Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK)

430am Kenmore to Ardheslaig

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 14th August, 2019]

It’s a dull morning, and I leave my Scooty bike chained up in the layby near Kenmore.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 9 Comments

429 Cuaig viewpoint to Kenmore

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 13th August, 2019]

This morning, I park my van (The Beast) near the hamlet of Kenmore, and cycle back to the Cuaig viewpoint, where I stow my Scooty bike behind a boulder. Looking ahead at the road, I can see it leaves the shoreline and heads northwards in a series of swinging curves.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 22 Comments

428 Sand to Cuaig viewpoint

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk took place on the 12th August 2019]

I spend the morning sheltering from the rain in my van, before driving up from Applecross, and parking at a beautiful viewpoint just south of Cuaig.

Pull on my waterproof trousers and zip up my raincoat. Hop onto Scooty, and sail down the road to the parking spot at Sand, where I hide Scooty in a clearing surrounded by dripping bracken.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged coast, hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 37 Comments

427 Applecross to viewpoint at Sand

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 11th August 2019]

I am determined to cover a good distance today, and make up for some of the ‘wasted walking’ I’ve been doing along dead-end paths at the bottom of the Applecross peninsula.

But, the narrow, twisty single-track road along the coast is hard to navigate. When I pull into a car park, believing I have travelled miles, I discover I’m only half way to my intended destination.

Decide I’ll do the walk in two sections, and set off cycling back the way I’ve come. Leave my Scooty bike beside one of the newly planted trees along the shore road in Applecross.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged coast, hiking, photography, travel | 19 Comments

426pm Toscaig to Applecross

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 10th August 2019]

After lunch, I follow the footpath back to the shore of Poll Creadha bay. Joining the road again, I head left towards ~~Rubadubdub~~ – sorry, Aird-Dhubh. On the way, I turn off to visit a slipway, where a not-very-necessary sign warns me my non-existent car might fall into the water.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 18 Comments

426am Toscaig to Applecross

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 10th August 2019]

I drive from the Applecross campsite down to Loch Toscaig, and the pier at the end of the road. The pier is somewhat underwhelming, as it is, basically, a large car park!

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged coast, hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 19 Comments

425 Toscaig to Airigh-drishaig and back

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk took place on the 8th August 2019]

I’ve reached Applecross and, following my rules, I should just turn northwards and follow the coastal road up to Sheildaig and Torridon. Instead, I decide to walk to the most southernmost point I can reach along footpaths, to the base of the Applecross peninsula, and work my way northwards from there.

I leave my van in the campsite, and ride my Scooty down the road to Toscaig, and chain him up at the beginning of today’s walk.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 30 Comments

424pm Bealach na Bà to Applecross

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 7th August 2019]

I shrug my rucksack back on, and turn away from the Bealach na Bà viewpoint. Despite the lack of an actual view, I do feel an intense sense of achievement. This particular section of the walk has been worrying me for ages, but I’ve conquered the pass and one of the most difficult parts of the N500 route.

Onwards. Down into the mist.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged coast, hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 14 Comments

424am Kishorn to Bealach na Bà

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 7th Aug 2019]

I stand beside the village shop in Kishorn, and watch the minibus disappear down the road with a mix of excitement and trepidation. No backing out now. I’m committed to walking up the Applecross road, and over the infamous Bealach na Bà pass.

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Posted in 22 Highlands | Tagged hiking, photography, scotland, travel | 23 Comments

423 second part, Ardaneaskan to Kishorn

Posted on July 11, 2020 by Ruth Livingstone

[This walk was completed on the 6th August 2019.]

When I reach Loch Reraig on my return walk, I don’t retrace my footsteps and follow the footpath signed towards Leacanashie. Instead, I keep going straight along the track, and soon cross over the Reraig Burn via a low bridge.

I stand on the bridge and take a photograph. The burn meanders in lazy curves to join the waters of Loch Reraig. So beautiful.