The Moorings Hotel on the banks of The Caledonian Canal by Neptune's Staircase
Kentra Moss Circular
Details
A circular walk on track and road across Kentra Moss with good opportunities for botanising and bird watching. Kentra Moss, together with nearby Claish Moss, is one of the few examples of eccentric mires in Britain being a fine example of oceanic blanket bog.
The walk provides good access to the bog across tracks allowing the opportunity to get close to bog fauna and flora, including bog asphodel, bog myrtle, sundew, butterwort and numerous species of Sphagnum and other mosses. It also a good place for dragonfly stalking (in season). Lookout for buzzard, hen harrier, sea eagle and short-eared owl.
Route Details
1. Park near the school or church at Acharacle, Ardnamurchan and follow the gated track behind the school towards Arivegaig. This is one of the Highland Council Core Paths.
2. Keep right where the track forks off to Glenborrodale and follow it to the small community of Arivegaig.
3. Turn right on the small single tracked road by the post box and follow the road to the T junction with the Ardtoe road.
4. Turn left at the T junction and then right on a well defined track across the Moss after 200 metres or so. This track can be boggy, so waterproof footwear is highly recommended.
5. Turn right on the Shielbridge road at the end of track and follow the road back to Acharacle.
There is an option for cutting the walk short at the Ardtoe T junction (shown on green on the route map) - you can either take the track over the moss directly opposite (which may be boggy) and turn right onto the Shielbridge road. Alternatively for an even shorter route, avoiding the boggy track across the moss, turn right along the Ardtoe road to head back into Acharacle past the Church.
Location
starting grid ref:
NM674680
Links to useful information
grade:
- moderate
terrain:
track and road
length:
6.9km (4.3 miles) with optional shortcuts
Type:
- circular
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.
