Achmelvich Bay - Thursday 28 April 2022
Route
Achmelvich - Gleannan Fheadair - Alltan 'abradhan - Port Alltan na Bradhan - Alltan 'abradhan - Gleannan Fheadair - Achmelvich - Port an Tairbh - Hermit's Castle - Achmelvich
Parking
Achmelvich Bay Car Park (Free). The Grid Reference is NC 05896 24843 and the nearest postcode is IV27 4LP.
Mileage
4.5 miles
Terrain
Well defined paths.
Weather
Overcast with some sunny spells and light breezes.
Time Taken
1hr 30mins
Total Ascent
472ft (144m)
Map
OS 442 Assynt & Lochinver
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Achmelvich - Gleannan Fheadair - Alltan 'abradhan - Port Alltan na Bradhan - Alltan 'abradhan - Gleannan Fheadair - Achmelvich - Port an Tairbh - Hermit's Castle - Achmelvich
Parking
Achmelvich Bay Car Park (Free). The Grid Reference is NC 05896 24843 and the nearest postcode is IV27 4LP.
Mileage
4.5 miles
Terrain
Well defined paths.
Weather
Overcast with some sunny spells and light breezes.
Time Taken
1hr 30mins
Total Ascent
472ft (144m)
Map
OS 442 Assynt & Lochinver
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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GPX File
GPX File
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Route Map
The walk location on a larger scale map
On the way to today's walk we called in at Flossie's Beach Store which is right next to Clachtoll Beach. During our 2 week stay near Drumbeg we called in here quite a bit - they do cracking Toasted Sandwiches. From no more than the size of a garden shed, they provide a very good service.
The large Car Park at Achmelvich Beach - the walk start point today
From the Car Park, a track heads north in the direction of Alltanabradhan
The craggy outcrop of Cnoc na Creige
Achmelvich Bay and the promontory of An Fharaid Bheag
Just north of the main beach is this smaller one - and not a soul about
The route leaves the track to the left continuing in the direction of Alltanabradhan
This little chap was just off route and seemed quite happy just munching away on the plentiful grass
The route continues through a craggy depression on a good path
The glorious view back to Achmelvich from a rocky promontory near Gleannan Fheadair
Angie & Fudge below as I make my way back down to join them from the rocky promontory
Another one of those "Fudge freezes" moments as he hears somebody open a packet of cheese in Inverness
The route reaches a grassy track with another one coming in from the right.
We exited left off the main path to visit another promontory with no doubt an amazing view
Yes - it certainly was
The view south east with l-r Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor & Cul Beag
A link to when we climbed the iconic mountain of Suilven can be found here
A link to when we climbed the iconic mountain of Suilven can be found here
Heading down to the old grain mill with Port Alltan na Bradhan ahead
To reach the grain mill there is a short transit over a small burn via a makeshift stone bridge
As expected near a disused grain mill, there were lots of old millstones lying about. They are laying over the leat that would have carried the water to drive the mill paddles which provided the energy to turn the millstones.
The tiny disused grain mill at Port Alltan na Bradhan. It was more than likely in use between 1600 & 1800 and mills such as these would have littered the Highlands & Islands during this period. They were also known as "Clack Mills" because of the sound the paddles made.
The inside of the grain mill with what I'm presuming are the last millstones used before it went out of use. The hole is where the paddles would have been sited, driven by the water provided by the leat below. One of the millstones would have been fixed with the other revolving to grind the corn.
Port Alltan na Bradhan
No Fudge - no pratting about here today thanks very much
A panorama of the beautiful Port Alltan na Bradhan
From Port Alltan na Bradhan we simply retraced our steps back to Achmelvich. We had intended to visit the famed Hermit's Castle together however the access stile was via this Caravan Site which unfortunately didn't approve of Fudge crossing the boundary. It was only a short distance over to the Castle therefore I left Angie & Fudge in Achmelvich and walked there solo.
The access stile to the Hermit's Castle. In all honesty we could have reached it from the western side of the beach.
