Start/Finish         Map Reference – NN 072 598                                 Landranger 41

Parking                 Entrance to Callart Forest

Distance               5 miles/8 km

Time                      1 hour 15 mins

Park at the entrance to Callart Forest 1.5 miles east of North Ballachulish on the A863 GR NN 072 598.  Opposite and hidden in the trees is the ruined mausoleum for the Cameron-Lucy’s, former occupants of Callart House.

Cross the style and take the forest road which gently takes the gradient and passes through partly cleared forest areas.  This offers good views as you head east towards the Glencoe hills, noticeably the Pap of Glencoe and Invercoe and across to Ballachulish and the Beinn a’ Bheithir Horseshoe.  Note the large slate quarries at Ballachulish and Eilean Munde, the Burial Isles which lie in front of Ballachulish (see sections on History and Industry).  Loch Leven itself resembles a Norwegian fjord with its steeply forested sides.  The forest road runs for 4km and ends at GR NN 096 614, tantalisingly close to the public right of way between Callart and Lairigmor.  However, it does not link up and you must return the same way.  If you can see down through the trees, you will see Callart House.  Old Callart House was sited just to the West of the present house and has an interesting story relating to the “plague”.

Returning westwards, you are rewarded with good views of Ballachulish, Loch Linnhe (part of the Great Glen Fault – see Geology section) and the more fertile crafting areas of North Ballachulish and Onich.

Distance 8 km maximum.  Easy walking on good forest road with good views.  Ideal for mountain bikes too, although it is all uphill then all downhill!