Is it private property or open to the public? A big blue sign says “Achmore Bridge Refurbishment”. The main road is narrow and very quiet. Probably, I usually do!. Well done for finding a coastal footpath at Drumbuie. Painted black, and without features, they look a bit ominous. Stones? Hi Ruth – I was amused you read ‘Drambuie’ for Drumbuie initially as I could not get the name of ‘Drambuie’ out of my head when I was there. This means I don’t have to use my astonishingly heavy electric bike (aka Scooty), but can take the train instead! I was very excited by the thought of palm trees in Scotland, but they turn out to be underwhelming. Cows! Plockton faces eastwards, away from the Atlantic winds, and boasts a temperate climate, with warm waters from the gulf stream lapping its shore. Is it generally safe? I remember the boat I saw embarking this morning from Plockton. I’m the guy who walked a little bit of coast from Brighton to Hastings last June, raising £1200 for Marie Curie. I can see the car park where I left my Beast yesterday. The track – a wide driveway now – takes me past the front of the house, where I notice some signs. I check my watch. Hiya Jayne, it could be diet too, yes, but I can’t ever imagine I’d be low on carbs – cakes have loads, don’t they?. See our Current Ads & Offers Get an Address or Phone Number Delivery I think of my husband and how he would enjoy this area, but then remember he is soon to be my ex-husband, and I push him away from my thoughts. Stunning photos Ruth! This is a rough, stony track and can be … I have stayed at the pub in Plockton- langustine out of this world. Thought I would include a photo of my view from the bedroom window of my lodge yesterday, at Craig Highland Farm. Begin the walk by heading up behind the toilets, keeping left at a fork. I walk past a warning sign for visitors. Oh dear, I really am tired. Very kind of that chap to give you a lift. Find the perfect places to go with your kids and get out on your next adventure! The only downside is that it is a bit crowded with tourists – damn them! I stand at the crossroads and examine the sign. A traditional crofting arrangement? The path is fairly level and ends at wildlife hide. ( Log Out /  Later I discover Strome Ferry station was once the scene of riots over this! I’m surrounded by woodland, with the sun streaming through gaps in the canopy. Plockton is a idyllic stopover for anyone touring the west coast in a boat. Past the school, and down to the little station. I cross a stile, walk over a hummock of rocky ground, and spot the railway line. I reach a crossroads, hear voices, and a family group joins my path. Luckily, at the top of the hill, the village has provided a handy bench. On the way, I’m passed (several times) by a trio of children on bicycles. It is unmanned, but prettily painted. Some days the scenery is quite uninspiring and unattractive but oh what a lovely part you are now walking. I was very excited by the thought of palm trees in Scotland, but they turn out to be underwhelming. Looks like the place is currently closed for refurbishment. The station building is rented out as a holiday cottage, probably why it is so well looked after. Luckily, there is only half a mile to go before I reach the turn off to Strome Ferry. Hang on. And I must also “Work hard; be honest.” Maybe it was some sort of workhouse? Attractions near Duirinish and Drumbuie Coastal Walk: (3.41 km) Plockton Seal Trips (3.45 km) Plockton Harbour (4.86 km) Kyle Line (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh) (3.31 … Email. Or are they close to home and about to get lost because they are following you? I wonder how ruined it will be and whether there is public access. There is plenty of information about Skye's wildlife. What a fabulous view. It has a pretty little waiting room, an empty platform, and is surrounded by woodland. The farm was an amazing place, with llamas on the lawn and lodges set against the loch. I turn left along the track and discover Duncraig Station. Plockton faces eastwards, away from the Atlantic winds, and boasts a temperate climate, with warm waters from the gulf stream lapping its shore. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts. Down to the shore at Plockton, and I find The Beast waiting patiently for me. The llama came right up to my window during breakfast. I wake up to scattered clouds and a blue sky, and a wonderful view from my campervan looking down over Loch Carron. Look at those sweet little calves. It is nice to be able to take the train for this walk. In some cases the stations were built as part of the condition of building the line when the landowners sold the land to the rail company to build the lines in the first place and put in a condition that a station must be provided for their use. I was planning to have my picnic lunch here and start looking around for a suitable stone to sit on – but then I spot something moving. This was the view from the car park, looking up Loch Carron. A chicken, a rabbit, a goat, and a sheep. Dated October 2018, it talks of untagged and unregistered livestock on the ‘Duirinish Common Grazings’ and the need to ‘resolve this breech of village grazing regulations’ with the grazings clerk. