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Prince Charlie's Cave and Borrodale Beach

  • Borrodale Burn leading to Borrodale Beach
  • Cross the bay from Druimindarrach
  • Druimindarrach Bay
  • Looking back towards the stone boathouse at Druimindarrach
  • Crossing the boggy area at the far side of  Druimindarrach Bay
  • Turn left on the grassy/gravel path to head towards the cave and beach
  • Looking back towards the headland Rubh Aird Mhoir
  • The track to Prine Charlie's cave
  • Passing through a small area of oak woodland
  • Turn left at the gate to walk up to Prince Charlie's cave
  • The entrance to Prince Charlie's cave
  • The view from Prince Charlie's cave
  • Remember to take a torch if you want to explore Prince Charlie's cave
  • Crosssing the grassland behind Borrodale Beach
  • Looking towards Arisaig House
  • The grassland leads onto the shingle/pebble beach
  • Lovely views of Eilean nan Cabar
  • Borrodale beach has some sandy areas at low tide
  • Borrodale Beach looking towards Moidart
  • The boggy path to the old jetty
  • The path continues onto the headland
  • Straight on to the headland and some interesting rock formations or right to the old jetty
  • Wonderful convoluted rocks
  • The old jetty
  • A slow worm in mid February
  • The path to the headland by Druimindarrach
  • An old boathouse
  • A view of Eilean nan Cabar

Details

A lovely walk to Prince Charlie's Cave and Borrodale Beach with some fine coastal and mountain views on route. Take time to explore the beauty of the coastline and explore the bays and headlands keeping your eyes open for a range of coastal and grassland wildlife. You pass by some lovely oak copses on route; the trunks and boughs of which are strewn with crustiose, foliose and fruticose lichens. Look out for otters along the coast.

Imagine Bonnie Prince hiding from the Redcoats in the cave and immerse yourself in the history and romance of the period.

The beach is a lovely pace for a picnic and for admiring island and hill views over Loch nan Uamh. Take time to revel in the soundscape of Glenborrodale Beach as the waves crash onto the shingle beach.

The bedrock is metamorphic, the Lower Morar Psammite Formation, formed between 542 and 1000 million years ago, with some basalt and microgabbro igneous intrusions, part of the North Britain Palaeogene Dyke Suite.

The path is generally well defined but can be a little muddy in places.

A lovely place to explore and lose yourself in the romance and beauty of the place.

Route Details

1. Park by the old stone boathouse at Druimindarrach being careful to leave space for other cars.

2. Skirt around the edge of the bay to cross to the other side and follow a poorly defined track over boggy ground on the other side.  After 100m or so you will meet up with a well defined grassy/gravel path.

3. Turn left on the track to head towards Prince Charlie's cave and Borrodale beach.  Alternatively, you can turn right and head along the path to the end of the headland with fine views of the pine clad island, Eilean nan Cabar.

4. Follow the track past a small bay and up a gentle incline through a wooded area and down again to a gateway into the grassland area in front of Arisiag House.

5. Turn left before the gate to head to Prince Charlie's cave.  There is a path through the rocks up to the cave entrance, just behind an old oak tree.  Take time to explore the cave.  Remember to pack a torch if you want to explore inside.

6. Returning to the gate, follow the grassy track in the grassy area towards Borrodale Burn.  At the Burn head right down to the beach.

7. If you have appropriate footweae you can cross the burn or wade across at low tide to explore the old vitrified fort on the top of the hill on the other side.

8. Take time to explore the beach.

9. Return by the same route.  When you reach the first bay you can take the boggy path to the left heading to the headland and old jetty or you can just continue back to the old stone boathouse at Druimindarrach.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM686844

Links to useful information

  • Borrodale Beach
  • Prince Charlie's Cave Arisaig
  • Rubh' Aird Ghamhsgail

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

Track and boggy path

length: 

4km (2.5 miles)

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer 398 - Mallaig

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
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Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

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Arisaig Mallaig Glenfinnan Walking Pages

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  • Larachmhor Garden Walk
  • Loch a Bhada Dharaich
  • Loch an Nostarie and Mallaig
  • Loch Morar
  • Mallaig Circular
  • Prince Charlie's Cave and Borrodale Beach
  • Strath of Arisaig & Camas Ghaoideil

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