A walk · Polloch

Polloch – A Woodland Walk to the Shore of Loch Shiel

2¼ milesdogs welcomecafé 8 miles away

At Polloch the river runs into Loch Shiel near the turn of the loch, and a gentle walk through the woods follows it down to the shore.

Lunch is back over the hill in Strontian, the village that gave strontium its name.

Where it starts

Start at the Forestry and Land Scotland car park at the end of the public road at Polloch (postcode PH37 4LX), reached by the unclassified road over the hill from Strontian; the road beyond the car park is private.

Directions to the start

Is it for me?

Tap who is coming, or the day you have, for the answer on this walk.

Before you go

On the path

A walk of about two and a quarter miles (3.5 km) from the car park, beside the River Polloch to the shore of Loch Shiel. Woodland paths. An easy walk of about two and a quarter miles; the river and the loch are open water, so keep children close by the shore.

Good to know

All year. About 10.30am, for lunch in Strontian after. Keep a dog under close control, and clear of any forestry work. The nearest public toilets are behind Strontian Stores, in Strontian. Forestry work often goes on here: follow any signs.

The walk

At Polloch, the Forestry and Land Scotland car park is where the public road over the hill from Strontian stops; beyond it the road is private. From here a walk of about two and a quarter miles (3.5 km) on peaceful woodland paths takes you to the lochside, with the hills all round.

These woods are a rare fragment of the old Atlantic oakwood, being brought back as the planted conifers come out, and you may see red deer, or a golden eagle overhead. Forestry work often goes on here, so follow any signs, and keep a dog under close control.

Check for ticks afterwards. The nearest public toilets are behind Strontian Stores, in the village.

If it rains

The walk is on woodland paths, fine in a shower with a waterproof, and the trees give some shelter. In a downpour, go straight over the hill to Strontian for lunch indoors at Cafe Sunart.

Afterwards

19 min by car
Cafe Sunart
Lunch
It's 19 minutes' drive back over the hill on the same unclassified road to Strontian, where Cafe Sunart is in the middle of the village. It serves breakfasts, lunches and homemade baking, indoors or on a small terrace, from 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 3pm on Sundays; any change goes on its Facebook page. For somewhere else, the Ariundle Centre's restaurant and tearoom, up the Ariundle road, opens most days in winter: ring 01967 402279 first.

Places to stay near the walk

Our places to stay nearest the start, by road.

An advert · Glenhurich

Glenhurich Lodge

A former hunting lodge and schoolhouse for eleven, below Beinn Resipol near Loch Shiel, in a glen of Celtic rainforest.

Sleeps 11 · A minute by road

See Glenhurich Lodge

Glenhurich Lodge, white-harled with dormer windows, at the end of its track behind a beech hedge, snow on the hills beyond.

Did this walk?

Tell the next person how it went. The best go on this page, with your name.

Tell us how it went

Find out more

For further reading, before you go.

Photograph by ncreswell via Google