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Unfortunately a big problem was the weather and transport. Round the bend, and the road slopes downhill. The station at Kyle of Lochalsh is built out into the Loch like that so the boats to Skye could dock alongside the platform (before the bridge opened, of course). Right on cue, another little train rattles past. On a bend in the drive, I find another old building. https://www.duncraigcastle.co.uk, 14th July was a beautiful day, which we spent in Applecross. My mum will love this blog post when I tell her about it. It even provides the address and phone number of the owner. One of the signposted walks starts on the opposite side of the A87 from the garden entrance. A cyclist overtakes me. Plockton hold their Plockton Small Boat Sailing annual regatta on the last week of July and the first week of August. St Abb’s Head: Seabird CitySt Abb’s Head, Scotland (Shutterstock) Dramatic headlands, coastal hills … I’m not sure. I have a long wait because I misread the timetable and forgot it was a Sunday today. There is a classic walk on Hoy to the stack following the coastal path uphill from Rackwick and returning by the same route. I walk through Kyle, past established houses and new-build flats. I wade on, cursing the Scottish notion of a footpath, before I discover…. A sharp drop down towards the loch on my left. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts. It’s the end of the line. Unlikely to be stupid! Hi Claudio. I’m about to pass the entrance to Craig Highland Farm, where I spent a couple of nights recently. A gate that is no longer there. Looking down through the trees, I try to spot the lodge I stayed in, but it is obscured by foliage to the left of the photo below. Spectacular walking, hiking and mountain biking can be explored, from low-level coastal walks, … Coastalwalker.co.uk – walking around the British coastline, very SLOWLY. What is being refurbished? Ah. Oh, no, the middle one is definitely a bull. You can read about the history of Stromeferry, and the riots at the station, on the Undiscovered Scotland site. Locally landed seafood and Plockton brewed ale can be enjoyed all year round in several nearby award-winning inns and restaurants. I walk down the road to find the footpath sign I spotted yesterday. After that.. who knows?! Coastal walks in the South East. Sorry to hear about your accident. Yes, it is 10 years this April. ( Log Out /  Your marathon trek is a real inspiration – is it 10 years now? A beautiful day with wonderful views and photos. This was the day we arrived in Dornie and, as I’ve said before, I kept an eye open for you all week. What??? “Footpath to the shore.” Of course, I can’t resist. Thank you for your kind words. What a lovely write up and beautiful photographs. It’s well camouflaged by the seaweed and surrounding rocks, so it takes me a minute or two to understand what I’m looking at – a baby seal. Photos and time to visit (£7) Plockton The upside is the many excellent lower mountains waiting to be discovered plus the coastal walks, boat trips, scenic drives, places of interest, wildlife, eagles, food, pubs & beer. Nearby, is a big grey box from which you can buy free-range eggs. Plockton is a idyllic stopover for anyone touring the west coast in a boat. North coast, 12 miles. I love the views, especially the first two . The platform is already crowded with people waiting to board for the return journey. The railway station is close to the slipway and I am, once again, the only passenger waiting for the train. When I reached Duncraig I could see the train was now 1 minute late and was due to pass me in 2 minutes. So people live here? ( Log Out /  Most of the through traffic is encouraged to turn right at this point. A little further along, the path joins a track. I walk on and, as I emerge from the creek, get a great view across the water to Plockton. Now that sounds exciting. It’s strange that tiredness thing isn’t it. Later I extended this (unsponsored) to Dover, including Lydd and Hythe ranges on non-firing days, and I hope to continue to Margate and maybe London this year. I wonder how many cars have driven down to the slipway hoping to catch a ferry across Loch Carron? Walking from the village of Cruden Bay, you’ll pass by the ruins of Slains Castle while you walk, which was said to have inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. Photos and time to visit (£7) Plockton Dramatic headlands, coastal hills and freshwater lochs - this four mile walk packs a punch. One other passenger arrives before the train pulls in. The Spanish photographer’s trip sounds amazing – what an adventure. This leads onto Bank Street, a secluded lane of whitewashed cottages, with their gardens overlooking the water on the other side of the lane. Over the bridge, and I’m entering the village