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Loch Arkaig to Invermallie Bothy

  • Loch Arkaig to Invermallie Bothy
  • The Chia-aig car park at the start of the walk along the shorACes of Loch Arkaig
  • Follow the road to the Witches Pool
  • The lovely picnic area by the Chia-aig falls
  • The Chia-aig falls and Witches Pool
  • Walking along the minor road at the start of the walk
  • Turn left into Lochiel Estate
  • The eastern shores of Loch Arkaig
  • The tarmac track along the eastern shores of Loch Arkaig
  • Crossing the bridge over The River Arkaig
  • The River Arkaig
  • The Clan Cameron museum is a short detour away
  • Follow the track right along the southern shores of Loch Arkaig
  • The track right along the southern shores of Loch Arkaig
  • The track right along the southern shores of Loch Arkaig
  • Fabulous views across Loch Arkaig
  • Crossing an old iron bridge
  • The track continues along the southern shores of Loch Arkaig
  • A first view of the old house
  • A house with a view...
  • The track passes into open country after passing the old house
  • Look out for the faint path on the right to Invermallie Bothy
  • The path to Invermallie Bothy
  • The path to Invermallie Bothy
  • The path can be boggy in places
  • Looking back over Loch Arkaig
  • Invermallie Bothy
  • Invermallie Bothy
  • Invermallie Bothy
  • The River Mallie
  • The River Mallie
  • Invermallie Bothy
  • The River Mallie
  • Old Alders

Details

A lovely walk along the southern shores of Loch Arkaig to the mountain bothy on the banks of the River Mallie. The walk takes in Chia-aig waterfalls with a deep plunge pool which has been liken to a Witch's cauldron. The Chia-aig falls featured in the Hollywood film, Rob Roy. The walk affords some stunning views of Loch Arkaig on route which is variously clad in mixed woodland, pine forest, conifer plantation and open moorland and heath.

The walk starts with a short section on a minor road, skirted with mixed woodland and open pasture, with views of Beinn Bhan. The mixed woodland consists of ash, oak, rowan, sycamore and blackthorn, with an understorey of dog's mercury, lesser celandine, bluebell, primrose and meadow sweet according to local edpahic conditions. The walk also passes through a short section of alder carr dominated by alder and willow at the eastern edge of Loch Arkaig.

The southern shores of the loch are skirted with mixed riparian woodland, with alder, willow, beech, birch, holly, ash, hazel and Scot's pine, with an understorey of wood anemone, wood sorrel, bilberry, heather and violets. There are some fine specimen trees along the route including old oaks clad with polypody and lichens. Towards the end of the walk, the path crosses wet grassland, dotted with lousewort, marsh violet and bog myrtle.

The end destination is a bothy at Invermallie run by the Mountain Bothy Association adjacent to the River Mallie; a lovely place for a picnic or an overnight stay.

Look out for a variety of dabbling ducks, sawbills, black throated and red throated divers, osprey and white-tailed eagle on the loch and sandpipers and green shank on the shores. Listen out for the trills of siskins in the alder woodland and tits, tree creepers and other woodland birds in the mixed woodland. Look out for dipper and otter along the river. Scan the hills for golden eagle, buzzard and other raptors as well as the majestic red deer.

You can also take a short detour to the Clan Cameron Museum which is signposted on route. It is open in the afternoon.

A stunning walk along the shores of Loch Arkaig leading to a delightful bothy by a river at Invermallie.

Route Details

  1. Park at the forestry car park for Chia-aig waterfalls at eastern edge of Loch Arkaig, near the end of the B8005. Turn right and head west, walking initially along a small path by the side of the road towards the waterfall, Witches Pool and picnic area as signposted. Take time admire the stunning waterfalls before continuing on the road.
  2. Turn left onto the track signposted Locheil Estate- Private Road which skirts around the eastern end of Loch Arkaig.
  3. Cross a wooden bridge over the River Arkaig, affording fine views of river with its impressive shingle deposits. Turn right at the end of the bridge onto an undulating rough track which skirts the loch. There are some fine views of Loch Arkaig on route through gaps in the trees.
  4. Pass by a wood-clad cottage with a tin roof on the left and then cross a small stream on a small bridge by a house.
  5. Cross another stream to emerge into open grassland. Take a small faint path on the right approximately 100 yards beyond the stream crossing. The path which heads through wet grassland leaving the main track which continues up into Glen Mallie. The path heads towards a stone cottage (mountain bothy at Invermallie), passing through a small copse, affording fine views of the loch and the surrounding hills. This section can be rather boggy.
  6. Take time to relax by the river or have a picnic at the bothy before returning by the same route.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NN177888

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

road, track and path

length: 

9.2km (5.75 miles)

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer 399 - Loch Arkaig

OS Map

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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
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

Smiddy House and Russell's Restaurant
Smiddy House and Russell's Restaurant

The Smiddy House offers four individually designed ensuite rooms and is graded 4 star gold by Visit Scotland.  Russell's restaurant has been awarded 2 AA rosettes for the last 10 years and specialises in local produce.  The Commando memorial is a mile away and there are a number of local walks around Spean Bridge including The Wee Minister and The High Bridge walk.  The Parallel Roads in Glen Roy National Nature reserve are a 15 minute drive away towards Roy Bridge and are well worth a visit if you are interested in learning about the geology of The Highlands.

Fort William Walking Pages

  • Allt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve
  • Caledonian Canal Aqueducts
  • Cow Hill
  • Crofters Woods
  • Dun Deardail
  • Erracht Oakwood Walk
  • Fort William and Old Inverlochy Castle
  • Gairlochy Caledonian Canal
  • Glengarry Native Pinewoods
  • Glenloy Forest and Strone Viewpoint
  • High Bridge and The Commando Memorial
  • Killiechonate Woodland Walk
  • Loch Arkaig to Invermallie Bothy
  • Neptune's Staircase and Corpach
  • Nevis Gorge and An Steall
  • Roy Bridge and The River Spean
  • The River Lundy Trail
  • The Wee Minister

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

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Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

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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.

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Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

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Activities

Activities

Activities

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

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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

>>

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