Hidden Scotland
Sign in
A walk round the Shieldaig peninsula
A walk · Shieldaig

Shieldaig – A Peninsula Walk and Lunch by the Loch

About 3.3 miles on foot.

The shore at the south end of Shieldaig, opposite the shop and the Tigh an Eilean HotelStartThe headland by Camas RuadhWhere you turn

Shieldaig is a single street of white houses on the shore of Loch Shieldaig, a fishing village since the early 1800s.

A circuit round the peninsula to its north crosses heather and birch wood above quiet bays, with the mountains of Loch Torridon and the hills of Skye in view along the way. Lunch is back in the village, by the water.

Time
About two hours: a circuit of about three and a quarter miles (5.3 km) from the village round the peninsula to the headland by Camas Ruadh, with about 150 metres of up and down.
The path
Old paths and tracks over heather moor and through birch wood, with one short, steep and rocky stretch.
Where to start
By the shore at the south end of Shieldaig, opposite the shop and the Tigh an Eilean Hotel; a second car park, with public toilets, at the north end of the village.
Set off
About 10.30am, to be back in the village for lunch at about 12.30pm.
When to go
All year, setting off with time to be back in the village in daylight.
Dogs
On a lead in the village and wherever there are sheep, which graze the peninsula.
Children
A family walk, with one short, steep and rocky stretch and drops at the headlands: keep children close.
Before you set out
Old paths and tracks, with one short, steep and rocky stretch: wear boots.

The walk

Park by the shore at the south end of the village, opposite the shop and the Tigh an Eilean Hotel; there are public toilets by the second car park at the north end. Out on the water, the Scots pines of Shieldaig Island are thought to have been planted in the 1800s.

The walk is a circuit of about three and a quarter miles (5.3 km) round the peninsula north of the village, on old paths and tracks with about 150 metres of up and down, so allow about two hours. It crosses heather moor and birch wood above a string of quiet bays, and along the way the views run up Loch Torridon to Liathach and out across the sea to Skye and Raasay.

Watch for white-tailed eagles over the island, and for seals and eider ducks in the bays. One short stretch is steep and rocky, so wear boots, and keep a dog on a lead, as sheep graze the peninsula.

If it rains

The peninsula is exposed, rough ground, and in heavy rain or a strong wind it is no place to be. Walk the village front instead, past the old cannon and the view of Shieldaig Island, and go early to lunch at the Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen.

Afterwards

  1. Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen

    Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen

    Lunch

    Lunch is across the street from where you parked, at the Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen beside the Tigh an Eilean Hotel. Fish and shellfish come in fresh from the village jetty, and there are views over the loch from the Coastal Kitchen upstairs and its roof terrace. Dogs are welcome in the bar downstairs, first come, first served, while the Coastal Kitchen takes bookings.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    The nearest of ours is The Net Store in Ardheslaig. Sleeps 4.

    Then Rhuroin in Shieldaig, a mile away. Sleeps 3.

  2. Book lunch at the Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen

    Book a table for lunch in the Coastal Kitchen upstairs on the Tigh an Eilean Hotel's website or on 01520 755251: it's best to book ahead.

Make it a weekend

More days out in Wester Ross.

Wester RossA sea kayak on Loch Carron.
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.

Photographs by David Booth and Richard Usher via Google