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Portuairk and Bay MacNeil

  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil Walk

Details

A circular walk starting in the village of Portuairk, up through the hills and along to beautiful beach at Bay MacNeil and back along single track road and woodland.

This is a lovely coastal walk through some fine stretches of heathland and upland grassland, with some stunning coastal views of Sanna Bay on the Ardnamurchan peninsula and over the sea to Small Isles. There are also a few optional detours on route. Take time to explore the lovely sandy bay at Bay MacNeil. You can also take a detour to Ardnamurchan Point, with its Lighthouse, Exhibition Centre and Cafe (seasonal). Ardnamurchan Point is great place to search for cetaceans, basking sharks and seabirds. The Exhibition centre also provides a wonderful insight into the life of Highland lighthouse keeper, as well as the geology and biodiversity of Ardnamurchan and beyond. A fabulous slow adventure!

Route Details

1. Parking in Portuairk itself can be a little difficult though there is a little car park on the right hand side of the road just before the road zigzags down to the village. Once parked, follow the road down through the village along the coast, passing by the telephone box and notice board, and o to the turning area at the end. The footpath starts through the gate just to the left of the No Parking sign, and signposted to Bay MacNeil.

2. Head through the metal gate and follow the small footpath (which can get rather muddy) as it veers to the left and then uphill by the side of a house through the gully. At the old concrete water tank, follow the faint path to the right up into the low hills, with the village on your left. Keep right. The path soon become clearer and is marked by the occasional wooden post.

3. Follow the path skirting round the hill on the west - it is fairly well defined and marked with posts. At the third post, before you reach the fence line, turn right for an optional detour to the top of the hill to the west of the main path, marked by a series of cairns. Head towards You will be rewarded with some amazing views back over Portuairk and to The Small Isles and beyond. There are also some fine views of Ardnamurchan lighthouse, Bay McNeil and Sanna Bay. Return by the same route and continue towards the fencelike and join the main path that heads westwards though the valley back towards the sea passing a couple of old ruined houses/ shielings and leading to a style over the wire dear fence.

4. Cross the style and follow the path as signposted. The path follows the fence line and heads towards Ardnamurchan lighthouse. The path becomes more track-like and passes through a metal gate and along the back of a static caravan site behind Bay MacNeil. Make time to take the detour on the right through the dunes to Bay MacNeil, a wonderful sandy beach with some machair behind.

5. Continue on the track along the back of the caravan site and head uphill to the left as signposted following the footpath signs to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. The path may be a little muddy here. The path passes through a small gate in the deer fence and along a short section of heathland heading to the single track road at Grigadale. Once at the road, turn right to take an optional detour to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and refreshments (in season) or turn left to continue on the circular walk back to Portuairk.

6. Follow the road back past Grigadale farmhouse towards Portuairk. You can either follow the road all the way back to Portuairk, passing by Grigadale farmhouse and lochan.

7. Alternatively, you can head up left alongside the hill just before reaching the B8007. Look out for the metal gate by a telegraph pole and passing place at NM444670 just before the road rises and before reaching the B8007. Follow the footpath over rough pasture along the fence line skirting round the hill by the side of some woodland (mainly birch and hazel) above. Follow the fence line along and over the brow of the hill, following the fence line. Head downhill towards a metal gate in the corner of the field. Once through the gate, head towards the road through another metal gate with wood fencing surround. At the road, turn left and head back down to the village and back to your staring point.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM437682

Links to useful information

  • Bay MacNeil short walk
  • Bay MacNeil Beach

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

moorland path, track and road

length: 

5.5km (3.4 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 Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge Hotel

The Spean Bridge Hotel is home to The Commando Exhibition as well as being well placed to visit The Commando Memorial

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

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Walking

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Fort William

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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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Road to The Isles

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