Lochmaddy and the Hut of the Shadows.

Start. Lochmaddy (Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre).

Route. Lochmaddy - Village Sop and Filling Station - Sheriff Courthouse - Police Station - Footbridge - Sponish - Hut of the Shadows - Sponish Farm - Loch na Buaile - A685 - Lochmaddy.

Notes. This circular walk from Lochmaddy lacked the appeal the rest of our ramblings had this week, the route followed the complex shoreline of Loch Maddy to The Hut of the Shadows, a hidden camera obscura on the edge of the Sponish peninsula. Our return was made through a typical crofting landscape, a stoney track, the driveway to Sponish House our guide.

We parked in Lochmaddy at the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre, once sorted we wandered back up the road turning right at the village store, the lane guided us through a much older part of the village. Passed a large imposing stone built building we wandered, I presumed this must have once been part of the small harbour, which we passed next. From the harbour the lane guided us to the Sheriff Courthouse, we stepped into the road opposite, this in turn ushered us passed the police station then out of the village.

Our route then followed a path along the complex shoreline, after passing a deep inlet we passed through a metal kissing gate to reach a path terminating at a dodgy looking suspension bridge. This bridge is supposed to be closed, it’s in a dismal state, verging on unsafe, but it was definitely in use. We stared into the fast flowing water draining from Loch Houram, the seals stared back daring us to cross, against our better judgment we unclipped our back packs just in case and went for it. Safe on the other side, bags back on our backs we wandered to the Hut of the Shadows, the lens is set up looking over Loch Maddy but the view was terrible, I enjoyed crossing the bridge better.

From the hut you get a real good view over the complex shoreline of Loch Maddy, seals bobbed around in the water. The many islands and islets off shore and secret inlets made this a perfect rendezvous point for pirates, ideal for raiding ships stocked with fine goods bound for the clan chiefs, this practice continued until modern times. We continued following the shore line, after passing a modern barn we stepped onto a stoney track, this guided us through a vast flat landscape of rough pastures and lochens, both fresh water and salt, a typical crofting landscape. It seemed a long drag with little to see, we eventually reached a tarmac single track road, this was slightly more interesting than the track, it guided us back to Lochmaddy and the cafe at the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre.

view route map.

home.

From the road side in Lochmaddy views over Loch Maddy.

The complex shoreline of Loch Maddy.

Lochmaddy Old Pier.

Sheriff Courthouse dates from 1875 built in the Italianate Gothic style.

After this deep inlet we passed through a metal kissing gate allowing access to a path terminating at a rather dodgy looking bridge.

Lets be honest, this bridge isn't safe and should be secured, health and safety rules, we removed our back packs before crossing the fast flowing waters draining from Loch Houram.

Viewing Li a Tuath from Sponish.

The many islands and islets off shore and secret inlets made this a perfect rendezvous point for pirates, ideal for raiding ships stocked with fine goods bound for the clan chiefs, this practice continued until modern times.

The Hut of the Shadows a camera obscura looking over Loch Maddy.

Looking over Loch Maddy to the hills of Li a Tuath and Li a Deas.

Views over Loch Houram towards a scattering of houses at Strumore.

Our guide back through a typical crofting landscape with views to Blathaisbhal backed by Crogearraidh Mor and Crogearraidh Beag.

One of a number of fresh water lochens passed en route....

....and another, it's surface alive with lilies.

Li a Tuath seen from the single track road guiding us back to Lochmaddy.

Typical Highland scene, three hundred years ago the scene may not have been so bleak, a few animals grazed the land, wheat, two rows of barley and kale would have been cultivated, now we have sheep.

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