Approaching the Hermit's Castle which is situated on An Fharaid Bheag
The rear view of the Hermit's Castle
The extremely narrow entrance to the Hermit's Castle - the castle can be found at Grid Reference NC 05218 24756
The 8 foot tall "castle" was built in the 1950s and there are various stories as to why, depending on who you ask. Despite its "Brutalist" design and appearance it does sort of fit in to the local landscape. The interior is also equally bizarre and once you have squeezed through the narrow opening there is a very small room containing an inset just about deep enough for a mattress. The architect & builder was a man called David Scott who hailed from Norwich and it is believed he spent six months in secrecy on the project, buying materials from local fisherman and bringing it to the lonely outcrop in his open-top boat. After this herculean effort, it is said that the architect only spent a single night in the building, before vanishing back to Norwich never to return. Research suggests that there is another reason for Scott constructing this strange building - apparently "Betty", the Lochinver Post Mistress and the local oracle believes that the strange building was built as a nuclear fallout shelter with room for one and that person being the last man or woman alive in Scotland.
The 8 foot tall "castle" was built in the 1950s and there are various stories as to why, depending on who you ask. Despite its "Brutalist" design and appearance it does sort of fit in to the local landscape. The interior is also equally bizarre and once you have squeezed through the narrow opening there is a very small room containing an inset just about deep enough for a mattress. The architect & builder was a man called David Scott who hailed from Norwich and it is believed he spent six months in secrecy on the project, buying materials from local fisherman and bringing it to the lonely outcrop in his open-top boat. After this herculean effort, it is said that the architect only spent a single night in the building, before vanishing back to Norwich never to return. Research suggests that there is another reason for Scott constructing this strange building - apparently "Betty", the Lochinver Post Mistress and the local oracle believes that the strange building was built as a nuclear fallout shelter with room for one and that person being the last man or woman alive in Scotland.
No matter as to the reason why it was built, there is no doubt that the building sits in a beautiful part of the Highlands
Returning the same way, I arrived back at Achmelvich Beach to meet up with Angie & Fudge. This was a great little walk in a stunning location - just a shame that the day remained overcast.
A few days later we visited the impressive falls at Clashnessie which were just a couple of miles down the road from where we were staying near Drumbeg
Clashnessie Falls - Monday 2 May 2022
Route
Clashnessie - Clashnessie Falls - Clashnessie
Parking
Verge parking (Free) near the beach at Clashnessie. The Grid Reference is NC 05759 30874 and the nearest postcode is IV27 4JF.
Mileage
1.5 miles
Terrain
One well defined path there and back.
Weather
Overcast with light breezes
Time Taken
45mins
Total Ascent
111ft (34m)
Map
OS 442 Assynt & Lochinver
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Clashnessie - Clashnessie Falls - Clashnessie
Parking
Verge parking (Free) near the beach at Clashnessie. The Grid Reference is NC 05759 30874 and the nearest postcode is IV27 4JF.
Mileage
1.5 miles
Terrain
One well defined path there and back.
Weather
Overcast with light breezes
Time Taken
45mins
Total Ascent
111ft (34m)
Map
OS 442 Assynt & Lochinver
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Route Map
The walk location on a larger scale map
The small parking area at Clashnessie Beach on the B869 between Drumbeg & Lochinver
Clashnessie Beach
From the Car Park the route heads up the B869 in the direction of Lochinver
Imagine trying to post a letter at the only post box in the village only to find it blocked up as it was being used by birds as a nesting place? The post box was occupied by a pair of Starlings who were using it as a nest to rear their young. Consequently, whilst they are in residence people have been requested to use a different post box, the nearest one being just under 2 miles away at Balchladich.
One of the Starlings returning to the post box - just fascinating.
(Photo used with kind permission of David Haines, Assynt Field Club - www.assyntwildlife.org.uk)
(Photo used with kind permission of David Haines, Assynt Field Club - www.assyntwildlife.org.uk)
Off to the left, a sign points the way to the falls
The route passes along an access track with the falls now in view
A few hundred yards along the access track the route heads off to the left once more
Another sign a little further on points the way to the falls via the Stepping Stones over the Abhainn Clais an Eas
With the Abhainn Clais an Eas now on our right, the approach to the falls is via a thin but clear path.
Clashnessie Falls - the noise of the water was deafening
Who's a happy pooch then eh Fudge?
Clashnessie Falls in full flow (click Play to view)
Oh he does love a good pose
Click play to view another video of the falls - this time in slow motion
Leaving the falls it was now a simple job of reversing our route to once more cross the stepping stones and return to the Car Park
Arriving back at Drumbeg we found this lot sat opposite our cottage in the lay by - probably a group of Cow Bandits waiting to ambush one of the NC500 Motorhomes that pass by here