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
    • Self Catering
    • Caravan & Campsites
    • Hotels and B&Bs
  • 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

Polloch and Loch Shiel

  • The River Polloch from the first viewpoint
  • Forestry commission car park at Polloch
  • A timber stack (keep off)
  • The forest track from Polloch to Loch Shiel
  • The River Polloch and marshland
  • Loch Shiel
  • The footpath near Loch Shiel
  • Welcome bench at the second viewpoint
  • The interpretation board by Polloch Pier
  • New Polloch Pier

Details

A pleasant walk in the Glenhurich Forest mainly along a forest track from Polloch, near Strontian, to the shores of Loch Shiel. The route passes through coniferous plantation, heath, and woodland. There are two viewpoints on route providing fine views across Loch Shiel whose restless waters shimmer on a sunny day.

The forest track initially follows the meandering River Polloch, whose shores are lined with mixed broadleaf trees, consisting of the willow, ash, rowan, alder and hazel.  As the track heads through the coniferous plantation of Glenhurich Forest, it is dotted with a host of wild flowers in Spring and Summer.  The track provides a good place to look for common blues on the birds’-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and other butterfly species flitting along the verges on a sunny day. On route, there are also opportunities to spot golden eagle, buzzards and corvids on the crags, and diving and dabbling ducks on Loch Shiel, as well as a range of woodland birds. Look out for otters in the numerous sandy and shingle inlets on the Loch.  

Route Details

1. Park at the car park at Polloch, about 10km north of Strontian, and take the forest track signposted to Glenfinnan.

As the track bends to the right, two lovely small lochans come into view, bursting with water-lilies and the haunt of darters, chasers, hawkers and damselflies. There are some lovely views of the hills surrounding Loch Shiel, with its mixture of Atlantic oak woodland and coniferous plantation. The track continues to wind gradually up the hill, eventually affording lovely views of Loch Shiel.

2. At the top of the track, take the path on the left, way-marked by a red signposted, which heads towards two viewpoints. At the T junction near the start of the path turn left and take a short (100m) detour which skirts around the hillside through former heath to the first viewpoint. There is a welcome picnic bench at the viewpoint. The viewpoint provides panoramic views of the Loch and the surrounding hills, across a canopy of the mixed oak woodland. Return by the same route.

3. Continue on the way-marked route which heads around the other side of the hill, ascending slightly to another viewpoint before descending. Follow the signs to this second viewpoint (150m) through Calluna dominated heath, studded with small birch trees. At the end, there is a bench providing an ideal opportunity to admire the views of Loch Shiel.

4. Return to the main path by the same route. The main path now begins to wind down the hill to the shore, through former coniferous plantations. Near the shore, the path skirts around the wooded edge of the loch with a ground flora of bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia), honeysuckle (Lonicera pericymenum) and Calluna-Erica assemblages. Look out for the old mail boat, now wrecked, just before you reach the new pier. Immediately opposite the new pier there is a welcome bench; this is a lovely place to take time to enjoy the wildlife.

5. The path heads back uphill, passing by an interpretation board on route, introducing some of the wildlife on Loch Shiel. Cross the forest track and continue uphill, as signposted, through heath, studded with foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), hard fern (Blechnum spicant) and male ferns (Dryopteris spp) and dense patches of woodrush (Luzula sylvatica).

6. On meeting the forest track, turn left and descend back to car-park.

At the car park take time to visit the small interpretation centre located in the wooden building. The Interpretation Centre contains information on the area, including archaeology, forestry, townships and local culture.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM792688

Links to useful information

  • Forestry Commission - Loch Shiel view point
  • Forestry Commission - Polloch Car Park
  • Ardnamurchan Day Trips - Strontian and Ariundle Oakwoods

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

Forest track and path

length: 

4.75km (3 miles)

Type: 

  • lollipop

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

Ardrhu Cottage
Ardrhu Cottage

Lochside cottage on the banks of Loch Linnhe in Onich with Glencoe mountains in the back ground.

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 ©2011-2023 Wild About Lochaber - All Rights Reserved

  • Wild About Lochaber on YouTube
  • Wild About Lochaber on Pinterest
  • Wild About Lochaber on Instagram
  • Wild About Lochaber on FaceBook
  • Wild About Lochaber on Twitter
Share/Save