of Achmore. But I’m continuing straight on – to Plockton. [This walk was completed on the 13th July 2019]. So, perhaps not surprising, they usually have vacancies. The journey takes 15 minutes and, when we reach Kyle, we must “all change”. Plockton is known for its palm trees, as it supposedly occupies some sort of Mediterranean-esque climate pocket, but the weather remained strictly Scottish West Coast the whole time we were there. Wow palm trees in the highlands. ( Log Out /  So I decided to walk along the track to see the castle (though I didn’t go down to the station) anyway. Time for lunch. I’m walking uphill now, away from the house and towards the main road. There are 8 Plockton beaches to pick from. I’ve stayed there the past couple of nights, in a cosy little lodge right on the shore of the loch. I watch a group of people embark on a little boat, and then stand and take more photographs of the beautiful view. The trains are infrequent. Wander around the quiet harbour to see seals among the sailboats, or plot a course through woods, moorland and coastal paths to get a full picture of this lovely area. Check my map again. The last place I walked on the coast with a station was Thurso and that is a long way around from Plockton (and the station not very useful for walking the coast as the line then immediately goes inland). Close to what? “Please do not let me follow you as I will get lost.”. I stop halfway over the bridge, and take a photo looking down at little Duirinish village. Oh…. Yes, there really is a llama on the lawn. One other passenger arrives before the train pulls in. Callum's Seal Trips is worth the money. I waited 5 minutes and it didn’t pass. I’m sorry to be leaving my lovely camping site, and I stand and admire the view for a few more minutes, before perching the camera on the nearby bench to take a self portrait. If the nights are clear, you might even be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. So pretty and unspoilt. A nice walk with some very lovely views. This is a rough, stony track and can be … Yes, this is a very beautiful area. At the end of the village, my road rejoins the main road, which passes over the river via an impressive stone bridge. There are plenty of empty fields around, but…. Ah, yes, there are some of the grazing beasts. It was a safe road when I walked it, although you do have to keep a look out for traffic. There is a classic walk on Hoy to the stack following the coastal path uphill from Rackwick and returning by the same route. In the morning I went to Eilean Donan castle and then decided to do this walk later in the morning and into the afternoon in the hope the rain would ease (it didn’t) but at least most of the walk even the road bits is in woodland so I was partly sheltered from the rain. I have a theory about it but i wouldn’t dare mention it to a doctor – it’s probably really stupid! He says he’ll stay there tomorrow. After several days of rain at the start of my trip, the sunshine over the past few days was really welcome. Oh, silly me. What I particularly liked were all the Highland Cattle. After steeply diving down the slope, it crosses a marshy area via a boardwalk, and I emerge at the side of a small creek. Sadly, at the time of writing this (March 2020), Duncraig castle is still shut. The little creature is obviously aware of my presence and begins floundering about. I turn back from the station and walk along the track. What a delightful place. © Provided by Wanderlust Publications The fishing … Portreath, Cornwall (Dreamstime) Start in Portreath, near … Sadly the boat trips to see the seals are not operating any more, whether they will come back next year I don’t know. This looks a really nice walk and looking forward to this one. So I walk down a narrow path, pass under a railway bridge…. Famously, it has palm trees. How delightful to see the baby seal and get such a good photo too. But the electricity was dodgy and the water from the taps ran brown (a fact that is hidden by the dim lights, and that I only discovered on the morning after I’d drunk a whole glass before bed!) Looks like a small, sleepy place. A nonprofit community protecting trails. The sign above the door catches my eye. From the station, I was planning to follow the road down to the shore, to a place called Portneora, where I was half-hoping I might find a coastal footpath. I love the seal and the llama on the lawn . Thank you so much for the vicarious travel ☺️ Anstruther to Crail: East Neuk Fishing Villages. Perhaps it existed when I walked there, but I missed it. But, now, it’s time to drive on to Lochcarron, where I’m booked into a campsite for the night. Eilean Donan Castle Perhaps the most iconic castle in Scotland. It’s 4pm. (I rarely get a chance to be a step ahead of anybody!!). This exciting 11-day walking tour of the islands also includes a walk-in amongst the otherworldly landscape of the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye on our last day, culminating with an overnight stay in the picturesque coastal village of Plockton back on the mainland. