Comment(2 votes)
Gain (+/- 10%): 602m (1975ft)
Total (+/- 10%): 1186m (3893ft)
Loss (+/- 10%): 584m (1918ft)
Max. Elevation: 230m (754ft)
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Waypoints
From the station, take the track on the northern side behind the station. This takes you over the hill behind the road and railway - better than a walk along the road.
Head down the track to Polnish. Cross the road and drop down past the small car park to a few buildings on the loch shore. Walk past them and along the loch shore until the first stream. Here, head directly up until you reach the high ground past some trees.
You should come out near an old ruined building/sheep fold. From here, it's map and compass time - take a bearing towards Lochan a Bhealaich. It's hidden from view, but as you reach the top of the hillock ahead, it should be visible.
The three small lochans in the northwest corner of Ardnish provide useful navigational aids. Best to stick to the high ground, keeping them to your right. As you come towards the high point of An t-Aonach (marked on the map as 245m), head towards Loch Doire a' Ghearrain.
At the loch, keep to the southern side and cross the very wet ground between the loch and a small copse of trees, which sit below a sharp slope. Follow the loch shore until you spot a gap in the hills to the southwest - this is your route through to Peanmeanach.
Once through the gap, you can see the bay ahead. Pick your way down the slope until you reach the flat ground. A track (the route out) is in the middle of the flat ground, so head for this.
The ruins here are from an old fishing village, abandoned sometime in the 20th century. It's far from abandoned now - people flock to the bothy. It's easy to see why - the bay is stunning, and some overnight visitors feast on fresh mussels picked from the sea.
The way home is much easier to follow - pick up the track leading away from the bothy. It passes thtough some woodland and leads you along the northern side of Ardnish.
The path heads past the western side of the loch. From here, it heads up to Cruach an Fhearainn, with good views over Loch non Uamh.
Cross the railway at Loch Dubh and head for the road. At the road, retrace your steps to the white church at Polnish.
At Polnish, follow the track back to Lochailort station. There's a friendly pub by the roadside in Lochailort for a pint if you have to wait for the station.
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