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The Wee Minister

  • The Wee Minister
  • Park by the large metal bridge
  • A short walk along a quiet road
  • Along the banks of the River Spean
  • Take the track to Corriechoille
  • The start of many a long walk into the hills
  • The track to Corriechoille
  • The Old Drover Road
  • Dog's mercury in early April
  • The track passes Corriechoille Lodge
  • Passing past Corriechoille Lodge
  • Pass through the gate and continue into the hills
  • Some lovely views along the way
  • The old sign to The Lairig
  • The diversion to the old railway bridge is on the left just after the 'car par'
  • The track passes through a metal gate into Killiechonate Woodlands
  • A first sight of The Wee Minister
  • The Wee Minister
  • The small plaque by The Wee Minister
  • There is a small collection box for Lochaber Mountain rescue team at The Wee Minister
  • The Wee Minister
  • Enjoying the views at The Wee Minister
  • Enjoying the views at The Wee Minister
  • The Wee Minister
  • The Wee Minister
  • The Wee Minister
  • Some relics of the old railway
  • The old railway line from Loch Treig to Fort William
  • The old bridge over Allt leachdach gorge
  • The old bridge over Allt leachdach gorge

Details

A lovely walk to the wooden statue of the Wee Minister, a cedar wooden replica by Peter Bowsher of a former stone statue that stood on a nearby site.

The route initially follows the River Spean for a short distance on a minor road which is fringed with birch, hazel, oak, hazel, alder, ash and willow. The River Spean cuts through Leven Schists (Pelite and Calcsilicate-rock) and its notable for outcrops, boulders and shingle banks.

The route soon joins the Old Drover Road, which ascends through a lovely section of mixed deciduous woodland before heading through rough pasture. The woodland supports some fine old trees strewn with shrubby and foliose lichens. Purple moor grass, bog asphodel, bog myrtle and heath rush add interest to the section of rough pasture, which gives way to coniferous plantation at its flanks. The Old Drover Road was once a major route for cattle transport between the Trysts at Crief and Falkirk.

For most of the way the rough track follows the tributary, Allt Leachdach, heading towards the Lairig (the hill pass). There are some stunning hill views and glen on route.

You are soon welcomed by the outstretched hand of The Wee Minister, who is accompanied by a plaque and a donation box. According to the plaque, the wooden replica replaces stone a statue dating from the 1900s, and is that of the Reverend John McIntosh. However, local opinion is that the statue more likely to be that Dr. Thomas Chalmers who was the first Moderator of the local Free Church of Scotland. The statue was a gift and originally erected in 1886 in the manse garden of the Moderator John McIntosh in Achintore Road, Fort William.

The statue was removed by the wife of John McIntosh when he was away during the First World War and relocated to the church grounds above Monzie Square in Fort William. It remained there until 1968 from whence it was removed to Glen Spean, where it quickly became a local attraction. The statue and was thought to bring good luck to climbers and walkers alike on their route to the Grey Corries. Unfortunately, the stone statue began to disintegrate and was eventually removed in the 1970s. The statue was resurrected in May 2010 by the Glen Spean and Great Glen Tourism Marketing Group as a wooden replica with a donation box for the Lochaber Mountain Rescue.

On your return it is also worth taking a short detour to the section of the dismantled narrow-gauge railway that spans the steep sided gorge of Allt Leachdach. Little remains of the line other than a few rusty tracks, and concrete structures. However, the impressive nature of this feat of engineering is still evident from the concrete arches that span the steep sided gorge of Allt Leachdach. The Lochaber Narrow Gauge railway was originally laid down by Balfour Beatty and Co. Ltd during the construction of the Aluminium Works in Fort William. The track originally ran from a sea pier at Loch Linnhe to the factory workings and then onto Loch Treig and Loch Laggan. It was used to support the construction of a tunnel between to Loch Trig and Fort William. The line was later re built by British Aluminium to support for maintenance of the upper and lower works.

Look out for otters and dippers along the River Spean and raptors among the hills Stone chats and [pipits on the heath/moor

Route Details

1. Take the turning off the A86 signposted Corriechoille and Killiechonate Woods just east of Spean Bridge by Inverroy. Park in one of the small car parking areas by a metal bridge spanning the River Spean. There are parking places on both sides of the bridge.

2. Follow the road onwards which skirts the River Spean for a short distance. Keep right where the road forks following the signposts to Rannoch, Kinlochleven, Glen Nevis and Corrour Station. The route takes you along an Old Drover Road.

3. The Old Drover Road passes by a couple of houses on left before heading out into open country/ rough pasture. Pass through a metal gate and onwards towards the hills.

4. Continue onwards towards The Lairig when you encounter a wooden signpost.

5. Pass by a small car parking area and then through a second metal gate into Killiechonate Woods. The Wee Minister soon appears on the right overlooking the Glen.

6. On passing back through the metal gate, it is worth taking a short detour to the see the remains of the former railway line on the right, just by a parking area. Head towards the fringing of birch which indicates the steep sided gorge of Allt Leachdach.

7. Good views are afforded of the remains of the line spanning the gorge by taking a few paces to the left. Please be aware that the site is very dangerous and you should not proceed beyond the wire fence.

8. Return by the same route

 

Location

starting grid ref: 

NN253799

Links to useful information

  • Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

road and track

length: 

6.75 km (4.25 miles)

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer 392 - Ben Nevis

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
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

Nevis Bank Inn, Fort William
Nevis Bank Inn

The Nevis Bank Inn is a modern four star hotel with an onsite restaurant and bar serving contemporary and classic Scottish cuisine. The Nevis Bank Inn is just a ten minute walk away from the centre of Fort William and just a squeak away from the wee road to Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis beyond. 

A great base to explore and enjoy Glen Nevis, Ben Nevis, Fort William and beyond...

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

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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

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Day Trips

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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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