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 01851 702240 01851 702240 Lady Lever Park, Lews Castle Grounds, Isle Of Lewis, HS20XP. The footpath leaves the water’s edge, and turns inland, passing under the railway line via a tunnel. We pull into Plockton station just after 1:30pm. Yes, it always makes me nervous to be the only person there. Nairn Dunbar Golf Club. I pass a couple of squashed hedgehogs (now a rare sight on English roads) and bushes of raspberry plants covered with juicy fruit. breakfast kippers at the Plockton Hotel (not to be confused with the Plockton … Miles walked today = 7 miles My map shows a vague footpath running from Drumbuie, across some fields, to a nearby railway station. The road sticks close to the railway track and I only have another mile to go before I reach Plockton…, … where I cross over the railway line via a road bridge. [Built by Thomas Telford in 1826, I later discover.]. But you were always just that bit ahead of us. Locally landed seafood and Plockton brewed ale can be enjoyed all year round in several nearby award-winning inns and restaurants. A mysterious message on a post…. I decided to continue to Plockton anyway and used the “help point” at the station and was told that it was indeed cancelled and there was no replacement bus or taxi due to “poor road conditions” and I’d have to make my own way back. I stayed in Plockton and walked on the same path that you did – and also wondered what one is supposed to do if a rock falls on your head. Put my head down and march along quickly, dodging traffic. Attractions near Duirinish and Drumbuie Coastal Walk: (2.13 mi) Plockton Seal Trips (2.15 mi) Plockton Harbour (3.04 mi) Kyle Line (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh) (2.07 mi) Sea Kayak Plockton (7.23 mi) Skye Jeep Tours; View all attractions near Duirinish and Drumbuie Coastal Walk on Tripadvisor $ Views to Kylerhea are stunning. At Strome Ferry, high on a slope overlooking Loch Carron, I find an ideal parking spot and set The Beast up for the night. I wonder who uses it? Glad you liked Duirinish. Fish? As to the stations it’s very difficult to close a station as any objection will lead to a (costly) public enquiry. I went up the Plock of Kyle first before starting the walk. . The coastal scenery here is some of the best in Scotland, with an impressive series of sea caves, arches and blow holes to enjoy before you get to the Bullers of Buchan itself. Oh, silly me, “Fear GOD”. I make my way over to the gravel track, and my progress becomes much easier. Ah, no. I don’t think we did any walks beyond Plockton, Yes, I was definitely one step ahead of you, Anabel. I’ve nearly reached the mouth of the creek, when I catch up with the man in yellow wellies. I soon come to a T junction. The famous whisky liqueur? The purpose of the trips is revealed by the next sign. I was hoping there might be a path from the end of the road round to that beach behind the airport marked on the map but there wasn’t so I headed back to the station. The main street is narrow, crowded with visitors, and lined by tourist shops, B&Bs, and parked cars. I squeeze past visitors with huge cases, and young people with light backpacks – who sound Scottish and I think must be students coming home for the weekend – to find a spare seat. When I was younger I did athletics, 400 metres in particular, which is probably the highest energy-output distance of all – i’d get my heart rate up to 240bpm. I’ve just enjoyed a nice cup of tea, when I hear another campervan pulling up. I carry on down the road, past the school, past the “Open Air Church”, and then past a footpath sign pointing to the right. Hi Ruth. How can you beware of such things? Hi Eunice. Achmore is a one-street village, and soon passed through. The humour and good interaction with our children made for an enjoyable hour+. The entrance is an impressive arch, but the church itself… well, looks like an old grassy quarry, to be honest. Perhaps I’ll find somewhere to buy a bottle? “Welcome to Plockton,” says the sign by the bridge. When I reached the shore I checked again and now it was 25 minutes late. Feeling a little disgruntled that my camping spot is being invaded, I studiously ignore the intruder. I really like this children’s playpark. How lucky those cows are to have such a lush, green pasture to enjoy. The highlight of this walk is the imposing towers of Reculver at the latter end – and it's the perfect spot for a picnic after you've worked off your large seaside meal at the beginning. 7. Well, it is an impressive place. Takes 15 minutes and, yes, tiredness is a bit ominous to have tried to some... Perfect conditions for this walk today starting from Kyle trundles past, heading back to let get. You a lift picturesque coastal setting yachts and boats moored in the road, and without features, they a... Feeling a little further along, the train routes and stations, coastal walks plockton. 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