Dog Walks: Scottish Highlands, Attadale Glen to Loch an Iasaich.

Dog Walks: Scottish Highlands, Attadale Glen to Loch an Iasaich: This walks was lovely, it was peaceful, remote and great views. We saw lots of deer here, Hinds in the wood and a Bachelor Stag Group up on the crags, such a great site to see. We stopped for our sandwich at Loch an Iasaich, loved the location and tranquility, and as we embarked on the return route the weather changed and the heavens opened…..it really rained! However the view was not spoiled, it was still stunning on the return journey, we were more than happy as we had all our protective gear with us, including Sarchie! This walk gives you great views down the Attadale Glen, towards Lochcarron, and the surrounding mountains, really beautiful.

Start/finish: Attadale Gardens Walkers Car Park

Directions/Parking: On the A890 just south of Strathcarron is the turning into Attadale Gardens, and just as you turn off the main A890 road on to the Attadale Gardens Drive the Walkers Car Park is located immediately on the right.

Nearest Public Conveniences: Attadale Gardens or Lochcarron

Approximate Total Mileage: 7.2 Miles

Terrain: Public Road, gravel tracks, grassy tracks, some inclines, one long steady incline from Attadale Bridge up to Loch an Iasaich itself, but is obviously downhill on return journey!

Description of suitability of and ability: Due to the nature of the terrain it would be unsuitable for wheels, it is a straightforward walk, although there is the long steady incline mainly on stony gravel roads up to the Loch which is steeper in some places than others.

Dog Walks: Scottish Highlands, Attadale Glen to Loch an Iasaich Route:

With your back to the main road and the Car Park on your right, continue along the drive in the field, it goes along a straight then bears left around a corner, follow along the drive.

You will then pass by another car park on your right and ahead of you is a cattle grid and gate, pass over the cattle grid or through the adjacent gate, a short distance ahead the road splits, left is into Attadale Gardens, but here you bear right and continue along the hard road.

Very soon the road forks, here you take the right fork, continue on the road ahead, you will soon come to a cattle grid so pass over it or through the adjacent gate, and continue ahead on the road for a fair distance, you will pass over a wooden bridge, but just continue on the road ahead.

On the left on this stretch of road up in the Craggs we saw a Stag Bachelor Group of Deer, fantastic.

Eventually you will come to dwellings down on the right and a gate ahead of you across a stony track, here you pass through the gate and continue along the stony gravel track through fields.

You continue on this track for a fair distance, and it eventually bears right and passes over then Attadale River via a large bridge, you then start to rise.

This stony gravel track twists and turns its way up the hillside, you pass over another stream with a lovely waterfall on your left, you continue winding and climbing, it is a long steady climb, some parts steeper than others. You will have fantastic views of the mountains ahead and to the left of Carn Ruairidh, Aonach Dubh, and Meall Ruadh, a conifer forest is on your right, and superb views down the Attadale Glen behind you.

The stony gravel track levels out, and as it starts to drop down a gentle slope you will come to a junction with a track off to the right and a marker post on the right, here you do not turn right, you continue straight on.

After a short distance on a left bend you will see a wooden footpath marker on the right signing Loch an Iasaich and Killilan to the right into the wooded area. Here you turn right on to the grassy track through the wood.

Follow this track through the forestry for a fair distance, and you will then come to another junction, here straight on is signed to Killilan and to the right is signed Loch an Iasaich, here you turn right and follow the path up a bit more of an incline and then it levels out a bit, you will then see the Loch through the trees here to left along this stretch.

Continue ahead on the track and you will then come to another junction, here on the left is a White Notice Board stating Attadale Estate Fishing Rights, and a footpath marker on the right, here you go straight on and down to the edge of Loch an Iasaich, we had our lunch here, what a peaceful, remote and lovely spot it is.

You then return up the track for a few steps until you get back to the junction now with the white notice board on your right, here you turn left and follow along the track up the slope and it then levels off. Very soon there is a path which heads off to the left but ignore this and continue straight ahead. The path then starts to drop right hand handed and then downhill into a more wooded area.

Eventually you will come down to a junction in the the track, left goes up a slope and right goes down, here you turn right and continue on the track, it will then soon come to another junction and here you turn left, this may look familiar to you now as you are now returning by the same route.

So continue ahead on the track, as it descends, and winds its way down, then over the stream and the Attadale River, then the tracks bears left, follow along the track through the field, back through the gate and onto the hard road. Continue on this road, pass over the cattle grid or through the adjacent gate, and bear left on the road at the entrance to Attadale gardens.

Pass over the cattle grid or through the adjacent gate, then follow the drive ahead through the field back to your car.

Dog Walks: Scottish Highlands, Attadale Glen to Loch an Iasaich Places to Eat in the Area:

http://www.glenelg-inn.com/ A bit of a drive from here but so worth it is the Glenelg Inn. This was the best place in the Highlands we had eaten, the food fantastic, lovely hospitality, beautiful location and great open fire! The food that we have had here has all been fantastic – everything from Venison, Woodpigeon, Superb Local Fresh Fish, Steak, Soup, Haggis Stuffed Chicken……all superb!

However our new firm favourite is the Cluanie Inn http://www.cluanieinn.com/ In the past two years this has now become our most favourite place to eat. We have had the tastiest Venison Chilli, the most wonderful twice cooked beef, chicken supreme with haggis……it has all been totally delicious and very well presented, a real gem.