Loch Arkaig – The Dark Mile and the Chia-aig Falls
About 5.6 miles on foot.
The road to Loch Arkaig runs its last mile under the old trees of the Mile Dorcha, the Dark Mile.
It comes out at Eas Chia-aig, a waterfall that drops in two leaps into a dark pool beside the road. A track goes on from there through the woods by the foot of the loch towards Invermallie. The falls take a few minutes, and the track makes a walk of about 9 km.
- Time
- A quarter of an hour to forty minutes at the falls; two and a half to three hours for the track by Loch Arkaig to Invermallie and back, 9 km with 184 m of climbing. A waterfall and an easy woodland track.
- The path
- A short rough path to the viewpoint over the falls; a woodland track beyond.
- Where to start
- The forestry car park beside the falls, five miles along the B8005 from the fork beyond Gairlochy; a rough and narrow road. PH34 4EJ is the nearest postcode.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off along the loch by noon to be back in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off along the loch by noon.
- Dogs
- Under close control; deer are stalked on the hills above.
- Children
- Wet rock and deep, fast water at the falls: hold hands.
- Toilets
- The nearest public toilets, shops and cafés are in Spean Bridge.
- Before you set out
- Open water: the pool below the falls is deep. The road in is rough and narrow.
The walk
Park at the forestry car park beside the Chia-aig falls, five miles along the B8005. Forestry and Land Scotland's way in is by Gairlochy: over the bridge across the Caledonian Canal, right at the fork signed for Loch Arkaig, and on along a road it calls rough and narrow but worth the journey. PH34 4EJ is the nearest postcode. The last stretch runs under old trees, with moss on every bank. This is the Mile Dorcha, the Dark Mile.
Eas Chia-aig is beside the car park, two falls one above the other into a deep pool, and a path climbs to a viewpoint over them. The falls are at their fullest after rain. For a longer walk, a track runs west from here through the woods by the foot of Loch Arkaig. Walkhighlands gives the walk to Invermallie and back as 9 km with 184 metres of climbing, and allows two and a half to three hours. The rock by the falls is wet and the pool is deep, so hold on to children, and keep dogs under close control.
Deer are stalked on the hills above in autumn and winter, so keep to the track. There are no toilets, shops or cafés on this road, and the nearest are in Spean Bridge. The Clan Cameron Museum is close by at Achnacarry: check it's open before you plan on it. From November to January, set off along the loch by noon.
If it rains
The falls are at their best after rain and are a few steps from the car. The track along the loch is under trees for much of the way, so it goes in a shower.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Jen Munn via Google