvetia  canaliculata and Ascophyllum nodosum) at low tide.  The rocky shoreline also supports an abundance of barnacles and clusters of mussels, with scattered limpets, dog whelks, top shells etc; a good place for a rocky shore safari.  Look out for otters fishing in the fucoids/kelp beds and coastal birds and diving ducks on the shore and open water. 

3. After exploring the beach return to the coastal path by the same route and continue on, ascending through the birch/oak woodlands and crossing a small stream with stepping stones.  Turn left at the T junction and head back to the car park.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM702644

Links to useful information

  • Ardnamurchan Day Trips - Salen, Resipole and The Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

woodland path

length: 

0.7km (0.5 miles)

Type: 

  • circular

Map: 

OS Explorer Map 390 - Ardnamurchan

OS Map

>>view map in full window

Google Map

Safety

Route details and information are provided in good faith.  All walking is potentially dangerous and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly dressed and equipped, have a map and compass, have checked and planned your route in advance and are able to navigate effectively.  Maps displayed on these walking pages are intended as an overview of the walk and are NOT suitable for navigation.  Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect landowners and residents' privacy.  Always check the weather forecast and let others know if you are walking in the hills.

Walking

  • Walking Overview
  • Map of All Walks
  • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
  • Arisaig, Mallaig and Glenfinnan
  • Fort William and Glen Nevis
  • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

The Morar Hotel
The Morar Hotel

The Morar Hotel is a friendly family owned hotel situated in the center of Morar, a small village just three miles from Mallaig.  Built in 1902 The Morar Hotel retains much of the charm it had when it opened as The Station Hotel, with its own railway station providing excellent views of The West Highland Steam Train during the summer months.

Ardnamurchan Walking Pages

  • Alphabet Trail
  • Aoineadh Mor
  • Ardmolich Woodland Walk
  • Ardnastaing and Scotstown
  • Ardtornish Castle
  • Ariundle Oakwoods
  • Bay MacNeil Beach
  • Bay of Flies
  • Ben Hiant
  • Ben Resipole
  • Blain Burn Circular
  • Bourblaige Cleared Settlement
  • Camas nan Geall
  • Castle Tioram Circular
  • Castle Tioram Viewpoint
  • Claish Plantation
  • Corrantee Lead Mines from Ardnastaing
  • Corrantee Lead Mines from Polloch
  • Dalilea Walks
  • Dorlin Low Road
  • Fairy Walk
  • Fascadale and Port Eigin-aig
  • Galmadale Dam
  • Garbh Eilean Wildlife Walk
  • Ghardail Loop
  • Glen Moidart
  • Glenborrodale Nature Trail
  • Glendrian and Port Eigin-aig
  • Greadal Fhinn Chambered Cairn
  • Kentra Bay and The Singing Sands
  • Kentra Moss Circular
  • Kilmory Beach
  • Kinlochaline Low Road
  • Kinlochmoidart Old Road
  • Loch Teacuis Northside
  • Mingary Castle
  • Ockle to The Singing Sands
  • Polloch and Loch Shiel
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil
  • Portuairk to Sanna
  • Prince's Walk
  • Rahoy Hills - Black Water
  • Rahoy Hills - Loch Arienas
  • Salen Oakwoods
  • Shielfoot Torr
  • Silver Walk
  • Smirisary Walk
  • Sonachan Wood and Heathland
  • St Columba's Chapel, Drimnin
  • Strontian Community Woodland
  • Tennyson's Waterfall

Glencoe

Discover Glencoe

Glencoe and Loch Leven

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Walking

Walking

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with over 100 wildlife focused walks across Lochaber, you'll be spoilt for choice

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Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

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Wildlife

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Wildlife

Home to Scotland's Big Five, red deer, golden eagle, otter, red squirrel, seals and so much more. A Wildlife Adventure Awaits.

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Ardnamurchan

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Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

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Day Trips

Day trips

Day Trps

Take off for the day to see the puffins on The Treshnish Isles, A Day trip to Mull, Skye, The Small Isles, The Most westerly point on the mainland and many more local ideas for a day out

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