Round the Glen Galmadale horseshoe above Kingairloch

A walk · Kingairloch

Glen Galmadale – Round the Horseshoe to Creach Bheinn

10 miles6½ hours

dogs welcome

Hills ring Glen Galmadale, the glen behind Kingairloch on the west shore of Loch Linnhe, and walking the whole horseshoe is a long, rough day over the tops.

The highest is Creach Bheinn, at 853 m, with a view down Loch Linnhe and out to the islands.

Where it starts

Start at the gravel area by a couple of houses beside the bridge over the Glengalmadale River on the B8043, with room for a few cars.

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

About six and a half hours of walking: about 16 km with about 1,490 m of climbing. Steep grass on the climb up Beinn na Cille, then a mostly gentle, grassy ridge with a path only in places. A long, demanding day on rough ground, for older children who are used to hills.

Good to know

April to October. About 9am at the bridge. Dogs under close control: deer and feral goats live on these hills.

The walk

The round is about 16 km with about 1,490 m of climbing, over Beinn na Cille, Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn and home by Maol Odhar. It starts by the bridge over the Glengalmadale River, where a gravel area has room for a few cars.

The steep part is the climb up Beinn na Cille; after that the ridge is mostly gentle and grassy, with a path only in places. It's a demanding day of about six and a half hours' walking, so carry OS Landranger 49 or Explorer 383.

Look out for wild goats, and on Creach Bheinn for a ring of boulders round the rusted stump of an old survey pillar, with a view that reaches Jura, Rum and Skye. Deer are stalked here from late August to early December: signs at the foot of the glen say where, and the Heading for the Scottish Hills page gives a number to ring no later than 24 hours ahead.

If it rains

There's no shelter on the hill. In rain or low cloud the views are gone and the ridge is hard to follow, so keep the round for a clear day.