The Loch Shiel Hotel is located in centre of the village of Acharacle, just over an hours drive away from Fort william and well situated to explore Ardnamurchan, Mull, The Small Isles and Lochaber.
Prince Charlie's Cave and Borrodale Beach
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
grade:
- easy
terrain:
Track and boggy path
length:
4km (2.5 miles)
Type:
- there and back
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.
