Wester Ross: Bealach na Bà, Torridon and Loch Maree

Route description

From Inverness take the A82 and A887 west to join the A87 for Eilean Donan, about two hours in all. From the castle, follow the A890 north to Lochcarron and then the A896 to Tornapress, where the road to Applecross begins. From here on, almost every road in Wester Ross is single-track with passing places: pull in to let faster traffic by, and never park in a passing place.

The Bealach na Bà climbs from sea level to 626 m in about 9 km, with hairpins and gradients of up to 20 percent. Signs advise against it for caravans, large motorhomes and learner drivers, and it can close in snow. If your vehicle is big, drive the longer coast road round via Shieldaig instead. On a clear day the summit car park looks across to Raasay and Skye.

Applecross is a small village on a sandy bay facing Skye. The coast road north and east brings you to Shieldaig and then along Upper Loch Torridon to Torridon village, below the steep sandstone walls of Liathach and Beinn Alligin. Carry on through Glen Torridon to Kinlochewe, where the Beinn Eighe reserve visitor centre has short woodland trails and a longer mountain trail with views over Loch Maree.

The A832 follows the shore of Loch Maree to Gairloch, which has sandy beaches and a harbour. It then winds on round Loch Ewe and Gruinard Bay to Braemore junction. Corrieshalloch Gorge is right by the junction on the A835; the walk to the suspension bridge takes about ten minutes. Ullapool is 20 km further on. Fuel is scarce, so fill up at Lochcarron and Gairloch.