Skip to main content
Wild About Lochaber

Wild About Lochaber

where great adventures begin...

Search form

Menu

  • Home
  • Explore
    • Wild Lochaber
    • Ardnamurchan, Moidart & Morvern
    • Fort William and Glen Nevis
    • Glencoe and Loch Leven
    • The Road To The Isles
    • #WildLochaber Photo Gallery
  • Accommodation
    • Hotels and B&Bs
    • Caravan & Campsites
  • Walking
    • Map of All Walks
    • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
    • Arisaig Mallaig and Glenfinnan
    • Fort William and Glen Nevis
    • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
  • Wildlife
    • Map of Wildlife Sites
    • Wildlife Experiences
    • Wildlife Habitats
  • Things To Do
    • Activity Providers
    • Beaches
    • Castles
    • Destinations
    • Gardens
    • Geology
    • Geopark Rock Route
    • Historic Attractions
    • Museums and Interpretation
    • Railways
    • Wildlife Experiences
    • Wildlife Hotspots
  • Travel
    • Electric Vehicle Charging Points
    • Ferries
    • Petrol Stations
    • The Caledonian Sleeper
  • What's On
    • Calendar
    • Arts, Culture and Community Events
    • Family Friendly Events
    • Walking Events
    • Wildlife & Geology Events
    • Events on Discover Glencoe
    • Road to The Isles & Ardnamurchan
  • Blogs
    • Ardnamurchan Area Blogs
    • Glencoe Area Blogs
    • Lochaber Blogs
    • West Coast Island Blogs
    • Wild About Lochaber Blog

Kinlochmoidart Old Road

  • Loch Moidart from the old road
  • The old and the new roads
  • The devils staircase
  • The old kinlochmoidart path
  • Near the start of the old road by kinacarra
  • Take the highroad everytime
  • The devil's staircase
  • Atlantic oak woodlands make this walk really special
  • The descent back to the A861
  • The A861 by Loch Moidart, a good place to look out for otters

Details

A pleasant, scenic walk and interesting walk along the old track on the north side of Loch Moidart that formerly connected Glenuig and Kinlochmoidart.  There are excellent views of Loch Moidart on route.  

The area has a long history and turbulent history of occupation, including an Iron Age fort (An Dun), pre-historic ‘hut circles’, charcoal and kelp burning sites (recessed platforms) used during 18th and 19th centuries, lazybeds and ruined buildings.  There are also some coffin cairns along the route. 

The Iron Age Dun is thought to have been constructed to protect local farmers in their circular wooden huts with turf roofs.  The fortified hilltop consisted of a number of encircling drystone walls.  An Dun is also known locally as 'Plate Rock' as it is rumoured  to have served as the hiding place for valuables of the MacDonalds of Kinlochmoidart (supporters of the Jacobite Uprising og 1745), following the defeat of Bonnie Princes Charles at Culloden in 1746 (see Moidart History Walk 3).  Execution, the burning of Kinlochmoidart House and the confiscation of estate and assets was the tragic outcome for the family.

More recently, the track has been used for the six day motorbike trials, with the notorious Devils Staircase some 600 metres from the start of the path.  The old road is longer used for the trials, but the path is still a popular attraction walkers and fans of the trials alike.

The route can be a little muddy and vertiginous in places, but it is well worth the effort.

See Moidart History Walk 3 (A Walk to An Dun, Moidart Local History Group) for a detailed historical perspective.

Route Details

1. The track is marked on OS maps as a footpath/track and can be joined at various points along the road.  We recommend starting by the old jetty at Kinlochmoidart where the start of the path is marked by a small stone cairn. 

The route ascends gradually and runs parallel with the A861 through Atlantic oak woodland. There are some steep sections.

2. When the old road rejoins the A861 you may either retrace your path or walk back along the road. 

The road runs along the sides of Loch Moidart and offers good opportunities for spotting otters, especially on the incoming tide.  Although a double track road, this section of the A861 has a resonably wide grass verge to walk on and it is not particulary busy.  However, you should take due care and attention if returning by the road route.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM694728

parking grid ref: 

NM692730

Links to useful information

  • Moidart History Group
  • A John Dye Expedition account
  • A tale of Wat the Wanderer
  • Loch Moidart SSSI
  • 1957 Devil's Staircase trials blog

grade: 

  • moderate

terrain: 

path, vertginous in places

length: 

3.6km (2.2 miles)

Type: 

  • circular
  • there and back

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 Invergarry Hotel
Invergarry Hotel

The Invergarry Hotel - A charming 4 Star Scottish Highland Country Inn

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

>>

Walking

Walking

Take a Walk on The Wild Side...

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

>>

Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

>>

Wildlife

wildlife

Wildlife

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

>>

Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

>>

Activities

Activities

Activities

kayaking, wildlife watching, cruising, cycling, golfing, climbing, skiing, slow adventures and many more things to do

>>

Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

>>

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

>>

  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Photos and Content Copyright ©2011-2025 Wild About Lochaber - All Rights Reserved

  • Wild About Lochaber on Instagram
  • Wild About Lochaber on FaceBook
  • Wild About Lochaber on Twitter