Loch Kernsary Round.
Start. Poolewe.
Route. Poolewe - Srondubh - Loch Kernsary - Kernsary - Loch an Doire Ghairbh - Inveran - Poolewe.
Notes. The guy in the pub yesterday who claimed to know everything and had done everything obviously hadn't worked for the Met Office, his predictions for today’s weather seemed to have fallen well short off the mark, perhaps he had the chart upside down. Undeterred we headed for Poolewe, the starting point for what our guide book claimed was “an easy circuit around a wild loch with wonderful views to the mountains”, unfortunately not today, a wander in the mist and rain was to be our lot, with the scourge of Scotland for company, the Highland midge.
After killing time in Poolewe hoping for a break in the weather, we headed north along the main road, after passing the caravan site followed by some rather smart farm buildings a finger-post invited us to Loch Kernsary, we obliged, guided by a dry stone wall we wandered on to reach a deer gate, this allowed access to Cnoc na Lisa woods. Continuing along the path the woods were soon left behind, on we wandered across open moor land, our guide book promised views to the mountain giants of Torridon, I'll take the authors word for that, all we could see was grey shadows through persistent rain, almost nothing. On reaching Loch Kernsary the path that guided us got considerably rougher, then rather boggy before we descended into unexpected green pastures, the rain stopped as we wandered around these fields hunting for a foot-bridge the guide book promised spanned the burn, once located we crossed before making our way to the farm buildings at Kernsary.
This most isolated of farmsteads is serviced by a rough lane running from Poolewe, we made jolly good use of it, this was our handrail back. Along the southern shore of Loch Kernsary at first before skirting Loch an Doire Ghairbh, through woodland guarding the head of Loch Maree we strolled, passed Inveran to join the banks of the River Ewe for the final mile over tarmac.
Viewing the western shore of Loch Ewe.
Poolewe backed by Meall Deise, head in cloud.
Over Loch Ewe the afforested finger of Creagan nan Cudaigean, part of the famous Inverewe Garden.
About to enter Cnoc na Lisa woods, planted by volunteers using native trees between 1993 and 94.
Seen over Cnoc na Lisa woods, melting into the Highland mist Cliff Hill and Boor Hill.
Through persistent rain and ever insistent midges, our first view of Loch Kernsary.
Sue adds a splash of colour to this rather drab scene.
Aird Mhor across Loch Kernsary.
A rather grey scene to the south.
Looking to Kernsary with Creag Cairneasair looming out of the haze.
Not so technical, but it's slippery and it's an awful long way down the hill.
The weather seems to be lifting, it's still raining but views are opening out to the west.
Looking back over Loch Kernsary.
Marking the head of Loch Maree, Creag Mhor Thollaidn.
The best view today, north with the slopes of Meall an Leathaid Dharaich dropping in from the right with Aird Mhor to the left gracing the opposite shore.
Deserted croft near Kernsary.
An unexpected green oasis, the path's vanished, there's a foot-bridge over the burn behind that small oak wood, or so the guide book claims.
We've escaped the rain and the mighty Highland midge, viewing the north shore of Loch Kernsary from our lunch stop.
Loch an Doire Ghairbh.
The head of Loch Maree backed by the cliffs of Creag Mhor Tollaidn.
The Inveran River.
Strolling above the waters of the River Ewe.
The River Ewe guides us back to Poolewe.